MacKerricher SMCA, Ten Mile Estuary SMCA, Ten Mile Beach SMCA, Ten Mile SMR

Like state and national parks protect wildlife and habitats on land, marine protected areas (MPAs) conserve and restore wildlife and habitats in our ocean. Under the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) passed in 1999, California began a historic effort to establish a science-based, statewide network of MPAs through a collaborative effort that includes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks. California is taking a regional approach to the design and implementation of MPAs, and has divided the state into five regions: the north coast, south coast, north central coast, central coast and San Francisco Bay.

MPAs contribute to healthier, more resilient ocean ecosystems that can better withstand a wide range of impacts such as pollution and climate change. By protecting entire ecosystems rather than focusing on a single species, MPAs are powerful tools for conserving and restoring ocean biodiversity, and protecting cultural resources, while allowing certain activities such as marine recreation and research. There is a global body of scientific evidence about the effectiveness of marine protected areas and reserves to restore marine ecosystems (http://www.piscoweb.org).

In the waters adjacent to MacKerricher State Park, there are four MPAs, MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), Ten Mile Estuary State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), and Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (SMR).

  • MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)
    • This area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed:
      39° 30.100' N. lat. 123° 47.390' W. long.;
      39° 30.100' N. lat. 123° 49.000' W. long.;
      39° 27.120' N. lat. 123° 49.000' W. long.; and
      39° 27.120' N. lat. 123° 48.830' W. long.
    • MacKerricher State Marine Conservation Area is a popular place, extending from famous Glass Beach at the north end of Fort Bragg to the community of Cleone. MacKerricher State Park is in the middle of this long area. It has a lovely cove beach, hiking trails and a very nice campground.
    • Wild harbor seals sun offshore while scores of shorebirds forage in mounds of beached kelp at these pristine beaches and secluded coves at MacKerricher SMCA.
    • Permitted/Prohibited Uses: Commercial take of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is prohibited. All other commercial and recreational take is allowed in accordance with current regulations.

  • Ten Mile Estuary State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)
    • This area consists of waters below the mean high tide line within the Ten Mile Estuary, eastward of a line connecting the following two points:
      39° 33.199' N. lat. 123° 45.966' W. long.; and
      39° 33.098' N. lat. 123° 46.003' W. long.
      And westward of a line connecting the following two points:
      39° 32.400' N. lat. 123° 44.785' W. long.; and
      39° 32.382' N. lat. 123° 44.769' W. long.
    • The Ten Mile River estuary is one of the least developed estuaries along the North Coast with intact, extensive, and functioning estuarine, wetland, and riparian habitat.
    • Permitted/Prohibited Uses: Take of all living marine resources is prohibited EXCEPT the following federally recognized tribes (listed alphabetically) are exempt from the area and take regulations for Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area (subsection 632(b)(20)) and shall comply with all other existing regulations and statutes:
      • 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
    • Take pursuant to activities authorized in subsection 632(b)(21)(D) is allowed.
    • Waterfowl may be taken in accordance with the general waterfowl regulations (Sections 502, 550, 551, and 552).

  • Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)
    • This area is bounded by the mean high tide and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed except where noted:
      39° 33.300' N. lat. 123° 46.015' W. long.;
      39° 33.300' N. lat. 123° 50.559' W. long.;
      thence southward along the three nautical mile offshore boundary to
      39° 32.500' N. lat. 123° 50.418' W. long.;
      39° 32.500' N. lat. 123° 46.227' W. long.;
      thence northward along the mean high tide line onshore boundary to
      39° 33.098' N. lat. 123° 46.003' W. long.;
      39° 33.199' N. lat. 123° 45.966' W. long.
    • Ten Mile Beach is technically a series of beaches backed by one of the California coast’s longest dune systems and the home of the rare, endangered Snowy Plover. More than 90 species of birds visit or live on the sand and along the cliffs. Seals lounge on nearby rocks, while whales feed and play year-round. – Fort Bragg, Ten Mile Beach
    • Permitted/Prohibited Uses: Take of all living marine resources is prohibited EXCEPT the recreational take of Dungeness crab by trap, hoop net or hand and the commercial take of Dungeness crab by trap.
    • The following federally recognized tribes (listed alphabetically) are exempt from the area and take regulations for Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area (subsection 632(b)(20)) and shall comply with all other existing regulations and statutes:
      • 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

  • Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (SMR)
    • This area is bounded by the mean high tide line and straight lines connecting the following points in the order listed except where noted:
      39° 35.900' N. lat. 123° 47.243' W. long.;
      39° 35.900' N. lat. 123° 51.479' W. long.;
      thence southward along the three nautical mile offshore boundary to
      39° 33.300' N. lat. 123° 50.559' W. long.; and
      39° 33.300' N. lat. 123° 46.015' W. long.
    • Ten Mile State Marine Reserve and Ten Mile Beach State Conservation Area are adjacent, and about 10 miles north of Fort Bragg. As you approach these MPAs from the south, you pass a very wide beach that extends for a mile or so. At the north end of the beach you cross Ten Mile Estuary. Take a short walk to the mouth of the estuary and look north to the Ten Mile SMR and south to the Ten Mile Beach SMCA. Ten Mile Estuary SMCA is the estuary itself, a wide body of water extending on both sides of the highway.
    • Permitted/Prohibited Uses: Take of all living marine resources is prohibited.

This information does not replace the official regulatory language found in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 632, including commercial allowances and restrictions.

  • A fishing license is required for any fishing.
  • All existing take regulations still apply in addition to the ones listed above.
  • Unless otherwise stated, all non-consumptive recreational activities are allowed.

    Additional Resources:

    For additional information on MPAs please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/MPAs

    For resources related to MPAs, please visit the Marine Protected Areas Education and Outreach Initiative’s website: http://www.CaliforniaMPAs.org