In 2009, Stewards began a partnership with Sonoma Water to monitor pinnipeds at or near the Russian River mouth in response to the need for a federal permit for incidental harassment of marine mammals during the activities associated with the requirements of the biological opinion.
The biological opinion (BO) is a 15-year recovery plan to implement the mandates of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as they relate to threatened and endangered fish in the Russian River and its tributaries. More information is available on the Sonoma Water website.
Trained community volunteer monitors are counting seals at numerous locations in and around the Jenner Estuary during breaching activities and during the outlet channel formation that is recommended in the BO. Monthly baseline data collection is also scheduled twice a month.
Tasks: Pinniped monitors collect monitoring equipment at the Jenner Visitor center before their shift begins. With the equipment, they drive to the Jenner overlook and use the data sheets to record information such as weather, wind speed, number and age of individuals observed, and location of seals. Disturbances are also documented. Monitors return the equipment and completed data sheet to the Jenner Visitor Center after completing their shift.
Meeting times: Shifts are 4 hours scheduled twice a month from March through October. Surveys are conducted Monday through Thursday with shift times beginning anytime between 8 am and 12 noon to avoid high tide. Four-hour on-call shifts occur the day before and day after artificial breaching events.
Training and requirements: No prior experience is necessary! New volunteers should attend and register for a Pinniped Monitoring training. Volunteers will then shadow experienced volunteers until they feel comfortable on their own. New volunteers are required to attend one General Orientation, and encouraged to attend our affordable seminars to further their education. All new volunteers are required to complete the New Volunteer Onboarding Packet. Read the Pinniped Monitoring Duty Statement and Volunteer Handbook for more information about becoming a volunteer.
Below are links to training videos from 2025 and 2022.
Pinniped Monitoring training 2025
Pinniped Monitoring training 2022
More Information
Contact Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods via email or phone at (707) 869-9177.
Reporting Wildlife Disturbances or Concerns
Email Stewards Staff – report a problem or concern from your shift.
Marine Mammal Center – report abandoned
or injured marine mammals.
Wildlife Disturbance Form – Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
form for reporting seabird and marine mammal disturbances. Be sure you understand how to use the form before you fill it out.
Russian River Estuary IHA Report 2024
You can find links to monitoring reports from previous years on the Sonoma Water website.
Russian River Estuary Pinniped Monitoring Plan – Revised 2/2011 – pdf file
Russian River Estuary IHA Report Appendices – 4.6 mb pdf file
Federal Registry IHA Renewal – April 26, 2011
IHA Renewal Package – April 21, 2011 to April 20, 2012
Pinniped Monitoring
The following are documents useful for citizen monitors:
Monitoring Protocols – Jenner – pdf file
Marine Mammal Protection Act and Monitoring Program – pdf file
History of the Jenner Seals – pdf file
Estuary Monitoring Program Information – pdf file
Stewards’ Scope of Work – pdf file
Incidental Harrassment Authorization from National Marine Fisheries Service – pdf file
Peripheral Monitoring Locations– pdf file
CA Pinniped Presentation – pdf file
Neonate Indentification – pdf file
Russian River Pinniped Surveys – 2009 to 2012 – pdf file
Data Sheets and Instructions – pdf files