The number of urchins stayed way below the two-per-meter threshold and changes were observed at the control site with either kelp or urchins. (2/2)

Awesome news from Tankers Reef! All that hard work culling urchins has paid off. According to our most recent survey, the density of giant kelp went from just over 12 stipes per transect last fall to almost 50 stipes per transect this summer! (1/2)

We're also thrilled to welcome Diana Hollingshead onboard as our new Oregon Volunteer Coordinator. Let's survey it up Oregon!

Onwards and northwards! We recently expanded north and launched our kelp forest monitoring program in #Oregon! In May we trained our very first Oregon Reef Checkers, and we're excited to grow our team of citizen scientists to monitor the underwater forests of the Pacific coast.

Did you know we also monitor ocean temperatures at our California survey sites? 🌊🌡️ Our CenCal Volunteer Coordinator Maxwell Seale recently retrieved this happy little logger from Carmel River! These sensors collect data on temperature to monitor climate change in kelp forests.

Our California divers are hard at work getting certified! Last weekend in NorCal, our salty crew trained a team of Reef Checkers at Van Damme SP. These troopers toughed it out even as the visibility fizzled to a few murky feet. Way to go citizen scientists! 📷: Tristin McHugh

How do we keep the ocean from taking our underwater sensors? By bolting them to the reef! Here SoCal Manager Selena McMillan uses a submersible drill to install a benthic mooring for our sensor. Collecting undersea data is no easy task! 📷: Rob McClelland, Selena McMillan

Baby kelp coming in strong! Reef Check staff Ian and Morgan found bull kelp growing in at a survey site off the Mendocino coast. Northern California has lost much of its kelp, but this patch is holding out strong with a fresh crop of spring babies! 📷🙏: Morgan Murphy-Cannella

Happy #FishyFriday! 📷🙏: Jade Zounes Have you ever had your pen snatched by someone who forgot to bring their own? Well apparently you're not even safe from such shenanigans underwater! [1/3]

Are you interested in becoming a citizen scientist? Reef Check California is excited to release the 2021 training schedule! While classes in Central California are full, there are open spots in the NorCal and SoCal classes! Check out these flyers for more information!

New Reef Check merch has officially dropped! Check out the link below to find out where you can get our new buffs, hats, t-shirts and stickers! reefcheck.org/shop/

Lingcod are ferocious predators with big mouths and lots of very sharp teeth. Usually seen in Northern California, they can grow to be around five feet long! 📸🙏🏻:(anonymous)

Reef Check Columbia will travel to San Andres Island to combat illnesses both above and below the water's surface! Watch the video to learn more about the project and click the link below to learn how you can help! globalgiving.org/projects/he…

What can be learned from 20+ years of data spanning 469 sites along the entire West Coast of North America? Scientists from 14 organizations across 3 countries joined forces to document the impact of recent climatic events on #kelpforests . #Alaska2Baja #ABCReef