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Sanctuary Exploration Center Opens on the Shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Santa Cruz, California
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) opened its new Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, California, on Monday, July 23, 2012. The two-story, 12,387-square-foot building near the popular Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is full of interpretive and hands-on exhibits highlighting the sanctuary’s extraordinary natural and cultural resources. Visitors can walk through a kelp forest, drive a miniature remotely operated vehicle (ROV), view high-definition videos of the sanctuary’s underwater world, touch models of intertidal plants and animals, and much more—all for free.
“The Sanctuary Exploration Center encourages visitors of all ages to learn more about California’s marine environment and issues affecting the sanctuary,” said Paul Michel, MBNMS superintendent. “One of our missions is to educate the public about the vital role of protecting one of the nation’s most ecologically significant and stunning underwater treasures.” The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was represented at the opening ceremony by Curt Storlazzi, research geologist at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz and member of the MBNMS Research Activity Panel since 2005. The celebration included talks by U.S. Congressman Sam Farr, Santa Cruz mayor Don Lane, Santa Cruz Economic Development Department executive director Bonnie Lipscomb, MBNMS superintendent Paul Michel, and California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird. After speeches and a kelp-cutting ceremony, the doors of the new center were opened to the public, who swarmed in to explore the displays.
One of the exhibits, titled “Geology: The Sanctuary’s Foundation,” has as its centerpiece a contribution from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center: a sweeping (21 feet wide by 5 feet tall) perspective view of the sanctuary seafloor and the central California coast created by scientist Pete Dartnell from data collected by the USGS and its partners. The view is the background for six panels that highlight the varied terrain in the sanctuary, from nearshore habitats to submarine canyons and undersea mountains. The USGS perspective view was requested by Lisa Uttal, marine scientist and interim director of the Sanctuary Exploration Center.
Docents stationed throughout the center answer questions about the exhibits, help visitors drive the miniature ROV, and provide information about additional ways to enjoy the sanctuary, such as whale watching and kayaking tours. Nearly a thousand visitors came through the center on opening day, and daily visitor counts have remained high ever since. “It’s a really well designed center,” said one opening-day visitor. “It’s full of inviting activities, but it’s not overwhelming. Although I could happily spend a day in a place like this, I like that I could take in all the exhibits in about an hour.” The Sanctuary Exploration Center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. All ages are welcome, and admission is free. Visit the center’s website for directions and additional information: http://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/sec/about.html. A video describing the history of the Sanctuary Exploration Center and highlighting some of the exhibits is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uS0DOVmkhs&feature=youtu.be.
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in this issue:
Topographic Maps Help Curiosity Navigate Mars Methane Seep off San Diego, California
Hawaiian Seabirds Vulnerable to Sea-Level Rise Corals Damaged by Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Gulf Coast Vulnerable to Erosion During Category 1 Hurricanes
Biannual Meeting of the Monterey Bay Marine GIS User Group
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2012/10/outreach.html
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Page Last Modified: May 06, 2013 @ 10:28 AM
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