Ten Mile State Marine Reserve, Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area, and Ten Mile Estuary State Marine Conservation Area

The coastline in this region is mostly rocky, with pronounced marine terraces below the towering coastal bluffs. Intertidal organisms like limpets, mussels, anemones, and various seaweeds cling to the rocks, and seals haul out on the rocky terraces.

The long stretch of coast is dotted with numerous offshore islets, pinnacles, sea stacks, and pocket coves. The rocky outcroppings are ideal nesting and foraging habitats for black oystercatcher, pigeon guillemot, pelagic cormorant, and western gull. Ten Mile SMR ends at Seaside Beach on its southern border, one of the few sandy beaches in this MPA. Here, large rocks protrude from the soft white sand. Though it is present throughout most of this MPA, rocky intertidal habitat is most accessible on the north side of Seaside Beach.

Under the surface, an area of rocky reef cuts through the SMR's sandy seafloor. This rocky reef features white-plumed anemones, red sea cucumbers and fan-like gorgonians, several species of crab and octopus, and many types of groundfish, such as rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon.

Ten Mile Beach SMCA is largely influenced by Ten Mile River which cuts through the marine terraces, depositing large amounts of sand from the river mouth into deeper water. This sand deposition helped form the white beach and fragile dunes that extend into Inglenook Fen-Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve. Offshore, the seafloor is almost entirely sand. Common soft seafloor inhabitants include sand dollars, sea whips, worms, and various species of flatfish that hide by burying themselves under the sediments.

Ocean tides and Ten Mile River waters converge at the western end of Ten Mile Estuary SMCA. The SMCA fluctuates between a lagoon and riverine environment because, compared to other estuaries in northern California, this estuary is not closely connected to the ocean. At times, the estuary becomes a freshwater lagoon. Migratory shorebirds like marbled godwits, whimbrels, semipalmated plovers, and western sandpipers are commonly seen near the western end of the estuary in the summer and early fall. Gulls often congregate here in large numbers, especially near the mouth of Ten Mile River. Flatfish, smelt, herring, and shiner perch use the protected estuary as nursery grounds, while three-spined stickleback and tidewater goby feast in the productive, nutrient-rich salt marsh. Dungeness crab find shelter in the eelgrass beds that line portions of the estuary.

Ten Mile Estuary SMCA also serves as an important migration corridor for various species. Steelhead trout and coho salmon dwell in the estuary as juveniles before heading out to sea. They pass through the estuary as adults while migrating back to their spawning grounds. River otters also use the estuary as a transportation corridor.

For centuries, Native American Tribes in California have relied on marine and coastal resources. Many Native American Tribes in California continue to regularly harvest marine resources within their ancestral territories and maintain relationships with the coast for ongoing customary uses. The area around the Ten Mile MPAs was originally inhabited by the Coast Yuki, or Metkuyak Ontilka people; their word for the land north of the Ten Mile River mouth is "Achiskihosbintem"; the land to the south of the river mouth is known as "Hebichwakem". Several tribes gained exemption from MPA regulations through a factual record of historical take within the Ten Mile Beach SMCA.

The first non-native peoples to visit the Mendocino coast were Russian fur traders who traveled up and down the coast periodically after 1803, but they did not set up permanent settlements. After 1860, the small enclave of Newport and the bustling lumber town of Kibesillah emerged to support the burgeoning timber industry. Kibesillah and Newport were gradually abandoned when the local lumber mill, located up Ten Mile River, was moved to Fort Bragg in 1916. A railroad was constructed to carry redwood logs from Ten Mile River to Fort Bragg, and most of the buildings were disassembled and the wood repurposed to build the town of Fort Bragg. The railroad line was converted to a haul road in 1949, which remained in use until 1983. The haul road was converted into a trail as part of a local habitat restoration program. This environmentally sensitive area is now a protected cultural and historic site.

Ten Mile SMR does not allow take of any marine resource, so the best way to enjoy it is by strolling along the beach or bluffs, tidepooling, bird watching, scanning the ocean for whales, or getting out on the water in a boat to sail or scuba dive.

Ten Mile Beach SMCA has a long stretch of beach and can be a great place to walk, wade, and swim. This area is accessible by either parking on the southwest side of Ten Mile Bridge and hiking almost half a mile along an unimproved trail, or via MacKerricher State Park(opens in new tab). A three-mile beach walk from the State Park leads to Ten Mile Beach SMCA, but be sure to check the tides. Boaters will find the easiest access to Ten Mile Beach SMCA out of Noyo Harbor at Fort Bragg. Recreational and commercial fishermen are welcome to try their hand at catching Dungeness crab in the SMCA.

Launching kayaks from the shores of Ten Mile River requires long portages from the nearest parking. Directly south of Ten Mile Estuary SMCA, Inglenook Fen-Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve offers various recreational opportunities. To access this unique dune habitat, park in the small lot just west of Highway 1 at mile marker 69.52. From the lot, a wheelchair-accessible trail extends to Ten Mile River Bridge, which offers views of the estuary and beach. Bird watching is a popular activity, as more than 90 bird species inhabit the area. The Old Smith Ranch Trail(opens in new tab), which opened to the public in July 2020 for hiking and bird watching, meanders alongside Ten Mile River for a couple of miles to the east of Ten Mile Bridge.

Ten Mile 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.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(19)

Ten Mile Beach 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° 46.242' 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.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(20)

Ten Mile Estuary 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.

California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 632(b)(21)

Downloads for Ten Mile State Marine Reserve

Map

Facts, Map & Regulations

Downloads for Ten Mile Beach State Marine Conservation Area

Map

Facts, Map & Regulations

Downloads for Ten Mile Estuary State Marine Conservation Area

Map

Facts, Map & Regulations