Difference between revisions of "Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS)"

From CCoWS Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(→‎General Information)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
== General Information ==
 
== General Information ==
  
−
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) stretches from Marin in the north to Cambria in the south, and extends an average of 30 miles off shore.  It includes 276 miles of shoreline, and covers 6094 square miles of ocean.  At its deepest point, it is 12,743 feet deep.
+
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) was designated on September 18, 1992 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the auspices of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.  The MBNMS stretches from Marin in the north to Cambria in the south, and extends an average of 30 miles off shore.  It includes 276 miles of shoreline, and covers 6094 square miles of ocean.  At its deepest point, it is 12,743 feet deep.
 
<ref>
 
<ref>
 
''National Ocean Service''
 
''National Ocean Service''

Revision as of 12:46, 7 April 2020

An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

This page is an introduction to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) with specific emphasis on the relationship between the MBNMS and the coastal and terrestrial environment.

General Information

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) was designated on September 18, 1992 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the auspices of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The MBNMS stretches from Marin in the north to Cambria in the south, and extends an average of 30 miles off shore. It includes 276 miles of shoreline, and covers 6094 square miles of ocean. At its deepest point, it is 12,743 feet deep. [1]

Central Coast Watersheds and Sub-Watersheds that drain into MBNMS

A non-exhaustive list of watersheds, from north to south:

Santa Cruz County

Monterey County

Terrestrial impacts on the MBNMS

Due to the extensive coastline of the MBNMS, it faces several potential threats from terrestrial environments. These threats include:

  • Harmful Algal Blooms.[2]

Water Quality Programs

Due to the extensive coastline of the MBNMS, it faces a variety of vulnerabilities from the nearly 7,000 square miles of watershed areas that drain into it. In order to address these vulnerabilities, a consortium of eight federal, state, and local agencies collaborated on a Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP). The WQPP works to protect the MBNMS using programs like the following:

Agriculture and Rural

In order to maintain the pristine nature of the MBNMS and support the local agricultural industry, farmers and agencies have created the Agriculture Water Quality Alliance (AWQA). The AWQA promotes a voluntary stewardship-based approach as outlined in the "Agriculture and Rural Lands Action Plan."

Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network

The Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network (The Network) is a group of citizen science monitoring groups that study the health of the watersheds entering the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Network organizes a series of monitoring events throughout the year.[4]

Snapshot Day

Snapshot day takes place annually on the first Saturday in May. Trained volunteers from nearby counties collect a "snapshot" of watershed health by collecting temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity field data and collect water samples to be analyzed for nutrient and bacteria levels in a laboratory. [5]

Urban Watch

The Urban Watch Program takes place during the dry summer months. The goal is to help inform cities so they can understand sources of pollution into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Volunteers collect field measurements of pH, temperature, and conductivity and collect samples that are checked for ammonia, phosphate, chlorine, and detergents.[6]

First Flush

First Flush occurs annually during the first "significant" rain of the water year (typically in the fall). The goal of First Flush is to understand the storm water that flows into the MBNMS by monitoring storm drain outfalls. Field data is collected for temperature, conductivity, transparency, and pH. Lab samples are checked for bacterial content, metals, nutrients, and suspended solids. [7]

Urban Runoff

Urban runoff includes non-point source pollution which requires a more comprehensive management approach. To address Urban Runoff, the MBNMS has outlined "Action Plan I" to address urban runoff.[8]

Wetlands and Riparian Corridors

In collaboration with the Central Coast Wetlands Group (CCWG), the Wetlands and Riparian Corridors Action Plan collects goals and strategies to protect and monitor the Central Coast's wetlands. Other involved groups are the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP), The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF), and The Watershed Institute.[9]

References

  1. ↑ National Ocean Service Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Overview December 09, 2019
  2. ↑ Corinne Bell' A Lack of Balance: Runoff and Harmful Algal Blooms September 9, 2019
  3. ↑ Amy Miller What's Killing the Sea Otters? February 6, 2007
  4. ↑ National Ocean Service Monterey Bay Sanctuary Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network December 9, 2019
  5. ↑ National Ocean Service Snapshot Day December 9, 2019
  6. ↑ National Ocean Service Urban Watch December 9, 2019
  7. ↑ National Ocean Service First Flush December 9, 2019
  8. ↑ National Ocean Service Urban Runoff December 9, 2019
  9. ↑ National Ocean Service Wetlands and Riparian Corridors December 9, 2019

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.

Retrieved from "http://ccows.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php?title=Monterey_Bay_National_Marine_Sanctuary_(MBNMS)&oldid=25759"