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Did you attend the We Are Water Protectors Storytime PORTScast or are you planning to? Here is a resource for your classroom that goes with the book. Check it out!

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Explore Big River State Marine Conservation Area

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Explore Big River State Marine Conservation Area

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A five-minute reading about this marine protected area. A look back into the history of the marine management of this park.

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According to eBird, 188 birds species have been observed here!

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Read all about MH SP here and view a map of what the park looks like.

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Overview

Big River Estuary State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) is located to the southeast of the town of Mendocino, a small coastal village 150 miles north of San Francisco. Surrounded by Mendocino Headlands State Park, Big River Estuary SMCA runs east from Highway 1 for slightly more than one mile to a maximum depth of almost 20 feet. This estuarine marine protected area (MPA) offers marine and brackish water habitat for fish and invertebrates, many of which tolerate extreme variation in salt content and temperature. The protected inland estuary serves as spawning and nursery grounds for many shorebirds and waterfowl, feeding areas for harbor seals and sea lions, as well as habitat and a transportation corridor for river otters. With numerous coastal access points close to several population centers, it offers many research, long-term monitoring, and recreational opportunities.

Regulations

It is unlawful to injure, damage, take, or possess any living, geological, or cultural marine resource, EXCEPT:

Recreational take of surfperch by hook-and-line from shore only, and Dungeness crab by hoop net or hand is allowed. Take of waterfowl in accordance with general waterfowl hunting regulations is allowed. Includes take exemptions for the following tribes:

Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria

Cahto Indian Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria

Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians

Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria

Guidiville Rancheria

Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake

Hopland Band of Pomo Indians of the Hopland Rancheria

Lower Lake Rancheria

Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria

Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians

Pinoleville Pomo Nation

Potter Valley Tribe

Redwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians

Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians

Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation

Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(25)

Quick Facts

MPA size: 0.13 square miles

Shoreline span: 0.1 miles

Habitat composition:

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Big River Estuary 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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This park is a hotspot for forest/ coastal birdwatching. There is the Big River Haul Road that leads to the forest and estuary which is great for birdwatching whether on foot or kayaking. The beach is a great spot for birding as well!

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Birding Tutorials by by Mendocino Coast Audubon Society

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These videos are a great resource to learn more about birding on our coast. The video lengths vary from each video on the playlist. Feel free to check it out to learn more about birding!

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A series of tutorials to help identify birds that winter in the Mendocino coast region.

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National Ocean Service explains what an estuary is. (2.01 min. video)

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National Ocean Service explains what an estuary is. (2.01 min. video)

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There is a video transcript as well as a 1 min. read article.

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Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water-a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater.

However, there are also several types of entirely freshwater ecosystems that have many similar characteristics to the traditional brackish estuaries. For example, along the Great Lakes, river water with very different chemical and physical characteristics mixes with lake water in coastal wetlands that are affected by tides and storms just like estuaries along the oceanic coasts. These freshwater estuaries also provide many of the ecosystem services and functions that brackish estuaries do, such as serving as natural filters for runoff and providing nursery grounds for many species of birds, fish, and other animals.

Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Many animals rely on estuaries for food, places to breed, and migration stopovers.

Estuaries are delicate ecosystems. Congress created the National Estuarine Research Reserve System to protect more than one million acres of estuarine land and water. These estuarine reserves provide essential habitat for wildlife, offer educational opportunities for students, and serve as living laboratories for scientists.

Video Transcript

Estuaries: Where the River Meets the Sea. Estuaries. Where freshwater rivers meet the salty open sea. There is a lot to love in an estuary. A popular destination for fishing, boating, birding and hiking, estuaries are a beautiful place to be. Miles of beaches, flowing grasses, marshes, creeks, and streams. This salty freshwater mix is where life begins and is the nursing grounds for 75% of the fish we catch. Estuaries are lined with marshes and sea grasses that filter water flowing to the ocean and act as a buffer protecting us from coastal storms. NOAA works closely with coastal states to manage the National Estuarine Research Reserve System of 28 protected areas along the nation's coasts. These valuable reserves are living laboratories for scientists and exciting, hands-on classrooms for students and teachers. At the reserves, scientists study sea level rise, water pollution, erosion, and impacts of human development. These studies provide strong scientific knowledge to help us create healthy, productive estuaries. The Chesapeake Bay, the ACE Basin in South Carolina, and San Francisco Bay in California, are just a few of the 28 reserves that can be found near you . So visit an estuary and experience firsthand the beauty and wildlife where the river meets the sea.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea.

