Estero Bay (California) Explained

Estero Bay (Spanish for "Estuary") is a bay located on the Pacific Coast in San Luis Obispo County, central California. It is about 15miles from its south end at Point Buchon/Montana de Oro State Park, to its north end at Point Estero, which is about 5miles northwest of Cayucos. It is indented about 5miles into the California coast.

Ecology

The Morro Bay kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis) is endemic to the Baywood fine sands habitats surrounding Morro Bay. It is a federally listed endangered species and on the IUCN Red List of Critically endangered species.

Morro Bay is located in the center of Estero Bay.

Features

Towns on the bay include Morro Bay, Baywood Park-Los Osos, and Cayucos.

For recreation beaches and parks are along the shore of the bay include:

1. Morro Strand State Beach
2. Morro Bay State Park
3. El Moro Elfin Forest Preserve — a 90-acre grove of 'pygmy oaks' (Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). Located on the southeastern shore of Estero Bay in Los Osos. An oval wooden walkway loops around the forest, with viewing platforms.^[1]

See also

• Amphibious Training Base Morro Bay used the bay during World War 2.
• California during World War II

References

• Book: Allan, Stuart. California Road and Recreation Atlas. 2005. Benchmark Maps. 0-929591-80-1. 90.

External links

NOAA Nautical chart of Estero Bay http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/18703.shtml

Notes and References

1. http://www.slostateparks.com/morro_bay/mb_elfin.asp California State Parks of San Luis Obispo Coast: El Moro Elfin Forest