Three Graces Intertidal Program

Transcription

1 Three Graces Intertidal Program A Report on Visitor Use Patterns at Three Graces Intertidal Brian White, Program Coordinator Camp Magruder, Old Pacific Hwy., Rockaway, OR INTRODUCTION The Three Graces Intertidal Area, located north of Garibaldi, OR and just inside the entrance to Tillamook Bay, is a rocky shore estuarine intertidal area which hosts a variety of animal and plant life. It is accessible from Highway 101 at low tide, hiking down a short, unsigned trail over the large rocks. There is parking available along the side of the road and a Welcome to Our Home interpretive sign is in place. The Three Graces Intertidal Program received an Extension Sea Grant to start the project of monitoring the site for visitor use and to give interpretive support to the visitors. It was the goal of this project, from May through August of 1997, to collect information which would show how may people visit the site, their activities while visiting, how and where they access the site, which areas get the most use, and identify areas needing protective action. METHOD An observation sheet was created for recording data. The observation sheet consisted of: the number of people visiting the site, the activities they were engaged in, how much collection occurred and what was collected, how they accessed the site, and how long they stayed. Each visitor group was also tracked throughout the area during their visit to the intertidal. A traffic pattern map was used for recording this information. It consisted of a map of the area divided up into numbered zones. The volunteer would watch where the group moved and then record the numbers on the observation sheet. There was additional space on the observation sheet for recording the weather conditions as well as any bird life present in the area. Volunteers were recruited to observe the visitors, record the information on the observation sheet, and offer interpretation. The volunteer observers were asked to fill in as much information as they could for each visitor group. In addition to the gathering of information, the volunteers were present to provide some interpretation to the visitors. An informational brochure was created to give additional interpretive support. The volunteers interacted with the visitors, handing them brochures, making field guides available, and answering questions about the intertidal area. Weekend low tide days were selected for 1 or 2 volunteers to be present at the site. The volunteers were asked to spend 3 hours each day worked. A total of nine people volunteered 23 days during the summer (see table 4 for the volunteer schedule). 1

2 RESULTS During the 23 days of study, volunteers were present for 52 hours and 15 minutes (Table 4) and observed a total of 1,301 visitors engaged in a variety of activities. Table 1 shows the number of visitors engaged in specific activities at the site and the percentage of those activities based on the total number of visitors. Figure 1 shows that exploring the tidepools ranks highest in visitor activity, followed by educational groups, fishing, clamming, and seaweed gathering, respectively. Each visitor s activity is recorded in the data to obtain daily totals as well as the totals for each activity. Data was collected on 11 days for the length of stay of each visitor group. Each group was observed for their arrival time and departure time, giving a total length of stay, shown in Table 2. Time was measured in minutes, with each group s time being added together, then dividing by the number of visitor groups, to obtain a daily average and an average for each activity. The total average length of stay for all visitor groups is 45.6 minutes. Figure 2 shows the average length of stay of visitors in several of the high use activities. The average length of stay for visitors fishing is the highest, followed by clammers, then those exploring the tidepools, and finally the visitors gathering or collecting tend to stay for the shortest periods of time. The visitor groups were also monitored for how they accessed the site. Visitors could choose to use either the main trail to the south of the roadside parking, they could go over the rocks at the parking strip, over the rocks by the interpretive sign, over the rocks by the small creek, or walk the beach north from Garibaldi. Table 3 shows the point of access to the site for the visitor groups and the percentage for each based on 202 total visitor groups. Figure 3 shows that almost three-quarters of the visitors chose to use the main trail to get down to the tidepools, which is the easiest access to the site. However, some visitors still chose to access the site from the other locations. The tracking of the individual groups traffic patterns revealed areas for particular visitor activities. The traffic pattern information differs for each visitor group, so the following is a summary of the observations. Most groups whose purpose was to explore the intertidal, remained in the middle of the area, in-between the large rocks, from the beach out to the water s edge. Visitors using the site for fishing used the entire intertidal area. Clamming was mostly concentrated on the rocky beach immediately to the south of the tallest rock. The gathering of seaweed brought visitors into the rocky area at the north end of the intertidal. These visitors were the ones most likely to access the site by climbing down the large rocks just off the parking area. Nevertheless, the area that saw the most traffic was the beach at the bottom of the main trail. There are no actual numbers on exactly how much was collected during the 23 days of observation, but some visitor groups left with three to four large bags full of seaweed or a small bucket full of snails. Three sea stars were also removed from the site during the observation period. Most of the collection activity falls within the legal limits allowed by current sport fishing regulations but disturbs many of the visitors because of the destructive nature of the action. Any large collections such as these is bound to have some impact on the intertidal habitat. 2

