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News Please view the Bay Conditions page for information on the domoic acid and algal bloom conditions and their affects on marine life in Monterey Bay. |
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Members List:
Links
Webmaster:
Jerry Speraw
Coordinator:
Lisa Emanuelson
Staff:
Lori Beraha
Ron Eby
Lauren Hanneman
John Jordan
Robert Scoles
Jerry Speraw
Members:
Phil Adams
Ron Breuch
Holly Brown
Rita Chaffin
Mary Condry
Joel Doss
Meade Fischer
Paul Gallup
Kay Gilles
Sherman Golub
Sandy Hale
Frank Herbert
Linda Jordan
Julia Kinst
Carol Maehr
Tony Mullins
Elizabeth Murray
Peter Ottersbach
Dean Peterson
Richard Powell
Bob Rollin
Helen Shaughnessy
Vasiliki Vassil
Nancy Worcester
Angie Zavala Lopez
Natalie Zayas
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Welcome !
This website is dedicated to creating and sustaining a community of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary TeamOCEAN Volunteers interested in sharing and enhancing their kayaking and docent experiences. It is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by any governmental agency, nor supported by governmental funds.
Please select the link to the month you want to see: (updated July 1st)
To add or change your paddling days, please email Ron Eby.
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Select button for today's tide chart:
(a different day can be displayed by changing the "Time Control" setting at the bottom of the page) |
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To add yourself to the carpooling map, please select the "Add Yourself" button, not the "Join" button, and complete the form that follows. Please provide your name, your community, to where you are willing to carpool (ES or CR), and on what days (FRI, SAT, or SUN). Your submission will need to be reviewed before your button will appear on the map. Thanks. Jerry
Contributions by Lori, Lauren, Robert & Jerry
(Paddling News will return at the beginning of the 2008 Season)
(Also see link at bottom of left column)
Pacific Grove Wants to Keep Seals Off Beach. (posted 12.23)
The Monterey County Weekly published three articles by Jessica Lyons in December 13-19 issue related to Elkhorn Slough. Please select the following links to access each one:
Slough of Change:
Scientists and activists aim to save Elkhorn Slough from erosion and development before it's too late. (posted 12.23)
Now She Gets It:
The allure of Elkhorn Slough is clear from the vantage of a kayak. (posted 12.23)
Like the Back of His Hand:
Professor dedicates himself to learning all he can about Elkhorn Slough. (posted 12.23)
If you have questions, comments, or stories to share about your adventures with TeamOCEAN or other related topics, please select the link below to access TeamOCEAN's message board feature.
Message Board
Because this message board is not password protected, I am choosing to moderate its content. Please be aware that this may result in the posting delay of your questions or comments.
Sung to the tune of
“How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?”
(developed from a conversation
between Lauren and Jerry)
Have you seen an otter in the water?
Have you seen a seal on the beach?
If you want to know about the wildlife,
TeamOCEAN kayakers can teach.
If you want to know about the ocean
And sea life around Monterey,
Just paddle on over to my kayak
And ask me a question today.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Style Section
10/06/01
I have a wonderful job--wonderful because I'm doing something I normally do for fun and because I'm helping a cause I strongly believe in. I'm a member of TeamOCEAN, the kayak educational and interpretive patrol.
Our team paddles kayaks for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary along the Monterey Coast, Elkhorn Slough and possibly Santa Cruz. We watch for violations of sanctuary rules, caution ppeople who get too close to protected species, answer questions about the sanctuary and its flora and fauna, and help kayakers who are having problems. We're a bit like park docents in a liquid park.
For years, I've paddled these waters, watched out for seals and otters and helped tourists who find themselves unable to get back to the dock. Now I'm doing these things officially, caring for the sanctuary I've grown to love, and earning a bit of money in the process.
I've already discovered that most people aren't mean or destructive. If they do something wrong, it's usually from a lack of knowledge or the excitement of close encounters with exotic animals. The people I've talked to who were too close to some animal were either trying to get a photo or were so curious, they forgot what the rental shops told them. Many people, used to zoos, don't realize how vital rest is for creatures who are trying to survive in a harsh environment.
Pretend for a moment that you are homeless, living in a camp, facing the daily challenge of scraping up enough cash to keep body and soul together. Think how well you'd fare if every five minutes during the night someone came along and woke you up. That's what seals, otters and sea birds face when tourists get too close. A gentle reminder is usually enough to solve the problem.
More often, I end up answering questions about animal behavior from people who rarely get the opportunity to interact with wildlife on their own turf. They find, as I have, that the more you observe these creatures, the more fascinating they become.
- Sea lions tend to be bold and brazen and not easily frightened.
- Harbor seals and extremely timid and nervous when resting on the rocks, and vulnerable.
- Otters, while they seem to always be playing, are busy most of the time with survival. While they are not terribly timid, they are easly disturbed, which causes them to waste needed energy.
- Perched sea birds are also conserving energy needed for basic survival.
Obviously, the best part of my day is when everyone is being courteous and respectful, and I can simply enjoy the pageant of life around me. I love to watch the otters break up the shellfish and pick out the meat, while gulls follow closely to grab the remnants.
In Elkhorn Slough, the pelicans dive continually, raising little explosions of white water and coming up with a beak full of fish, while clamoring gulls try to steal a meal. Beautiful, purple-striped jellyfish the size of beach balls undulate in the shallows. Puppy-eyed seals pop to the surface to cast curious glances at passing humans. Sea lions engage in raucous social behavior that is a caricature of high-density tenement living. Flocks of birds create digital patterns in the air, and the light on the water dances in a thousand subtle colors.
The usual mechanical sounds don't reach out on the water. The ambient sounds of bird song and wind bring a sense of serenity. By day's end, I'm physically tired but emotionally relaxed and content.
