Grants Update

One of the WQPP's roles is to help develop and coordinate funding sources to protect water quality in the Sanctuary region, and carry out water quality plans. To date the program has helped secure a number of important grants in collaboration with a variety of groups; some of these are summarized below.

New Grants

Storm Water/Oil Separator
System for Parking Lots

The city of Monterey, with assistance from the Sanctuary, has received $227,000 from the Integrated Waste Management Board to install storm water oil/sediment filters at six storm drains in large, heavily used parking lots adjacent to Monterey harbor; the storm drains flow directly into the Sanctuary. Once the filters are installed, Sanctuary staff will oversee monitoring of the effectiveness of this new technology in recapturing oil and sediment from rain runoff.

"The objective is to test the effectiveness and economic feasibility of this new technology," explains Steve Laughlin, Water Quality Specialist for the Sanctuary. Untreated or unfiltered storm water runoff is a leading cause of ocean pollution in California; used oil from parking lots and streets is­after sediment or suspended solids­the largest component of storm water pollution in this country.

In addition to providing the potential to reduce the amount of pollutants flowing into the Sanctuary, this project will advance the science of storm water pollution control. Data gathered will help coastal areas nation-wide understand how to deal with this serious problem.

Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Network:

The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the Coastal Watershed Council (CWC), have been awarded a $75,000 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to create, maintain, and expand a network of citizen water quality monitoring groups within Sanctuary watersheds. The project's goal is to increase the amount and availability of monitoring data within Sanctuary waters and watersheds, and is part of the WQPP's regional monitoring plan.

"It will provide the infrastructure needed to create effective, long-term volunteer monitoring programs within the region," explains CMC's Rachel Saunders. The Network has plans for a variety of projects, including a survey of local monitoring groups; workshops designed to increase contacts among existing monitoring groups; a "how-to" guide to assist new citizen monitoring groups; and a Network web page with volunteer monitoring data.

Regulatory Coordination for Agriculture

The Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Sustainable Conservation have received a $60,000 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board to implement regulatory coordination for agricultural "best management practices" that prevent erosion and sedimentation (and the transport of pesticides and nutrients) to the Salinas River. The purpose of the grant is to encourage adoption of conservation practices by coordinating and streamlining the complex, multi-agency process which currently exists. The grant will also fund an education and outreach program for growers and ranchers.

By significantly reducing the time and expense related to the permitting process, growers and ranchers are more likely to undertake conservation practices such as sediment basins, vegetated buffers, and grassed waterways or stream-side berms between croplands and the receiving waters.

The project will build on initiatives underway in the Elkhorn Slough watershed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sustainable Conservation, and various federal, state, and local agencies on the WQPP committee. It will also develop a general framework for regulatory coordination that could be applicable to watersheds throughout California.

Past Grants­Updates

Model Urban Runoff Program

The Cities of Monterey and Santa Cruz, the California Coastal Commission, the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments are putting the final touches on a 'model' urban runoff program. When finished, the program (which has been funded by a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board) will be available in booklet form, as a CD-Rom, and via the World Wide Web.

Locally, the program includes an ordinance that gives the city the ability to impose fines for things such as illegal dumping of oil and illicit

storm drain connections. (These connections direct untreated water into the ocean without passing through the sanitary sewer system's treatment plants.)

The model program will also include sample public education materials and programs tailored for school children, storm drain mapping, technical training, booklets to help businesses implement pollution prevention strategies, and erosion control practices. It is intended to be an easy-to-use "cookbook" for small cities to address urban runoff, and should be available in the first half of 1998.

Bilge Waste Disposal at Marinas

Save Our Shores (SOS), in conjunction with the Sanctuary, is completing efforts under a grant from the State Integrated Waste Management Board to implement an oil pad exchange and disposal program. Oil pad dispenser and disposal units have been installed in the harbors of Santa Cruz, Moss Landing, and Monterey. Over 10,000 oil absorbent pads are now available for boaters to clean up small waste oil spills. SOS has also conducted an extensive boater education campaign related to the new oil absorbent pads. Packets containing pads, a flyer explaining oil impacts, and a waterproof brochure and map indicating the location of disposal stations have been distributed to all slips.

Pending Grants

Oil Grant for Marinas
and Urban Runoff

The WQPP, in conjunction with the Counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz, has applied for a grant to fund two distinct projects. The first is an urban runoff/oil recycling education effort, to include a component for regional volunteer coordination for outreach and storm drain stenciling. The second involves installing facilities at Monterey, Moss Landing, and Santa Cruz harbors to pump out bilges and oil from boat engines, with a corresponding educational/outreach component.

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