Younger
Lagoon Reserve is located on the California central coast near the
Monterey
Bay Marine Sanctuary. YLR typically experiences wet, cool winters
and dry, warm summers with significant summer fog. Winds generally
come from the northwest in summer and from the south in winter storms.
The
lagoon is vulnerable to fluctuating water conditions throughout the
year and can even dry out under certain conditions. The lagoon's salinity
level and water level both vary throughout the year, and these qualities
in turn affect the animals and plants
that live in and around the lagoon. The pictures below show the seasonal
difference in water level that the lagoon experiences.
Winter
rains can dramatically raise the water level in the lagoon. This
picture was taken in January, 2003.
The
water level in the lagoon was relatively low when this picture was
taken in October, 2004.
The
lagoon is present most of the year because of a sand berm that develops
on the beach and acts as a barrier between the lagoon and the ocean.
When winter storms raise the water level in the lagoon high enough,
however, the berm is breached and a brief exchange of saltwater
and freshwater occurs. On rare occaisons the sand berm is washed
away entirely by a storm and the lagoon drains much of its water
into the ocean.