3 DISCUSSION The volunteers engaged a few of the visitors in dialogue and helped answer questions about the intertidal area. Comments from some of the visitors included, would like to see this become protected, would like to learn more about the life here, there is much less tidepool life than 4 years ago, especially sea stars, and... abuse of the tidepool area due to the pollution of the bay as well as destruction of particular lives. The majority of the visitors present at the site are there specifically to explore and learn more about the intertidal life. Most are observant of the rules indicated on the interpretive sign, however, on occasion, some visitors are destructive in their exploration of the site, such as not stepping carefully, throwing rocks into the pools, climbing high up on the large rocks, using shovels and rakes maliciously, and littering. Weather and the low tide time affect the number of visitors using the site on a particular day. Visitors do not tend to visit the site when it is raining hard. On days when it was pouring the volunteer observer usually stayed at home. Groups from nearby Camp Magruder are one of the few groups who use the site when it is raining steady. When it is only a light rain the visitors remain at their activities. Warm and clear weather on a weekend tends to bring more visitors to the site. Most visitors begin to arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, no matter when or how low the tide is for that day. When the low tide is later in the morning, the number of visitors is larger, they usually visit the site closer to low tide and generally stay longer. The low tide level does not appear to make a difference in the sizes of visitor groups. Many birds use the site for feeding, resting, and possibly breeding. On most mornings, herons can be seen walking in the pools. Pigeon guillemots, gulls, common loons, cormorants, black oyster catchers, and belted kingfishers, can be seen on the rocks and in the water. Heavy use of the area by visitors and boating activity causes most of the birds to swim away or leave the area entirely. However, when the activity diminishes, the birds reclaim their places on the rocks. 3

4 RECOMMENDATIONS Concern has been expressed for the continued abuse witnessed at the site. Simple acts such as careless walking and the use of rakes and shovels are noticed by visitors who advocate for more protection at the site. The larger scale abuses such as the gathering of seaweed, snails, muscles, and sea stars are not illegal, just destructive to the habitat. An elimination of these practices would only occur if a special status was issued for the site, which could be done by the Division of State Lands. Any enforcement would then be their responsibility, however, volunteer interpreters or visitors could be watchdogs for any of these potential abuses. The Three Graces Intertidal Program recommends the implementation of more controls for collection on this delicate area of Tillamook Bay, hopefully toward a Marine Garden or similar status. Based on the large numbers of people that visited the site during the project, a volunteer interpretation program should be established. The interpreters would be present for several hours a day to engage the visitors in understanding intertidal plants and animals as well as encouraging the care and respect needed when observing at the tidepools. They would also be watchdogs for potential abuses as discussed above. The Three Graces Intertidal Program would like to set the foundation for a volunteer interpretation program to begin the summer of An invertebrate inventory done separately at the site by Becky Houck and others (1997) has set the framework for follow-up work at the site. Their report indicates the interest in a community tide-pool session asking for volunteers [to] make a commitment to take additional data on future dates and would be provided with data collection sheets. Continuing the inventory work could be done by site visitors as well as the group of volunteers. If such follow-up work is to occur, the volunteer group would be able to organize this specific task. Based on the site access data obtained in this project, information signs should be placed at the site to direct visitors to the main access trail. These signs would help control the flow of traffic in the area, eliminate unwanted traffic areas, and direct visitors to the volunteer interpreters. Signs to be considered may be parking signs for along the roadway, a sign directing visitors to the main access trail, where and when to find an interpreter, a tide table for the month, and a sign indicating the protective status for the site. The placement of signs at the area will need the approval of certain authorities, such as the Division of State Lands or the railroad company. Therefore, a core of volunteers should be established to oversee the Three Graces Intertidal Program, starting with the current group of volunteers. This group would provide interpretation at the site, watch out for abuses and destruction of habitat, and continue collecting data for the invertebrate inventory. The volunteers will need to do the following: 1) Decide on a schedule for interpretation at the site using the data contained in this study; possibly low tide weekends during the summer with 2 volunteers present for 4 hours. 2) Request annual funding for the training of volunteers, erecting signs at the area, creating interpretive brochures, and purchasing other interpretive equipment (around $300 a year). This funding may come from local money or future Extension Sea Grants. 3) Help design an interpretive brochure, similar to the one recently printed by thethree Graces Interridal Program. 4) Help design and place informational signs which direct visitors to the main trail and the volunteer interpreters, notify visitors about the protective status of the area, and other information the program deems necessary. 4