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National Geographic Education Article- Estuary

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This article is for grades 6th-12th. Read all about estuaries!

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An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. When freshwater and seawater combine, the water becomes brackish, or slightly salty.

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A list of book resources all about rivers!

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These fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books are at the core of our River Rangers project - a hands-on science adventure for kids all about water and the rivers and streams in your community. Learn more about River Rangers here >

Download the River Rangers Toolkit to find out how to integrate these books into your youth programming or at-home summer learning. Dip in and start your adventure!

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These fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books are at the core of our River Rangers project - a hands-on science adventure for kids all about water and the rivers and streams in your community. Learn more about River Rangers here > Download the River Rangers Toolkit to find out how to integrate these books into your youth programming or at-home summer learning.

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Nat Geo Kids Article

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1) The Nile River is widely accepted as the world's longest river. Found in north Africa, it flows through 11 different countries and stretches a whopping 6,695km - that's as long as 65,000 football pitches!

2) Most scientists agree that the Amazon River comes in a close second, winding a huge 6,840km through the mountains and rainforests of South America!

3) That's a very long distance, wouldn't you agree? Well, believe it or not, in 2007 a man named Martin Strel swam the entire length of the Amazon river! To complete his amazing jungle journey, Martin swam ten hours a day for 66 days!

4) But what about the world's deepest river? That's the Congo River in Central Africa. Whilst its true depth remains a mystery, scientists believe the waters run at least 230m deep in parts - deep enough to submerge London's famous clocktower, known as Big Ben, 2.5 times on top of each other!

5) As rivers flow their course across the land, they form lots of fascinating geographic features, such as amazing mountain valleys, canyons, lakes and, of course, wonderful waterfalls!

6) Some record-breaking waterfalls formed by our planet's rivers include...

Angel Falls, Venezuela - the world's highest waterfall at a staggering 979m tall!

Khone Falls, Laos - the widest waterfall, measuring an incredible 10,783m!

Inga Falls, Democratic Republic of the Congo - the world's largest waterfall, if we're talking about the amount of water. Every second, 25,768 cubic metres plunges down the fall - that's more than ten Olympic swimming pools!

7) Rivers can be all kinds of colours - not just blue, clear or muddy brown as you might expect! In ' blackwater rivers', found in swamps and wetlands, the waters look like strong black tea. And in Colombia, the aquatic plants of Caño Cristales - known as the ' River of Five Colours ' - make the waters flow with bright blue, red, black, yellow and green!

sometimes because of human engineering. Ever heard of London's 'streams of the 8) Not all rivers flow overland - ' lost rivers'? These are River Thames and River Lea that were built over as the city grew. subterranean rivers ' run secretly beneath the surface! This is

9) Subterranean rivers can also exist naturally. In the Philippines for example, the Puerto Princesa Underground River flows beneath a mountain for five miles, before finally emptying into the South China Sea. Cool, eh?

10) It's not just rivers themselves which are fascinating - it's the wonderful wildlife that lives in them, too! Rivers provide a home for all kinds of creatures, including insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals and over 10,000 species of fish!

11) Some of the most fascinating river creatures include Amazon river dolphins (which have pink skin!), electric eels (which stun prey and predators with powerful electric shocks!), freshwater stingrays (which can grow to an enormous 5 metres!) and freshwater turtles, which have been around for 200 million years!

in the 12) Rivers and lakes are a salty ocean or frozen in our polar ice caps. That's why it's super important that we protect our rivers and look after the freshwater our planet provides. vital source of freshwater for life on Earth. But did you know they hold less than 1% of the world's water? Most (over 99%, in fact) is

13) Sadly, our rivers and waterways are being polluted by chemicals, sewage and household waste, which can cause serious harm to animals - and humans, too. In fact, an estimated 300-400 million tonnes of waste is thought to pollute our rivers and seas every year!

