Find out when the next Linda Mar Habitat Restoration is to volunteer!

Please wear a mask during this event if you want to volunteer.

About Linda Mar Native Habitat Restoration:
The coastal sand dunes along Linda Mar Beach are among the most dynamic and fragile natural formations relying on our commitment to protecting and preserving them. Restoring this landscape involves removing non-native invasive plants and weeds (i.e., ice plant, mustard and ox tongue) to make way for planting coastal native plants (i.e., beach sage, seaside daisy and strawberry) to maintain, increase and sustain biodiversity. Native plants are believed to host up to 400% more insects by mass as a food source than non-native plants. Restoration is vital to a healthy ecosystem and protects the beach, shorebirds, and wildlife. In Pacifica, restoration is critical for preserving habitat for the threatened western snowy plover and coastal bee populations on the Pacific coast.

Site Captain: Meet Michael Ayala. An active volunteer and member since 2008, he began cleaning our beaches during daily walks and Earth Day of Action as co-captain. A year later, he began learning about preserving our coastal habitat from Clark Natwick (Pacifica’s native habitat restoration pioneer). By 2010, Michael was leading monthly restoration events along the sensitive dunes at Linda Mar Beach. His hands-on skill and inspiring goals of fully eradicating invasive non-native plants while expanding a flourishing native habitat teeming with biodiversity in Pacifica are the inspiration guiding our restoration program. Volunteers of any age can participate in restoration. The team is often joined by members of the Pacifica Shorebird Alliance. 

About the Restoration:
Time: 4th Sunday of the month from 10am-12noon. Check our monthly calendar for exact dates.
Where to Meet: On the west side of Highway 1 at Crespi Drive stoplight on the morning of the event. You many also join in on the event after 10am by crossing Highway 1 at the stoplight, and heading north on the coastal trail bike path to join the team.  
Parking: There are two public parking lots available in the area. One lot at Pacifica’s Community Center for a parking fee is located at the corner of Highway 1 and Crespi Drive where you park and cross at the Crespi traffic light then walk north on the bike path towards Rockaway Beach. The other lot is located at Linda Mar State Beach for a parking fee. However, when you check in, site captains can provide a parking pass good for use during your participation in the event. Should you stay beyond event hours, parking fees apply. Fee for parking is $4 for up to four hours, $8 all day; $50 for an annual pass, available at www.cityofpacifica.org. Lot hours are 5am-10:30pm during Daylight Savings Time in spring/summer (DST usually ends first Sunday in November and resumes second Sunday in March); 5am-7pm in the fall/winter. Note: Free street parking is available along Crespi Drive and at the parking lot behind Community Center.
Supplies: Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own favorite planting tools, a shovel or hoe, and reusable garden/work gloves. Extra gloves and specific tools will be provided while supplies last. Because we are never sure of the weather, make sure to bring extra layers, a hat, sunblock, water and snacks.
Focus Area: Volunteers usually remove non-native and invasive plants between the dunes and bike path as well as the hillside below the highway.
Litter: The team picks up litter as we find it, although this is not the main focus of habitat restoration.
Restrooms: Public restrooms (and outdoor showers) are located at the Linda Mar parking lot, and are open 6am-10pm. Restrooms are also located on west side of the Community Center building.

Learn about our local habitat heroes such as the Coastal Buckwheat and the Acron Blue butterfly.

Special Regulations:
Dogs: Permitted on leash on beach. Use caution around the seasonal fencing installed to protect the federally endangered western snowy plover.  Please be responsible and pick up your dog waste.
Fires or BBQ grills and glass containers: Prohibited on beach.
Fireworks: Read the City of Pacifica’s Restrictions on the use of fireworks at Linda Mar Beach.
Smoking: Prohibited on beach. Linda Mar is a  smoke-free beach under City of Pacifica ordinance subject to fines for violation since 2006.

Wildlife & Habitat Protection: Seasonal fencing is installed to protect the federally endangered Western Snowy Plover. Installed north of the Crespi path entrance on the west side of the dunes, it will remain in place until the plovers leave in mid-April and be removed in mid-August. In Pacifica, snowy plovers over-winter – usually arriving mid-August and leaving sometime in March or April. During this time they fatten up on rich protein diet of kelp flies, beach hoppers, other insects and small invertebrates washed up on the beach, and occasionally in the back dunes. When not foraging, snowy plovers nestle down in the sand, low enough to be warmed by radiant heat and still have a view out to the sea.

Be sure to read through the Cleanup Guidelines before attending a restoration event.
More questions? Read our Native Habitat Restoration FAQs.

Would You Like to Join Us? To make sure we bring the right amount of supplies, to be more efficient and conserve paper, please complete our online form. It will only take you a few seconds. Sign up here!

Make a Contribution to Native Habitat Restoration

Testimonial from Sabeena Singh, Harker School

Thank you for the opportunity to volunteer with your organization! Our Harker parents and students had a wonderful time and felt that they truly made a contribution. Your team, Michael and Dina, were so well organized and helpful. We spent minimal time on checking in and most on the restoration, which was the ultimate goal. What a fabulous experience!

As a citizen, I thank you for all your efforts. My family and I will certainly be back to volunteer. – HR Volunteer.

Read About the Team In Action: Check out the Linda Mar Native Habitat Restoration blog.

Linda Mar Native Habitat Restoration Location Map:

Directions: Take Highway 1 south and drive 6.7 miles to Linda Mar and the entrance to Pacifica State Beach on the right.