5 5) Establish a link with the University of Portland to continue data collection for the invertebrate inventory. 6) Establish communications with a local agency or organization to help coordinate and monitor program activities. Some possible groups may be The National Estuary Project, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Division of State Lands, or Camp Magruder. It should be noted that these recommendations are not intended to encourage increased site use which could further harm the area, but to simply encourage others to help protect what we already have. CONCLUSION The Three Graces Intertidal area is an area rich in diversity of life. It is an area enjoyed by several thousand visitors each year for a variety of activities. However, several of the activities visitors are engaged in play a part in the destruction of that diversity, from the harvesting of seaweed to the collection of sea stars. From the data accumulated in this project, the Three Graces Intertidal Program recommends three things: 1) a Marine Garden or similar status to protect this fragile, estuarine ecosystem from over-collection and misuse; 2) a volunteer program to provide interpretation to visitors, collect data for an invertebrate inventory, and be watchdogs for potential abuses; and 3) additional signing to control access to the site and aid in the protection of sensitive areas. The Three Graces Intertidal Program is seeking the cooperation and support of local agencies and communities to help protect this precious natural resource. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A great big thank you to the Marine Hatfield Science Center and the Extension Sea Grant Program for providing the funds for this project. Thanks to Camp Magruder and the Tillamook Bay National Estuary Project for their support and advise before and during the project and to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for donating interpretive materials. A special thanks to the volunteers who helped with the data gathering and interpretation: Myr Skipper, Misty O Brien, Wendy Hull, Lisa Heigh, Roxanna Hinzman, Karen Cartmell, Janice Pennington, Anami Pearson, and Justin Leonard. REFERENCES Houck, Becky, Linda Fergusson-Kolmes, Steven Kolmes, and Terra Lang Final Report on Intertidal Invertebrates in Tillamook Bay: A Report to the Tillamook Bay National Estuary Project. Department of Biology, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR

6 Table 1: Visitor Activities at Three Graces Intertidal Date exploring education fishing clamming photography walking gathering seaweed gathering snails gathering muscles gathering bait other TOTAL Visitors May May May May May May June June June June July July July July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug TOTAL % of Total 70.2% 15.4% 5.0% 2.5% 0.31% 0.46% 2.8% 1.2% 0.0% 0.31% 2.0% 100% 6

7 Table 2: Visitor Group Length of Stay at Three Graces Intertidal TOTAL MINUTES # of Visitor Groups AVERAGE STAY (min.) Date exploring education fishing clamming photography walking gathering other May 8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May May June 8 June June 20 June July July 5 July July 8 July 18 July July 20 July July 23 July 24 Aug Aug Aug minutes # groups Avg. Stay

8 Table 3: Visitor Group Site Access at Three Graces Intertidal Date main trail far north end above creek from south from sign unknown* Total May May May May May May June June June June July July July July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug TOTAL % of Total 73% 9% 5% 1% 1% 11% 100% 8

9 Table 4: Volunteer Schedule Date Low Tide Volunteer Schedule Thur, May 8-1.3, 8:32 7:15-10:00 AM Fri, May 9-1.2, 9:17 7:45-10:15 AM Sat, May , 10:02 8:25-8:45 AM Sun, May , 10:49 9:20-12:15 AM Fri, May , 8:13 7:05-9:30 AM Sat, May , 8:55 8:00-10:30 AM Sun, June 8-0.8, 9:37 8:30-11:30 AM Mon, June 9-0.5, 10:18 8:45-11:45 AM Fri, June , 7:13 7:30-9:00 AM Tues, June , 10:07 8:30-11:30 AM Fri, July 4-1.0, 7:19 6:30-9:00 AM Sat, July 5-0.9, 7:58 6:30-9:30 AM Sun, July 6-0.8, 8:35 7:20-10:15 AM Tues, July 8-0.2, 9:46 8:45-10:30 AM Fri, July , 6:08 7:30-8:30 AM Sat, July , 6:51 7:00-9:30 AM Sun, July , 7:34 8:30-10:15 AM Mon, July , 8:17 6:45-9:15 AM Wed, July , 9:44 9:15-11:00 AM Thur, July , 10:30 9:45-11:15 AM Sat, Aug 2-0.5, 7:00 6:45-9:00 AM Mon, Aug , 7:09 6:40-10:00 AM Tues, Aug , 7:52 6:50-9:25 AM Total Volunteer Time 52 hrs. & 15 min. 9

10 Figure 1 3 Graces Intertidal Visitor Activities Percentage of Total Use (1,301 Visitors) % 70.2% exploring education fishing clamming photography walking seaweed gathering snail harvesting bait gathering other

11 Figure Graces Intertidal Length of Stay Average Length of Stay in Minutes exploring education fishing clamming photos walking gathering other Average of Total Visitor Group Activity

12 Figure 3 3 Graces Intertidal Site Access Percentage of 202 Visitor Groups % 9% 5% 73% main trail far north end above creek from south from sign unknown