Second Opine?

So a few people have pointed out that Drakes is remaining open to clamming.  However, unless I am reading it wrong all the best clam beds in the Estero fall inside the "closed" area. I just assumed the red line across the mouth of the Estero makes everything inside of it closed... right? If any of you closet cartographers out there could look at this again and tell me if you think i'm wrong or right... I'd sure appreciate it.  The rangers at Drakes also said the clam beds near the mouth of the Estero were closing--and I assumed (perhaps wrongly?) they knew their beat. Anyway here's the map:  If anyone wants to edu-ma-cate me further, feel free to.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/images/nccmpas/reyesest.jpg

Kind of odd.  The wording of the thing seems to say one thing and the map something else.  Kind of like the Tom Waits line:  "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away."

Kirk, here is the regs.

Drake's Estero State Marine Conservation Area Boundary: This area includes the waters below the mean high tide line within D Estero northward of a line connecting the following two points 38° 02.66' N. lat. 122° 56.89' W. long.; and 38° 02.66' N. lat. 122° 56.15' W. long.

Permitted/Prohibited Uses: Take of all living marine resources is prohibited EXCEPT:
1. The recreational take of clams
2. The commercial aquaculture of shellfish pursuant to a valid State Water Bottom Lease and permit

So if you are north of the boundary you are good for clamming. If you are south of it, you're in the point reyes SMR and it is closed for all take.

Slight correction. You would be in the estero de limantour smr, where all take is prohibited

Thanks for throwing this out there,

I sat thru days of presentations, comments, and general government hogwash on the NCC MPAs. 

I don't remember any provisions for this area expect complete closures.

The oyster farm people were there presenting all kinds of evidence of low impact, and literally begging to be allowed to continue their business.

In the end I thought that it had all been for nothing (for them).

But now I see that there are 2 exceptions for Darkes Estero, (area bordered by blue) 

Recreational take of clams,
and
Commercial aquaculture,

I know the basis for the aquaculture, but the exception for clams is a mystery to me, must be some highpowered NRDC exec that likes to dig clams.

here's a little map i made from google showing the coordinates.  see if your area is north of the red line or south of it.

sourced from here: