UCSB SONGS Mitigation Monitoring: Reef Performance Standard - Kelp Acres

These data describe annual estimates of the area (in acres) of medium-to-high density adult giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, supported by the artificial reef polygons of Wheeler North Reef in Orange County, CA (33.40210N, 117.62420W). Data collection began in 2009 to evaluate the ability of Wheeler North Reef to compensate for losses of kelp forest habitat and associated biota caused by the operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).