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Cover

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Cover
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part I:
Executive Summary
Part II:
The Affected Environment
  I. Regional Context
  II. Sanctuary Resources
  III. Human ActivitiesI
  IV. Existing Resource Protection Regime
Part III:
Alternatives Including The Preferred Alternative
  I. Boundary Alternatives
  II.Regulatory Alternatives
  III. Management Alternatives
Part IV
Environmental Concequences
  I. Boundary Alternatives
  II. Regulatory Alternatives
  III. Management Alternative Consequences
  IV. Unavoidable Adverse Environmental or Socioeconomic Effects
  V. Relationship Between Short-term Uses of the Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-term Productivity
Part V:
Sanctuary Management Plan
  I. Introduction
  II. Resource Protection
  III. Research
  IV. Education
  V. Administration
Part VI:
List of Preparers and Alternatives
Part VII:
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons Receiving Copies
Part VIII:
References
Part IX
Appendices
Monterey
Bay
National
Marine
Sanctuary
 

Final Environmental
Impact Statement/
Management Plan

  Volume I



U.S. Department of Commmerce


National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration


Sanctuaries and
Reserves Division

June 1992

 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

June 1992

 

Prepared By:
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management
National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 714
Washington, D.C. 20235


Title

Final Environmental Impact Statement and Management Plan for the Proposed Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposes to designate Monterey Bay and its adjacent waters, and the submerged lands thereunder, off central California as a national marine sanctuary. The proposed Sanctuary boundaries encompass an area of approximately 4,024 square nautical miles (approximately 13,800 square kilometers) of coastal and ocean waters. The northern terminus of the boundary is located along the southern boundary of the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and runs westward to approximately the 500 fathom isobath. The boundary then extends southward in an arc following the 500 fathom isobath to a point due west of Cambria. The boundary then extends shoreward towards the mean high-water line. The landward boundary is defined by the mean high-water line between the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Cambria, exclusive of a small area off the north coast of San Mateo County and the City and County of San Francisco between Point San Pedro and Point Bonita.

Part I of this Final Environmental Impact Statement/Management Plan (FEIS/MP) reviews the authority for Sanctuary designation, the goals of the National Marine Sanctuary Program, the purpose and need for designating a national marine sanctuary at Monterey Bay, the socioeconomic consequences of designation, the manageability of the area and the Sanctuary designation process.

Part II of the FEIS/MP describes the study area used for determining a final preferred boundary alternative, including human uses, natural resources, and the existing resource protection regime. The area recommended for the proposed Sanctuary, preferred boundary alternative 5 (approximately 4,024 square nautical miles), provides the habitat and setting for a distinctive assortment of living and non-living marine resources.

Part III examines the alternatives considered in developing the proposal to designate a national marine sanctuary at Monterey Bay. These alternatives were considered in terms of achieving optimum protection for the ecosystem, improving scientific knowledge of the area, promoting public understanding of the value of Bay area resources, minimizing overlap with existing jurisdictions and minimizing any negative impacts to the area's income generating activities. Based on these criteria, preferred boundary, management, and regulatory alternatives were selected. Part IV of the FEIS/MP describes the environmental consequences associated with each of these alternatives.

Part V describes the management plan for the proposed Sanctuary. This plan contains guidelines and goals to ensure that all management actions undertaken after designation are directed to resolving important issues as a means of meeting Sanctuary objectives. Management actions are considered in four program categories: (1) Resource protection; (2) Research; (3) Education; and (4) Administration.

 

Lead Agency:
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
   
Contact:
Rafael V. Lopez, Pacific Regional Manager
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
National Ocean Service/NOAA
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 714
Washington, D.C. 20235
(202) 606-4126

 


Cover Letter

Reviewed: September 08, 2023
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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