14) The good news is that people around the world are working hard to keep our rivers and fresh water supplies clean and safe. And you can help, too! Be sure to reuse and recycle whenever you can, and bin rubbish responsibly! And you can help save water, too - be sure to turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, and why not opt for a short shower over a long bath?

15) Did you know there's a day dedicated to our planet's wonderful waterways? Every September, millions of people from more than 70 countries celebrate World Rivers Day. This global event raises awareness of the importance of rivers and how we can best protect them for years to come!

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Fascinating facts about rivers - National Geographic Kids

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Discover 15 facts about rivers. What's the longest river on Earth? Where is the deepest river? What are the causes of river pollution and how can YOU help?!

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Read more about Big River here!

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Big River flows for 42 miles (68 km) through the northern California Coast Range starting at an elevation of approximately 2,800 feet (865 m), draining a watershed of 181 square miles (46,880 ha) and entering the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino, California. From the river mouth, the estuary extends for 8.3 miles (13.4 km) upstream in the summer, and 3 miles (5 km) in the winter when the river discharge is highest.

The lands of the Big River watershed were historically inhabited by the Me-tum'mah, or Mitom Pomo tribe. Big River was named for the giant redwoods that once lined its banks, and was shown as Arroyo Grande on maps of the original Albion Mexican land grant of October 30, 1844. The timber industry has dominated the area since the 1850s when the first mill was constructed in what was then known as Mendocino City. The mill was constructed on the bluffs overlooking the river mouth with an apron chute to load lumber onto schooners anchored at the river mouth. Splash dams were built on the river and their floodgates were opened every winter to sweep logs downstream to booms which kept the logs from floating out to sea. This method of log transport increased erosion, removed woody debris, and buried cobble substrates. Logging practices severely impacted the estuary which served as a millpond from 1852-1938.

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service nominated the estuary for protection in 1980 under the Unique and Nationally Significant Wildlife Ecosystem Program. Although the nomination did not garner the necessary protections, the estuary did receive protection in 2002 when the Mendocino Land Trust purchased a 7,334 acre (2,968 ha) parcel from the Hawthorne Timber Company. The land was donated to California State Parks as part of the Mendocino Headlands. In 2010, the estuary waters were designated as a State Marine Conservation Area under the Marine Life Protection Act. Today, Big River Estuary State Marine Conservation Area is a small marine protected area located just south of the town of Mendocino. It covers less than a quarter square mile (65 ha) of estuary habitat along 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of riverbank east of the Highway 1 bridge. Big River Beach provides access for launching canoes and kayaks onto the protected waters of the Big River Estuary. Read more here and here. Explore more of Big River here:

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Big River flows for 42 miles (68 km) through the northern California Coast Range starting at an elevation of approximately 2,800 feet (865 m), draining a watershed of 181 square miles (46,880 ha) and entering the Pacific Ocean at Mendocino, California.

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A bird's view of what Big River Estuary looks like! Pretty neat! Such a beautiful site to view from above! 🦅

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A bird's view of what Big River Estuary looks like from the east side of the bridge. This is where the main parking lot areas to access the beach. Such a great beach spot! ⛱

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I Know the River Loves Me/ Yo sé que el río me Ama Teachers Guide

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I Know the River Loves Me/ Yo sé que el río me Ama Teachers Guide

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Do you want to continue learning from the PORTScast Storytime lesson? Check out this teacher's guide for further studying of the book. Free resource!

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Our California State Parks Mindful Moment Outdoors sheet is part of our park kit. There are many different forms to stay mindful of when visiting our parks. Learn more about the studies and benefits of being in the outdoors are to our mental health.

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Outdoor Therapy as a Wellness Practice (5 min. read)

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Outdoor Therapy as a Wellness Practice (5 min. read)

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Learn about different forms of outdoor wellness practices. There are travel companies creating wellness programs in nature for therapy and relaxation. These wellness programs include mindful moments outdoors!

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Why outdoor therapy is the wellness travel trend you need to try

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Travel destinations around the world are using the healing power of nature to soothe the body and soul, from forest bathing to float therapy.

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Look out for more programs at our park here!

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Look out for more programs at our park here!

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Search, "Mendocino Headlands State Park," to look for PORTScast programs here.

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Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students®