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Make sure you follow Ocean Safety when visiting the beach! 

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Make sure you follow Ocean Safety when visiting the beach! 

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Learn all about this park here!

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Visit the CA State Park Website to learn more about this park!

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No Drones Allowed in Park

The noise and sight of drones can alter other people's enjoyment of nature.

A drone hovering nearby can feel intrusive and threatening.

Drones can capture photographs and video without someone's permission.

Drones mimic the behavior of predatory birds and can frighten wildlife.

For these reasons State Park units in the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District do not allow launching, landing or the operation of drones on State Park property.
Mendocino Headlands State Park with its unique blend of gentle trails, rugged coastline, secluded beaches and timeless history surrounds the picturesque Village of Mendocino on three sides. Miles of trails wind along the cliffs, giving the casual explorer spectacular views of sea arches and hidden grottos.

In any season, a visit to the Mendocino Headlands will provide a memorable experience. You might come to see the spring wildflowers, enjoy a crisp and clear fall day, escape to a cool summer climate or witness the winter migration of grey whale. The park provides Mendocino with a buffer area that preserves the town's historical presence. In return, the town provides a view of a unique blend of natural, ecological, cultural and social diversity. Activities range from hiking and surfing to fishing. Photographers and painters frequently visit various parts of Mendocino Headlands enjoying and capturing the scenic wonders. There are no camping facilities; visitors are day users only.

The Historic Ford House is a museum located on Main Street in Mendocino and is the Visitors Center for the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The Ford House provides current and historic information about to Mendocino visitors. It has a scale model exhibit of the Mendocino in 1890, built by local craftsman Len Peterson and the Museum offers a number of videos for viewing with topics ranging from the great migration of the gray whales to the steam whistle logging era of the early Twentieth Century. All videos are presented upon request and at no charge. Jerome B. Ford had the house built for his bride, Martha, in 1854. Ford was the superintendent of the first sawmill in Mendocino and is credited by many as being the founder of the city.

Exhibits at the Ford House carry the visitor back to another era. Throughout the house, are historic photographs, tools and relics that tell the story from the felling of the redwoods to the shipping of the lumber aboard the legendary doghole schooners. There is a small display of California Indian implements and seasonal exhibits on the local flora and fauna. Interpretive walks are led by docents and they also provide weekend lectures on area wildlife. The Mendocino Area Parks Association operates the Historic Ford House.

Big River Beach is part of a 7,400-acre wildlife corridor at
Mendocino Headlands State Park. Photo by Marc Holmes.

On the south side of Mendocino, accessible by vehicle from Highway 1, or by trails down the bluffs, is Big River Beach. This beach is used by picnickers, sun bathers and players in the surf. Mendocino Headlands State Park began operation in 1974. In 2002 the Big River wetlands was added to the park creating a 7,400-acre wildlife corridor which links diverse coastal and inland habitats into the largest piece of connected public land entirely within Mendocino County. Reaching from the Big River's mouth to 800-foot elevation inland ridges, the Big River wetlands includes a wide range of habitats. On the north it adjoins Jackson Demonstration State Forest and Mendocino Woodlands State Park. Public lands reach to the sea from Jackson Demonstration State Forest at Jug Handle State Reserve and Russian Gulch State Park. To the south, separated by a narrow strip of private land and Comptche Ukiah Road, lies Van Damme State Park with an RV campground and ocean access. Learn More about Big River Beach

The Headlands are also home to the Mendocino Music Festival. Held in July of each year, the Festival is over two decades old and is a magical blend of fine music by outstanding performers. Evenings include breathtaking concerts featuring the glorious Festival Orchestra, the popular Big Band concert, chamber music ensembles, dance, blues, jazz, world, and folk music. Days include chamber concerts at beautiful venues throughout Mendocino Village. Go to Festival Website.

Location/Directions
The park surrounds the town of Mendocino, California, just off Highway One.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended clothing
The weather can be changeable; layered clothing is recommended.

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California State Parks, State of California

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California State Parks, State of California

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All about Van Damme SP!

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Check out this video to learn what MPAs are all about!

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The California MPA Network:  Safeguarding an Underwater Wilderness

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California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

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California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

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California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

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Check out all the MPAs we have on the Mendocino Coast here!

