The coastline of northern California is home to a diverse array of nearshore habitats that contain a wide variety of species. Geographic location, habitat diversity, and complex oceanographic patterns contribute to the rich diversity of marine life in this area. The northern coastline of Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) is primarily composed of rocky intertidal areas dominated by boulders and rocky bench areas. In recognition of intertidal communities being a potential vital sign for monitoring, the Klamath Network and RNSP began working with researchers from the MultiAgency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) program to undertake field testing of a monitoring program based on a well established protocol. In 2004, we initiated the intertidal pilot monitoring study in this region.