Pescadero is also host to a number of successful agricultural ventures, some of which offer high-quality produce and value-added products throughout San Mateo County and much of the Bay Area.

Educational organizations such as Pie Ranch work with the state to generate land access opportunities for impoverished communities, and stimulate regenerative agriculture initiatives.

[2][3] Besides being a refuge and nesting ground for wintering waterfowl, the Marsh is a critical spawning area and nursery for coho salmon, steelhead trout, tidewater goby, and many other threatened or endangered fish, amphibian, crustacean and reptile species.

Anoxic water conditions result in annual "die-offs" of hundreds of juvenile fish, crabs, and other species.

[3] As water levels fluctuate, many species are cut off from supportive habitat, and the entire eco-system degrades.

Since 1998 concerned citizens and other wildlife agencies have repeatedly asked California State Parks to take immediate corrective action.

According to a study by San Jose State University professor Jerry Smith, estimates in 1985 showed that 10,000 steelhead were rearing in the lagoon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km2), 99.79% of it land and 0.21% of it water.

There were 216 housing units at an average density of 53.5 per square mile (20.7/km2), of which 86 (44.1%) were owner-occupied, and 109 (55.9%) were occupied by renters.

Average annual precipitation is 29.52 inches (750 mm), mostly falling as rain since snow is extremely rare on the coast.

[9] The rich, fertile soil of the valley had attracted other settlers, and in the 1860s Pescadero was a prosperous town surrounded by farms and lumber mills.

[11] An article in the Wells Fargo Messenger states that a stagecoach salvaged from the Carrier Pigeon was laboriously hoisted up the cliffs onto the road, and put into service within a week.

[12] Another tale relates that an Irishman named John Daly, who was employed driving pigs from Santa Cruz to Alexander Moore's Pescadero ranch, discovered some lumps of coal from the steamer Sea Bird's cargo on the beach at Ano Nuevo.

After collecting his monetary reward, he led the four men up Gazos Creek in search of the alleged coal outcropping, with the intention of escaping and leaving his benefactors behind empty-handed.