Tomales Bay Marine Station Tour

Point Reyes National Seashore Association

Take a tour of the research station that has greatly expanded opportunities in  marine  and estuarine ecology over the last 20 years.

Sacramento Landing

Difficulty level: EasyDistance: 1 mileFor thousands of years, the Coast Miwok thrived on the Point Reyes peninsula because of its year-round bounty. It is surrounded by diverse marine ecosystems and abundant species within the heart of the California Current, a large oceanic current that flows north to south from Vancouver to Baja. Few places along the Pacific coast are home to so many species of marine and estuarine fish,birds, and marine mammals. For more than a century, marine research at Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) has been a focus of academic institutions and Scientists.Today, Point Reyes National Seashore is one of only 10 national seashores in the National Park Service (NPS), and the only congressionally designated Marine Wilderness that protects marine waters south of Alaska (Glacier Bay National Park). Tomales Bay has been designated a wetlands of international importance (UNESCO RAMSAR site). Over the past few decades, researchers have expanded our knowledge of marine and estuarine species and processes, which in turn has guided the protection and restoration of places such as the Giacomini Wetland, and the creation of the State Marine Reserves at Point Reyes.Tomales Bay, due to its intact ecosystem, is a superb location for baseline studies that measure change in environmental conditions. Nestled within the shores of Tomales Bay is the Tomales Bay Marine Station (TBMS). The TBMS was founded in the early 1990s as a central location for the study of the unique marine and estuarine ecology of Tomales Bay. Over the last 20 years, TBMS has housed countless researchers, students, and interns studying essential marine topics for the protection and restoration of estuaries and wetlands worldwide.On this Picnic on the Pacific Plate tour, you will have the opportunity to visit and explore the only marine station on the Tomales Bay. The tour will be led by Don Neubacher and Dr. Sarah Allen, two inspiring conservationists who have played key roles in the vision and expansion of the TBMS. You will learn about the history and origin of the station, how research here has benefited and protected a variety of estuary and wetland ecosystems, and what are the next-steps to expanding future research opportunities at Tomales Bay.The research of Dr. Sarah Allen—retired Senior Science Advisor for the National Park Service—on marine mammals has inspired hundreds of scientists, interns, and volunteers to protect and preserve this special park. Her co-lead, Don Neubacher, is the former Superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore and Yosemite National Park, who’s expertise in park management and climate change has helped shape marine resource protection and restoration at the Seashore and broadly.Under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Allen, Don Neubacher, and Dr. Ben Becker more than 30 PRNSA interns have benefited from housing since 2014, while studying a range of topics including archaeology, invasive species, climate change, fisheries, white sharks, nesting seabirds and pinnipeds. At the same time, PRNSA funded a range of student projects on the mass mortality of sea stars, understanding the effects of climate change and biological invasions on native oysters, food habits of river otters, and so much more.The TBMS tour will also offer you a chance to see the final efforts in completing the additional buildings for research and student accommodations. This expansion will triple the amount of research space, and create the first wet lab at the station, critical for intensive studies of marine life. With the help of PRNSA funds and committed supporters who believe in the importance of marine science, the TBMS can expand the horizons for the next generation of scientists by exposing them to new marine environments and tools, challenging them with real world research questions, and introducing them to potential career paths with national parks.

Details:<ul><li>We will be meeting at the Tomales Bay Marine Station at Sacramento Landing (see directions below)</li><li>The hike will begin at 2:00pm, but please arrive 15 minutes early (1:45pm) to check in and to allow time for COVID safety protocols (see below)</li><li>Please give at least 48 hours of notice if you decide to no longer attend the hike</li><li>Please provide an email you check regularly for updates and reminders about your class </li><li>Registration is required online prior to the event in order to maintain class sizes</li><li>Sales end 48 hours before the start date</li><li>Waitlists are available when the class sells out</li></ul>

Directions to Sacramento Landing (from Point Reyes Station):
<ol><li>
Pass through Inverness on Sir Francis Drake Road
</li><li>Take Pierce Point Road (Forks Right)
</li><li>After Tomales Bay State Park (Heart’s Desire) fork Right on Marshall Beach/Duck Cove Road. This road goes slightly uphill. There is a large white sign here that says “L Ranch Dairies.”
</li><li>Road will turn to gravel, please maintain 15 mph speed limit and slow down on blind curves. It is very hard to stop quickly on these narrow roads which are used by dairy trucks. If cows block your way, move forward very slowly and they will move aside. Don’t honk or get closer than 10 feet with your vehicle.
</li><li>Continue until the road forks again. Take the right fork (NOT towards Marshall Beach). Continue until road takes you down to the bay. The road is steep, slippery, and has deep gutters, so go slowly. Park in front of the house on the right (stone facade with tile roof).
</li><li>Do NOT park in front of the pier or the lower level of the house because our law enforcement rangers need to park in that area.</li></ol>

What to Bring:<ul><li>Hiking Shoes </li><li>Water Bottle + Water </li><li>Binoculars (Optional) </li><li>Camera (Optional)</li><li>Vaccination Proof (If not provided before the event - see below)</li></ul>

Picnic on the Pacific Plate COVID-19 GuidelinesIn accordance with Marin County and CDC guidelines for public health, we will require all participants to respect the following COVID-19 procedures:<ul><li>Perform a health self-check before coming to class using the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus </a>as a guide</li><li>Do not attend class if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, suspect you have been exposed to the virus, or are suffering from any other flu-like or respiratory illness</li><li>Participants exhibiting signs of respiratory illness may be asked to leave class</li></ul>During class all participants will be required to do the following<ul><li>Fully vaccinated individuals may remove masks for outdoor classes </li><li>All participants may be required to wear masks for indoor classes per current CDC and county recommendations at the time of class</li></ul>Please refer to the <a href="https://ptreyes.org/popp-covid-safety/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Covid Safety Policy</a> page on our website to learn more. Thank you for your continuing cooperation in following these guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

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Tomales Bay Marine Station Tour

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Tomales Bay Marine Station Tour

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