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Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA
  • Who we Are
    • Mission and Vision
    • Board & Staff
    • Join Our Team
      • Job Opportunities
      • Board Service
      • Internships
      • Volunteering
    • Transparency
    • Partnerships
    • Sponsor Recognition
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Our Impact
    • Programs
      • School Groups
      • Traveling Museum Exhibits
    • Press & Publications
      • Podcast
      • Blog
      • In The News
    • Nature Notes Newsletter
    • Awards
  • Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Adventures With Nature
    • CCSPA Movie Night
    • Mind Walks Lectures
    • Butterfly Ball
  • Visit
    • Parks We Support
      • Cayucos State Beach
      • Harmony Headlands State Park
      • Hearst San Simeon State Park
      • Estero Bluffs State Park
      • Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve
      • Montaña de Oro & Spooner Ranch
      • Morro Bay State Park & Museum of Natural History
      • Morro Strand State Beach
      • Oceano Dunes & Oso Flaco Lake
      • Pismo State Beach
    • Nature Stores
    • Local Resources
  • Support
    • Become a Friend of CCSPA
    • Business & Corporate Giving
    • More Ways To Give
  • Store
  • Donate

Environment

Central Coast State Parks Association | CCSPA / Environment / Page 5

News From the Beach #7

 Have you seen markings in the sand that look like these?  Do you just ignore them or explore further?  Well—you SHOULD explore! Hole and Snail. Image courtesy of Faylla Chapman... read more →
  • December 8, 2020
  • Faylla Chapman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Marine Biology, Species Identification, Uncategorized

It’s King Tide Season!

King Tides—what are they?  Where did the name come from?  When do they happen? Here are some of the answers. King Tides got their name in Australia, where they have... read more →
  • November 9, 2020
  • Faylla Chapman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Climate change, Environment, Outdoor Recreation, Travel, Uncategorized

News from the Beach #6

Palm trees in the ocean? Surely you jest! Nope-just a different type of palm-a seaweed one. Postelsia palmaeformis, the sea palm, is a dead ringer for a land-type palm tree. It lives in the... read more →
  • October 5, 2020
  • Faylla Chapman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Botany, Education, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Marine Biology, Photography, Species Identification, Uncategorized

News from the Beach #5

Sandcastles? Worms? These go together? Well, sandcastles are not just for kids. The sandcastle worm, Phragmatopoma californica lives in massive sand formations on rocks in the mid intertidal area. You... read more →
  • September 15, 2020
  • Faylla Chapman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Education, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Marine Biology, Photography, Uncategorized

The Tarantula Hawk

These are one of the larger wasps in the world with females getting up to two inches in length and having large blue-black muscular bodies with bright orange wings.  Quite... read more →
  • September 11, 2020
  • Claudia Freitas
  • No Comments
  • Environment, Flora and Fauna, Outdoor Recreation, Photography, Species Identification

Look out for Black and White Waders

I’m lucky to live near Morro Strand, so most mornings find me striding along the beach, binoculars at hand ready for anything that comes into view. A few days ago... read more →
  • September 2, 2020
  • Norma Wightman
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Photography, Species Identification

Meaningful Merchandise: Xplorer Maps

When I think about some of the items I am drawn to while shopping, I find myself in awe and appreciation of antique maps and globes. So of course when... read more →
  • August 26, 2020
  • Sierra Emrick
  • No Comments
  • Business, Environment, Lifestyle, Meaningful Merchandise, Travel, Uncategorized

Why Are the Waves Glowing BLUE???

We’ve had a new treat on the Central Coast in the past few years--glowing blue waves!!!  The glow is caused by wave action that disturbs millions of microalgae called dinoflagellates,... read more →
  • August 21, 2020
  • Karen Watts
  • No Comments
  • Beach, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, Marine Biology, Photography, Uncategorized

Still Serving After all These Years

Rachel Carson said, “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." Back in 1979 I was a mom with 2... read more →
  • August 20, 2020
  • Marylou Gooden
  • No Comments
  • Advocacy, Education, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Invertebrates, K-12, Lifestyle, Outdoor Recreation, Travel, Uncategorized, Volunteerism

Hidden Stories of Native Plants

I am not a professional botanist; however, I have always had a fascination for botanics. As a biology major of Cal Poly, I took several botany classes with Dr. Kiel... read more →
  • August 17, 2020
  • Sally Krenn
  • No Comments
  • Botany, Education, Environment, Flora and Fauna, Health, Herbal remedies
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Recent Posts

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  • Moonlit Wings and Wild Things: Nocturnal Life in SLO’s State Parks June 27, 2025
  • Dog Rules on the Central Coast: Where Your Furry Friend Is Welcome in State Parks June 20, 2025

Contact Us

202 Tank Farm Road (Suite H2) San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phone: 805.548.0390 E-Mail: info@centralcoastparks.org Web: centralcoastparks.org

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