Thanks to action from President Obama and tireless grassroots efforts, Point Arena-Stornetta became a part of the California Coastal National Monument on March 11, 2014. The effects of its designation have been apparent in the Point Arena Lighthouse admission rates; from 2013 to 2014, admission rates rose from roughly 20,000 to 28,000, a 42% increase. This number rose again in 2015 to around 33,000, marking a 17% rise in admissions from the previous years. Since it's designation, Admission at the Point Arena Lighthouse rose to its second record number in the same number of years. 

        Light house admission isn't the only thing on the rise; local businesses have felt the benefit of the designation as well. Local eateries have seen an increase in foot traffic, and when speaking to patrons, several came to the area specifically to see and hike the National Monument Lands. The library has also noticed an increase in tourist traffic using the internet. This boom has encouraged several new businesses to open on Main Street; even a long vacant hotel has been purchased and is currently being renovated in the Point Arena area. 

        Perhaps most importantly, the National Monument has been a source of pride for the community and a point of unification.  The area has also picked up national acclaim, landing the #3 spot on the New York Times "52 Places to Go in 2014" and a feature in the Boston Globe. From Mendocino County to the East Coast, everyone seems to be hearing about the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. This success would not have been possible without the support and action of the community. The future will no doubt continue to exhibit the benefits of the Point Arena-Stornetta National Monument.

       But the battle for conservation in other areas of California continues!