More than ten years after the collapse of Northern California's kelp forests, recovery efforts are still struggling against the overwhelming presence of purple urchins. The collapse was triggered by unusually high water temperatures from 2013 to 2017, which led to the death of approximately 95% of the region's bull kelp. The sunflower sea star, a key predator of urchins, has seen a drastic population decline due to disease, allowing urchin numbers to soar by an estimated 10,000%. Efforts to remove these urchins have been labor-intensive, with divers clearing over 150,000 from a small area, yet vast stretches of coastline remain impacted. Experts express concern over the long-term viability of kelp forests, emphasizing the need for continued focus on recovery.