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 The new Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) program is focused on the restoration of biological diversity and recovery of critical ocean habitat. The focus of PCLF’s Coastal Zone Watersheds Initiative (CZWI) is to increase critical understanding of the direct connection between land use practices and associated impacts to newly designated MLPA Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in two coastal counties, Monterey and San Luis Obispo. In this effort, PCLF is working with resource agencies, local governments, and local nonprofit organizations and other community groups and individuals to engage them in action to develop broad-based public awareness and active support for the MLPA Initiative for the Central Coast Region.
This includes assessing impacts from the coastal region to nearshore marine habitat associated with polluted runoff, also referred to as nonpoint source pollution. This can lead to better understanding of habitat degradation that results from contaminants flowing into streams and eventually to adjacent coastal waters. Nonpoint source pollution is the leading cause of water quality impairments that can also degrade wetlands and estuaries, as well as harbors and bays.
PCLF’s Central Coast staff is currently working to implement the Marine Life Protection Act through its CZWI Program with support from the Resources Legacy Law Foundation.
For more information please contact Dr. Monica Hunter.
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