Restoration Objective:
Pendleton Artificial Reef was constructed to determine if man-made reefs could be used to address a possible loss of kelp forest communities due to power plant operations and to improve sport fishing.
Site Selection Criteria:
A water depth of 13m was chosen to optimise Macrocystis growth and recruitment. Sites that were heavily influenced by terrestrial runoff were rejected to avoid excessive turbidity, siltation, and substrate burial. Since the reef was to be constructed on sand, excavations and probes were made to determine if a solid base was present.
Cause Of Decline:
Intensive human use of nearshore waters and associated resources, particularly off southern California, has contributed to the widespread deterioration and/or loss of reef and kelp forest habitat, disruption of trophic relationships, and decline of many living marine resources. Such changes first became evident In the mid-1940's and were related to coastal development, ocean sewage discharges, and Intensive fishing pressure and related Increases In numbers of herbivorous sea urchins. Since that time, the impact of human use on the marine environment has increased significantly.