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Dive into MPAs with this fun activity book!

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Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)

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Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)

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Learn about some of the natural history, cultural history, and recreation at Van Damme SMCA!

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Overview

Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is located in Mendocino County near the town of Little River, a small coastal community 150 miles north of San Francisco and roughly three miles south of Mendocino. This small marine protected area (MPA) is tucked in between two headlands that form a southwestern facing cove, lying adjacent to Van Damme State Park. Headlands on the north side of the MPA and rocky points on the south side protect the area from large swells, creating a relatively calm refuge from open ocean waters. The shoreline runs for less than half a mile, and features rocky, cobble, and sandy beaches.

This shallow MPA reaches depths of just over 15 feet and is a popular spot for diving and kayaking. Beneath the surface, the rocky reefs and kelp forests teem with life. Bat stars, rock crabs, and sea cucumbers forage and hide from predators while rockfish swim amongst the swaying kelp. Numerous coves and caves are hidden among rocks that are covered in red coralline algae and giant green anemones.

Regulations

It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource, EXCEPT: Commercial and recreational take in accordance with current regulations is allowed. Commercial take of bull kelp and giant kelp is prohibited.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(26)(opens in new tab)

Quick Facts

MPA size: 0.06 square miles

Shoreline span: 0.7 miles

Depth range: 0 to 17 feet

Habitat composition:

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Van Damme State Marine Conservation Area

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The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

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Follow us to learn more about our park, educational content, and events going on in our parks!

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CA State Parks Mendocino. 1,313 likes · 94 talking about this · 26 were here. Hello and Welcome to the CA State Parks Mendocino Sector Facebook Page! This is the best place to keep up on events and...

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Sea Star Facts by National Geographic Kids

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Sea Star Facts by National Geographic Kids

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You probably know sea stars as starfish, the name sea stars are commonly known by. But sea stars aren't really fish. Sea stars, like sea urchins and sand dollars, do not have backbones, which makes them part of a group called invertebrates. Fish have backbones, which makes them vertebrates. Got it?

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You probably know sea stars as starfish, the name sea stars are commonly known by. But sea stars aren't really fish. Sea stars, like sea urchins and sand dollars, do not have backbones, which makes them part of a group called invertebrates. Fish have backbones, which makes them vertebrates. Got it?

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This tide pool guide is from Orange County Marine Protected Areas. Same rules apply to Mendocino Coast Marine Protected Areas.

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Folleto de Actividades del AMP (Español)

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Folleto de Actividades del AMP (Español)

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¡Sumérgete en las AMP con este divertido libro de actividades!

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Check out these incredible facts about sea stars! (5 min. read)

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Check out these incredible facts about sea stars! (5 min. read)

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7 Facts About Sea Stars That Are Out of This World - Ocean Conservancy

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How much do you know about the stars of the sea?<br />

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Follow us to learn more about our park, educational content, and events going on in our parks.

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Saving Sea Star PORTS Program Worksheet 1

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Saving Sea Star PORTS Program Worksheet 2

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Have you ever colored by number? Color the sea star in its natural habitat!

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Facts: The Purple Sea Star (3:45 min/sec)

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Facts: The Purple Sea Star (3:45 min/sec)

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Quick facts about the star of our Mendocino Coast! FYI: The reproduction of sea stars is mentioned here. Cool facts!

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Yes or no...read to find out.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Sea stars, commonly called, starfish, are not fish

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Watch a funny demonstrative video on how sea stars eat!  (15 sec.)

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Watch a funny demonstrative video on how sea stars eat!  (15 sec.)

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If you could make up your own demonstration of how sea stars eat, what would that look like?

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Sunflower Sea Stars Now Critically Endangered (2:36 min/sec)

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Sunflower Sea Stars Now Critically Endangered (2:36 min/sec)

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One of the sea stars that was heavily impacted by sea star wasting disease...

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Sunflower Sea Stars Now Critically Endangered

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This is how a sea-star satisfies its food needs.

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Ochre Sea Stars in Alaska (26:29 min/sec)

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Ochre Sea Stars in Alaska (26:29 min/sec)

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Scientists venture to Alaska for a possible cure to a mystery disease wiping out West Coast sea stars...

