New data from our two largest community science programs is now available!
Santa Ana River Mouth Monitoring Project
This project analyzes human, dog, and bird activity at the mouth of the Santa Ana River, located between Newport and Huntington Beach. Constant off-leash dog activity at the river mouth jeopardizes threatened and protected shorebird populations that have inhabited the area for thousands of years. Our goal is to document the problem so that the river mouth’s governing agencies can better address the issue through education and law enforcement.
In 2024, we conducted 1,634 surveys of the river mouth. In total, we observed 26,191 beachgoers and 2,356 dogs, with approximately 61% of those dogs illegally off-leash. A total of 153 bird flushing events impacted 4,386 birds in the area. Bird flushing occurs when a dog or human chases off a bird or group of birds resting on the sand, often resulting in chick abandonment and, consequently, population decline.
These findings are consistent with our survey data from 2023. However, 2024 saw a significant increase in law enforcement presence. In total, we witnessed 320 visitors contacted by enforcement officers and other public agency representatives. Also, during the summer months, the City of Newport Beach posted a “No Dog Beach” sign on the road leading to the river mouth, resulting in a significant reduction in off-leash dog violations compared to Summer 2023. Click below to explore all our findings in our annual report.
Marine Protected Area Watch
Since California’s Marine Protected Area Network was established in 2012, we have collected human use data in and around Orange County’s protected coastal areas as a part of the statewide MPA Watch program. Our data collection focuses on reporting consumptive (fishing, collecting, etc.) and non-consumptive (walking, swimming, etc.) activities. Our surveys are crucial for government agencies to learn about MPA usage and make informed land management decisions, like deciding where resources such as signs, docents, and outreach efforts are needed.
In 2024, our team of 35 volunteers conducted 679 surveys at 29 MPA sites. Our data shows an increase in overall OC MPA visitation and a consistently low rate of consumptive activities; this signals that the vast majority of beachgoers abide by MPA regulations. Click below to read the full report.
