• Tule elk silhouetted against sunlight reflecting off of Drakes Bay.

    Point Reyes

    National Seashore California

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Park Wavelengths - December 2011

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The moon will rise full and red-tinged on Friday, December 9. Zuni people of the southwest call this moon "the sun has traveled home to rest" moon. Early risers or late, late evening folks may also see a lunar eclipse this Saturday, December 10 around 4:45 am. Clear cold weather is predicted, so we should see the earth's shadow fall across the moon.

Buckeyes and Bay nuts are dropping everywhere! Many of the bay nuts still have their "eggplant" appearance--the fleshy reddish purple rind peels away to reveal a thin shelled nut. Buckeyes are a mahogany color and many of them may appear gnawed upon by squirrels.

The 2011-2012 spawning season is official with one coho redd (rocky nest) reported in Lagunitas Creek. Spawning has not been observed in that particular area since 2008-2009. Water levels are higher this year than they were the last time this redd area was noted. More rain is needed to bring up more fish from the bay into the creeks.

From Samuel P. Taylor State Park:

The park will be closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week beginning December 6, 2012. The closure includes campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots and restrooms, and is expected to last until the end of March, 2012. Family campsites #1 - 61 will operate on a first-come, first-served basis only Friday - Sunday nights. Campers will be allowed to check-in after 12:00 noon on Fridays. Check-out time remains 12:00 noon. Park management reserves the right to close certain loops of the campground depending on demand. Campers should call the park ahead of time to find out what loops are currently open.

All group campsites at Devil's Gulch and Madrone remain closed until further notice.

Irving Group picnic area remains closed until further notice.

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Did You Know?

Purple ochre sea star

In addition to raising sea levels and temperatures, the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is changing ocean chemistry by reducing the pH of the ocean. This decreased pH reduces the availability of minerals which marine organisms use to build shells and reef structures. More...