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Zee's
Reef Marine Preserve
WAC
220-16-790: "'Zee's Reef Marine Preserve' is defined as
waters and bedlands inside a line beginning at the extreme low water
line on the northeast side of Fox Island at 47° 14.56' N,
122° 35.98' W, then extending 0.5 nautical mile northwesterly
along the extreme low water line to 47° 14.96' N,
122° 36.37' W, then northeast to the minus eighty-five
foot depth contour (MLLW = 0 feet) at 47° 15.00' N,
122° 36.30' W, then southeasterly along the eighty-five
foot depth contour to 47° 14.67' N, 122° 35.81' W,
then southwest to the point of origin." Effective since 9/9/2002.
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IMAGE TO ENLARGE MAP
 
Geographic
Statistics
| Area
Type |
Acres |
Hectares |
| Intertidal |
None |
None |
| Subtidal |
55.95 |
22.64 |
| Total |
55.95 |
22.64 |
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Links
to other imagery about this site
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| Taken
from near the northern end of the preserve, looking south.
This small
panorama was taken from just north of the center of the preserve,
facing south (left edge) through SW to west (right edge).
Note the boat and beach house appear in the previous image,
too.
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| Recreational
Restrictions / Openings |
| Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Limited |
Salmon
fishing only by fly-fishing is allowed. |
| Trout |
Closed |
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| Bottomfish |
Closed |
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| Shellfish |
Closed |
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| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
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| Unclassified |
Closed |
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| Commercial
Restrictions / Openings |
Species |
Status |
Comments,
notes... |
| Salmon |
Closed |
|
| Bottomfish |
Closed |
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| Shellfish |
Closed |
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| Forage
Fish |
Closed |
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| Unclassified |
Closed |
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| Prominent
and unique features |
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The site contains one of the few natural rocky outcroppings
in southern Puget Sound and is located approximately 200
yards offshore of the shoreline. Ranging in depth from
35 feet (mllw) to 60 feet, the rocky outcropping is a
ridge extending approximately 400 yards in a southeast
to northwest direction. The outcropping is composed of
bedrock and hardpan outcroppings, with two rows of bedrock
that rise 2 yards above the bottom in many places along
the ridge. At a number of places, the bedrock is undercut
forming caves and crevices. At several places along the
ridge, the bedrock has fractured to form both isolated
boulders and piles of stacked boulders. Inshore of the
ridge, the benthic habitat consists of sand flats and
slopes with sufficient boulders and cobble to form substrates
for sparse fields of algae including understory kelps
such as Laminaria saccharina. Offshore of the ridge,
the benthic habitat consists of sand slopes with occasional
small rocks and cobbles.
The rocky habitat of the site is located several hundred
yards offshore and the uplands are in private ownership
with many houses on the sloping bluff. This is the first
marine reserve in South Puget Sound that contains significant
rocky habitat. Natural rocky habitats are rare in South
Puget Sound because of the geological history of the
area. Zee's Reef stands out among the South Puget Sound
habitats because it contains a mixture of high relief
structural habitat and moderate complexity areas that
provide hiding spaces. |
| Description
of fish, bird, and mammal resources at the site |
|
A variety of fishes typically associated with rocky habitats
congregate at the site and in such quantities that are
presently unusual for southern Puget Sound. The dominant
fishes include copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus),
brown rockfish (S. auriculatus), and quillback
rockfish (S. maliger). Other common fishes include
lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), kelp greenling (Hexagrammos
decagrammus), painted greenling (Oxylebius pictus),
wolfeel (Anarrichthys oceallatus), and striped
seaperch (Embiotoca lateralis). Pregnant rockfishes
are observed at the site during the spring indicating
that at least some fishes use the site for reproduction.
Other marine organisms include sea stars, encrusting
organisms such as giant barnacles (Balanus nubilis),
red sea cucumbers (Parastichopus califorfnicus),
shrimp (Pandalidae), and red rock crabs (Cancer
productus). Seastars are common including sunflower
seastar (Pycnopodia helianthoides) and gumboot
chitons (Cryptochiton stelleri) are also frequently
observed. |
| Programs
in place to manage the site |
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WDFW regulations prohibit commercial fishing and most
forms of recreational fishing and harvesting at Zee's
Reef Marine Preserve. WDFW manages the site as partially-protected
marine reserve for non-tribal citizens. The taking of
all species of invertebrates, bottomfishes and unclassified
marine fishes is prohibited by WDFW regulations. Recreational
salmon fishers may harvest salmon in the Marine Preserve
but only while using fly-fishing gear.
The enforcement of the harvest restrictions is relegated
to the Enforcement Program of WDFW. Information on the
site boundaries and restrictions is found in WDFW's
Sport Fishing Pamphlet and formal regulations are published
at the State of Washington's Administrative Code available
on the state's web site. Because of the private ownership
of the uplands bordering the reserve no shore-based
signage is present. WDFW is developing specific pamphlets
describing each of its marine reserves.
WDWF scientists include Zee's Reef Marine Preserve in
their marine reserve monitoring efforts. The site is
visited several times per year when the scientists perform
a census of the fish living on the two southern rocky
habitats. During these surveys, all fish are identified,
counted, and measured. The areas of the rocky habitats
have been measured so fish densities can be assessed
and compared to previous surveys or other areas. |
| Issues
of concern |
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The area immediately waterward of the site is actively
trolled. The site was left open to fly-fishing because
this gear generally does not catch the species of rockfish
anticipated (copper and quillback). The remoteness of
the site makes enforcement and signage difficult. The
site is actively visited by recreational scuba divers
using private boats or on charter boats. While high visitation
may be desirable to increase watchable wildlife opportunities,
divers potentially could invoke stress to fishes living
on the relatively small rocky habitat.
The private ownership of the uplands and the offshore
nature of the site prevent signage on the shore, so
enforcement of the boundaries is difficult. |
| Performance
measures |
| The
number of divers who visit the site.
Acceptance
by upland owners and local fishers.
The
continued presence of a diverse fish community.
Increasing
or sustained abundances of copper rockfish.
Increasing
and sustained large individual sizes of copper rockfish. |
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