Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

1. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve San Mateo County Parks is Planning For The Future

3. History of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve • Created as a Marine Reserve to protect resources and ability to fish in the Reserve in 1969 • 402 acres above high tide and bluffs • Under joint ownership with CA Dept of Fish and Game • SWRCB designated Reserve as an ASBS • 1983 County passed a resolution urging the CA DFG to increase biological protection status. However, six attempts by the County to increase protection failed. • 1997 Pillar Point Marsh acquired by County

5. History of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve • Recognizing the Reserve’s sensitive biological resources required increased protection the County developed the first Master Plan for the Reserve including the Marsh.

6. Master Plan Overview • Natural Resource Management • Visitor Management • Uses and Facilities • Implementation Program

7. Key Aspects of Natural Resource Management • Science-based monitoring and adaptive management program for reefs • County support for State Marine Reserve status (referred to as Marine Life Reserve in Master Plan and EIR) • Coordinate and establish partnerships • Restoration Plan for San Vicente Creek • Protect special-status species • Vegetation Management Plan • Cultural Resources Management Plan • Land acquisition program for adjacent areas • Identify funding opportunities • Focus on Site Stewardship and Adaptive Management • Pillar Point Marsh Restoration Plan, Water Quality Plan and Habitat Management Plan for Red-Legged Frog

8. Key Aspects of Visitor Management • Visitor limitation targets: • Moss Beach Reef: 300 at one time, 500 per day • Frenchman’s Reef: 200 at one time • Limits can be changed through adaptive management program • Emphasize educational use of Reserve over recreation • Require reservations for groups of more than 4 • Limit groups to 100 • Allow visitor fees as one way to manage visitation • Discourage parking in surrounding residential areas and on West Point Ave. • Use results of science–based resource assessment to guide County and CDFG in determining classification for Reserve in Marine Life Protection Act process and resource protection measures • Expand Reserve staff

9. Key Aspects of Uses and Facilities • New facilities to accommodate education and interpretive uses, management activities, and visitor services • 2000 sq. ft. Education Center and associated facilities (parking, outdoor picnic and gathering area, restrooms) • Pillar Point Marsh facilities (parking area, picnic area, restrooms) • Outdoor classroom in cypress grove • Overlooks and benches • New footbridge over San Vicente Creek • Master Landscape and Trails Plan – decision to develop new trails that provide additional access points to the Reserve will be determined based on the results of the resource assessment • Development of Coastal Trail along the bluff to connect to the Reserve and Pillar Point Marsh • Vertical access points to the beach • Educational and interpretive program

10. Implementation Program • Three phases recommended. • First project was Resource Assessment (complete). • First building project is the new Interpretive Center (fundraising under way). • Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program as specific projects in Master Plan are implemented.

11. James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Threats to Intertidal Organisms Visitor Densities / 100 m Shore

12. Change Roped Plot Corners Increase Decrease Side-by-Side Comparison Mussels

13. Variables

14. Poke Pole Fisheries – County Eel Catch Data

15. Management Considerations Master Plan: • Increase education opportunities • Marine Science Education Center • Carrying capacity = 500 / day not to exceed 300 at any time • Lower group reservations • Need counting method

16. Enforcement • Signs & Languages • Surveillance Access • Main access = main • Improve creek crossing • Access fees

17. Management Considerations Collaboration - Monitoring - Evaluation • CCCAP California Critical Coastal Areas Program • MARINe Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network Bat Stars • PISCO Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans • Monterey Bay and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries Abalone • LiMPETS Long-term Intertidal Monitoring Program & Experimental Training for Students (MBNMS) • Sustainable Seas High School Program (GFNMS)

18. Management Considerations MLPA Process - CDF&G • No-take MPA = Reserve • Reserve within a Park • Fishing access (County controlled)

19. Questions ? Friends of Fitzgerald

20. Conceptual Plan for an Education Center • 3000 square foot Center instead of 2000 • Reduction from 56 to 50 parking spaces conforms with County parking requirements. • Outdoor classroom • Interpretive Signage • Need to trench to establish no fault. • Addendum to EIR is required.

21. Other Projects In Process • Removal of concrete culvert in San Vicente Creek and new interpretive signs. • San Vicente Creek restoration. • Coastal Trail improvements (including bridge) • Seal Cove Stairway improvements • Education Center improvements • Improve beach access. • Implement Vegetation Management Guidelines recommendations. • Acquire Pillar Point Bluff from POST

22. For Additional Information • Planning Documents can be viewed at www.eparks.net, under Park Planning, under either Master Plans or Other Planning Efforts. • Sam Herzberg, 650/363-1823, sherzberg@co.sanmateo.ca.us