On January 21 & 22, coastal San Diego will experience a King Tide event, extreme coastal shifts of high and low water levels that occur when the orbits and alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun combine to produce the greatest tidal effects of the year. King tides, in particular, present a rare opportunity to explore the depths of tidepools which are typically underwater. Tidepools are diverse and important coastal ecosystems. The intertidal zone - the area between the low and high tide lines at the coast - can be a very challenging place to live. During high tide waves crash down repeatedly, while during low tide the creatures that cling to life in the small pools of water left behind are exposed to direct sunlight, predators, and curious humans. King tides, which occur 3-4 times per year, mark the most dramatic of all tidal swings. During this exciting event, the ocean conservation group, WILDCOAST, will be on hand at La Jolla’s Dike Rock – north of Scripps Pier – as part of the Tide Pool Ambassador Program on Saturday and Sunday January 21 & 22 from 2-4 p.m. HOW TO BE A "GOOD TIDE POOLER" WILDCOAST’s conservationists and scientists will share information on these amazing ecosystems, and hand out guides relaying best practices of how to tide pool safely without harming the creatures and their homes. Tidepools provide shelter and food to over 125 species of marine creatures and serve as important nurseries for many ocean organisms. Due to their proximity to shore, these fragile tide pool ecosystems are often damaged by human interaction. According to the National Park Service, the tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument can see over 350,000 visitors each year which can cause harm to these ecosystems by trampling, turning over rocks, displacing both living and nonliving resources, and collecting intertidal species and shells. Additionally, pollution, development, and climate change threaten tidepools and their inhabitants. As part of its ongoing efforts to protect these vulnerable ecosystems, WILDCOAST has created the Tidepool Ambassador campaign aiming at engaging and educating the public on how to interact with tidepools to protect the critical ecosystems, inside and outside of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPAs protect and restore ocean habitats and increase the health, productivity, and resilience of ocean ecosystems – including tidepools. Inside these MPAs the removal of tidepool organisms is illegal. To continue to save and protect tidepools, WILDCOAST and Tidepool Ambassadors asks that visitors use good sense and follow “Good Tidepooler Rules” including refraining from removing animals, shells or rocks; not touching animals, walking carefully; and never turning over rocks. For more information on tidepools and WILDCOAST, please visit https://wildcoast.org/ WILDCOAST on Facebook / Instagram
