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by Susan Pufahl, Sanctuary On April 22, 2000, local citizens celebrated Earth Day along California's Central Coast by participating in the first annual Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary "Snapshot Day," a one-day, sanctuary-wide watershed monitoring event designed to increase public awareness of water quality issues affecting sanctuary watersheds. Armed with test tubes, thermometers, buckets, and cameras, the volunteers fanned out into the 11 major watersheds which drain into the sanctuary. Volunteers tested air and water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and took photos at creeks, rivers, streams, and estuaries spanning over 300 miles of the California coast. They also collected samples, which were later analyzed by local agency and university labs for nitrate, phosphate, and bacteria levels. "This event draws attention to the vital role citizen volunteers play in protecting the Sanctuary's waters," said William Douros, Superintendent of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Although other "snapshot days" have been held elsewhere in the nation, the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Snapshot Day was the largest simultaneous water monitoring effort to occur in California. Organizers were thrilled with the response, especially since this was the first year. More than 120 volunteers came out to test 82 rivers and creeks, at 108 different sampling sites, throughout Sanctuary watersheds.
The water quality data generated from Snapshot Day will be compiled into a report, and issued to the public later this summer. The data will help establish much needed baseline information about the health of Sanctuary watersheds, as well as flag potential problem areas. Many believe that resource managers need more scientific data. Government agencies regularly test fewer than 5% of California's water bodies because they have neither the funds nor the staff to do more. In recent years citizen volunteers have begun to help fill the data gaps by monitoring the health of their own watersheds. The information collected from Snapshot Day this year and in subsequent years can be used by resource managers to help make planning decisions and to better protect Sanctuary resources. Monterey Bay Sanctuary Snapshot Day was organized as part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network, a project of the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program, the Coastal Watershed Council and the Center for Marine Conservation.
Ag Plan Moves Ahead Just months after the release of the Agricultural and Rural Lands Action Plan by the Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP), the agricultural community and various agencies have rolled up their sleeves and begun to work in earnest to cary out the plan's recommendations. The goal of the Action Plan is to enhance and protect the quality of water that drains to the Sanctuary, while sustaining the region's multibillion-dollar agriculture industry. Though some might not see the direct link between agricultural practices and the ocean, about one-half of the 7000 square miles of Sanctuary watershed is comprised of agriculture and grazing land. The actions of farmers play an important role in preserving the health of our local waters. Taking a leadership role to implement the plan, the Central Coast Farm Bureau Coalition has hired Regional Coordinator, Kelly Huff, to oversee initiation and development of an agricultural network comprised of landowners and operators. The network will begin working with its members and various technical advisors to establish improved erosion control and nitrate management measures. Three landowner-led watershed working groups are being created in the Salinas, Pajaro, and Pescadero watersheds. Additionally, a Technical Advisory Committee has been formed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to develop water quality monitoring protocols and to track the effectiveness of landowner initiatives over time. "The Plan is unique in that it includes an offer by the agriculture community to address these issues in a voluntary way, and these grower networks will be effective in mobilizing positive change," said Sanctuary WQPP director Holly Price. She is also quick to point out that everyone can take part in natural resource protection. "Everyone who lives or works in a watershed -- not just members of the agricultural industry -- has a responsibility to help improve water quality." Urban Watch Expands Across the Bay
"Urban Watch has been in place in Monterey and Pacific Grove for years with excellent results," says Maris Sidenstecker, Sanctuary Watershed Educator. "I am excited to see Capitola take the first steps in Santa Cruz County towards fostering citizen involvement and awareness in caring for their watershed." She notes that each city brought on-board is important in making a regional partnership to protect all the watersheds of the Sanctuary. Urban Watch gives citizens the opportunity to participate in a type of local chemistry experiment. By monitoring storm drain outfalls flowing into Soquel Creek, volunteers will determine what types of chemicals, pollutants or debris flow through the storm drains during the dry summer months. This knowledge will help local officials to better understand where pollution in the creek is coming from and how to best educate the public, who may not know that their actions are causing the creek harm. An example of an Urban Watch success story was the detection of detergents and cleaning agents flowing from restaurants in Monterey. The volunteers' data led the Sanctuary to create an education program for restaurant workers highlighting simple restaurant management practices intended to prevent storm drain pollution. The program includes bilingual posters, brochures, and a restaurant training video. The video was created due to the input of over 100 Monterey restaurant owners and managers, and will be available throughout the Sanctuary to help other restaurants and businesses experiencing similar issues. To find out more about Urban Watch or to become a volunteer, call the Coastal Watershed Council at (831) 426-9012. Neither a chemistry background nor prior monitoring experience is required to get involved. |
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2000 |
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This
summer the first city in Santa Cruz County will
join Urban Watch, a community-based, urban runoff
monitoring program. Under a partnership with the
Sanctuary and the Coastal Watershed Council, the
City of Capitola will sponsor this innovative
program and begin monitoring the lower reach of
Soquel Creek. Other cities currently involved in
the Sanctuary Urban Watch program include Monterey,
Pacific Grove, and Cambria.