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Season 1 Episode 105 | 26m 29s |

Scientists venture to Alaska for a possible cure to a mystery disease wiping out West Coast sea stars; a new baby orca in Puget Sound faces dangers including navy sonar tests; and sea otters battle back from the brink of extinction and end up helping the fight against climate change.

Aired: 10/08/14

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? Report a Problem |

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IN Close | Puget Sound Perils | Season 1 | Episode 105 | PBS

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Environmental and man-made threats to wildlife in Puget Sound.

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Watch this (24 sec.) video of what a sea star regenerating its arms looks like.

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Watch this (24 sec.) video of what a sea star regenerating its arms looks like.

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Did you know this? A sea star can grow back its arms after losing limbs from predation. This is an adaptation that sea stars have developed over time!

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Learn some facts about Sea Stars with the Mottled, Ochre, and Sunflower Star species highlighted!

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Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Updates & Research | MARINe (Reading for Teachers)

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Sea Star Wasting Syndrome Updates & Research | MARINe (Reading for Teachers)

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Sea Stars of the Pacific Northwest Website

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Sea Stars of the Pacific Northwest Website

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A sea star expert created a website page all about sea stars on the Pacific Northwest. They also created a field guide to identify different sea stars along the Pacific Coast. Check out the site to learn all about sea stars!

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An amazingly rich assemblage of marine organisms lives in the cold Pacific Ocean along the shorelines of the Pacific Northwest. Of the thousands of plants and animals that dwell in these waters, sea stars are especially conspicuous. No matter the depth or the substrate, these echinoderms (echino---"spiny", derm---"skin") are among the most successful marine creatures inhabiting this rugged coast.

Coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific have the greatest diversity of sea stars but compared to other temperate seas, the abundance and number of stars found along the west coast of North America is without equal in the world. In 1911, W.K. Fisher recorded 143 species from the shore to a depth of 4,100 m (13,450 ft) between San Diego, California and Point Barrow, Alaska, 70 of which are endemic (restricted to a specific geographical area) to the west coast. Recent studies in Alaska including the Aleutian Islands have reported more than 100 known species plus up to 25 newly discovered forms.

Sea stars roam the intertidal and subtidal zone, consuming every type of prey, including sponges, snails, clams, mussels, barnacles, sea cucumbers, tunicates, tubeworms, sea pens, anemones, gorgonian corals, scallops, fishes and even each other. Deceptively simple in appearance, sea stars are in fact superbly adapted, mobile creatures that have few natural enemies.

Sea stars are members of the Phylum Echinodermata, invertebrate animals that have radial symmetry, calcareous skeletons and tube-feet. This group includes sea stars, brittle stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and feather stars. More than 6,000 species of echinoderms live from the intertidal zone to abyssal depths in all oceans of the world.

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SEA STARS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST_ABOUT SEA STARS

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Sea Stars of the Pacific Northwest. This site includes descriptions of 30 plus species of sea stars encountered from the intertidal zone to a depth of (100 ft) on the Pacific coast of North America.

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In Spanish, the Bat star is, "estrella murciélago." There is a short paragraph in Spanish & English about this star.

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@sonomamendocinoparksrecrea8507
Follow us to watch interactive videos about crafts, information about our parks, and educational content from our interpreters!

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education nature outdoors "california state parks" ocean redwoods parks whales "harbor seals" mushrooms trees outside "learn at home" "get outside"

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Explore the California State Parks with Sonoma/Mendocino Interpreters! Dive into the crashing waves of the Pacific, and then venture to the towering giants o...

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Check out more resources at Van Damme SP here and programs!

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Check out more resources at Van Damme SP here and programs!

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You can sign up for future webinar livestreams here. Search for, "Van Damme," to look for programs at the park.

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Did you attend the Saving Sea Star PORTS program? If you attended until the end of the program, you are officially a Sea Star Expert! Print, sign, and hang up this cert on your wall of awards!

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Congratulations Saving Sea Stars Kids Certificate

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We talked about tide pool etiquette but have you ever heard of ocean etiquette?

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Promoting responsible encounters with marine wildlife and their natural habitats.