MBNMS: Water Quality Protection Program Brochure

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	Water Quality Protection Program Brochure

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary...
encompasses over 5,000 square miles, stretching along the Central California coast from Marin County near San Francisco southward to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County. The Sanctuary protects many habitats, ranging from sand flats along the shoreline to the nation's most expansive kelp forests and one of its largest underwater canyons. Surrounding wetlands provide nursery grounds for juvenile aquatic life, help protect against flooding and improve water quality by filtering out pollutants. Nutrient-rich currents nourish the area, supporting a productive and diverse marine ecosystem where countless species, many of them threatened or endangered, make their homes.

A Threatened Sanctuary
Safeguarding the precious Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary goes beyond protecting the resources within its boundaries. Over 50 rivers, creeks and estuaries drain into the Sanctuary, making it particularly vulnerable to impacts from human activities. Runoff from forests, cities and agricultural land can wash pollutants; like sediment, pesticides and bacteria; downstream and into the Sanctuary and its nearby wetlands. Wetland and riparian areas have been reduced, limiting their ability to act as natural filters for today's pollutants. Reduction of these natural buffers can affect the migration and spawning of steelhead and salmon. Sewage outfalls and marinas can contribute a variety of contaminants to the marine ecosystem. Oil tankers steam through the Sanctuary, carrying with them the ongoing threat of water-fouling spills.

The Water Quality Protection Program; A New Approach
The Sanctuary's health is tied to the quality of its marine waters and inland water sources. Improving water quality is key to preserving and protecting all Sanctuary resources. Recognizing this, 27 federal, state and local agencies, plus the region's managers, businesses, scientists and concerned public, are working together to develop an innovative ecosystem-based Water Quality Protection Program for the Sanctuary. The Protection Program aims to integrate the large number of existing water quality programs and plans. Its goal is to enhance and protect the Sanctuary's chemical, physical and biological integrity.

Solving Problems
The Protection Program has identified a variety of water quality issues and problems in the Sanctuary and its watersheds. These include toxic pollutants in sediments, shellfish and wildlife; human health problems; sedimentation and low flows in rivers and streams; wetlands alteration; and habitat loss. The Protection Program is developing and carrying out plans containing specific strategies and actions that address these problems while sustaining the region's economic viability. Strategies include public education, technical assistance, management practices, research and monitoring, and regulations and enforcement, where necessary.

Get Involved
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a gift all of us can share. And all of us must work together to protect it. We invite you to participate in the Water Quality Protection Program.

Help design the Protection Program by attending public meetings and commenting on the Program's development.

Become informed about the issues affecting the Sanctuary. A variety of educational materials, technical reports and information sheets are available free or for a nominal charge by calling the Protection Program office. Call us at (831) 647-4201 to arrange for a speaker to address your group or organization.

Join us. Together we can preserve the unique beauty and incredible resources of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Participating Agencies and Organizations

Federal

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

Local

Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments

Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner

Monterey County Planning and Building Inspection

San Luis Obispo County and Council of Governments

San Mateo County Planning

Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services

Santa Cruz County Planning

Santa Cruz Port District

State of California

California Coastal Commission

California Department of Fish and Game

California Department of Parks and Recreation

California Environmental Protection Agency

California Resources Agency

Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

State Water Resources Control Board

University of California Sea Grant Extension Program

Other Organizations

Center for Marine Conservation

Elkhorn Slough Foundation

Monterey County Hospitality Association

Pacific Gas & Electric Company

The Water Quality Protection Program
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
99 Pacific Street, Bldg. 455A
Monterey, California 93940
(831) 647-4201
(831) 647-4250 FAX

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