About This Project

Since 2014, more than 96% of bull kelp in Northern California has been lost due to a combination of stressors linked to climate change. As a result, Reef Check Foundation works closely with project partners through several collaborative community-based efforts to restore and monitor the bull kelp forest in Northern California. The proposed funding will explore ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions for kelp forest restoration using citizen science.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Kelp forests are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems in the world, as they provide habitat, food, and refuge to fish, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. They sequester carbon from the atmosphere, create oxygen, and dampen wave energy, all of which have effects that reach beyond the kelp forest ecosystem and affect coastal communities and landscapes, and climate. Since 2014, bull kelp forests in Northern California have declined by as much as 96% due largely to a dramatic increase in native purple sea urchin populations which feed on kelp. The loss of bull kelp over the last few years has had catastrophic impacts on the kelp forest ecosystem, as well as socio-economic impacts on the human communities that rely on them.

What is the significance of this project?

Despite decades of research on California’s iconic kelp forest ecosystems, there is still a relatively poor understanding of the efficacy, logistical feasibility, and ecological outcomes of various kelp restoration approach. We believe that a fundamental element to long-term success for reef restoration is to create active stewards of the marine environment at the local level. To this end, we will not only train volunteers to conduct research but also provide long-term data to assess the effects of restoration efforts. This information is critical for restoration science and management.

Since 2020, restoration efforts have occurred in two locations in Mendocino, California. This project will continue restoration efforts by championing community-based stewardship.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to continue to use community science to conduct research to understand which method of restoration is the most effective and economically sustainable solution in an area hit hardest by the loss of the kelp forest. We will;

Test the effectiveness and efficiencies of different methods for urchin removal.

Co-design a layered approach with local partners to increase the success of restoration specific to the Mendocino region.

Evaluate different engagement strategies to understand the most effective community-driven restoration technique.

All research will be shared to inform the scientific community and management to add to the restoration toolkit. Lessons learned from this ongoing restoration may be scalable to other areas in California.