Difference between revisions of "Monterey Coastkeeper"

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== Summary ==
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==Summary==
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The [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Monterey-Coastkeeper/107982766474?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal Monterey Coastkeeper] (MCK) is a part of the [[California_Coastkeeper_Alliance|California Coastkeeper Alliance]] (CCKA), and serves Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as portions of Santa Clara, San Benito, and San Mateo Counties<ref> [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Monterey-Coastkeeper/107982766474?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal MCK, Facebook Page] </ref><ref> [[California_Coastkeeper_Alliance|California Coastkeeper Alliance]]</ref>. The MCK aims to protect water quality within this region of Central California, and works in the following arenas: agricultural pollution, urban stormwater, and watershed function<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage"> [http://www.otterproject.org/ The Otter Project, Homepage] </ref>. MCK is managed by [http://www.otterproject.org/ The Otter Project], a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to assist recovery of the California sea otter<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />.
  
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*      Origin 
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==Water Quality Areas of Focus==
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**    In March of 2007 Steve Shimek, past executive director of The Otter Project, stepped sideways to become the Monterey Coastkeeper under The Waterkeeper Alliance.  
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=====Agricultural Pollution=====
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One area of water quality advocacy that MCK is actively working within, is in agricultural related water quality and pollution<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />. The MCK is concerned with water quality degradation associated with pesticide and nutrient runoff from farms, and its impact on the environment. Management of these pollutants in Central California is managed by the [[Central_Coast_Regional_Water_Quality_Control_Board_%28CCRWQCB%29|Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board]] (CCRWQCB) under the [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb3/water_issues/programs/ag_waivers/index.shtml Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program] (ILRP), known as the [[Central_Coast_Region_Agricultural_Waiver|'ag waiver']]<ref> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb3/water_issues/programs/ag_waivers/index.shtml CCRWQCB, ILRP] </ref>. The Otter Project, and MCK, believe in the farmer's right to use water for agricultural purposes, yet also believes that does not include the right to discharge pollution<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />.
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=====Urban Stormwater=====
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Another area of water quality protection and advocacy that MCK is involved with, is in urban stormwater management<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />. MCK is committed to taking a proactive role in working towards effective [[Urban_stormwater_management|stormwater management on the Central Coast of California]]. Management of stormwater runoff is handled within the framework of the Clean Water Act, predominantly under section 402, the [[NPDES|National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System]]. MCK has made comment on Stormwater Management Plans for the [[Urban_stormwater_management_in_the_Monterey_Bay_region|Monterey area]], Salinas, San Luis Obispo, and [[Urban_stormwater_management_in_the_City_of_Santa_Cruz|Santa Cruz]], as well as hiring consultants to help improve some of these plans<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />.
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=====Watershed Function=====
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The last area of interest for the MCK, is watershed function<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />. The MCK believes that healthy watersheds play a vital role in providing habitat for wildlife, and by acting as a filter to improve water quality. [[Riparian_corridors_in_the_California_Central_Coast_Region|Riparian corridors]] are an example of an area that can provide these services. The MCK also works to support [[Low_Impact_Development_%28LID%29|Low Impact Development]] (LID), which consists of a wide range of land development practices that help reduce the impact of developed areas on hydrologic function<ref> [http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/green/ US EPA, Low Impact Development (LID)] </ref>. Ultimately, the MCK supports the management of water and pollution through restoration of natural watershed function<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />.
  
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*      The Waterkeeper Alliance
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==Litigation==
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**    The Waterkeeper Alliance is a national and international network of independent water "keepers" who champion clean water and healthy waterways. The environmental communities in Monterey and surrounding regions have long recognized the need for a water keeper to advocate for healthy watersheds and coast.
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On October 21st, 2010, the MCK filed a [http://www.otterproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/MCWRA-1-Writ-Petn-Complaint-Endorsed.pdf suit] against the [[Monterey_County_Water_Resources_Agency|Monterey County Water Resources Agency]] (MCWRA), alleging that the MCWRA is violating the [[Porter-Cologne_Water_Quality_Control_Act|Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act]]<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />. The suit claimed that the MCWRA illegally discharged waters containing pesticides, nutrients, sediments, and pathogens into subsurface and surface waters in the [[Salinas_river|Salinas River]] watershed that were in excess of water quality standards. These discharges occur during the course of normal MCWRA operation, which includes the operation of a network of infrastructure to move water between reservoirs, users, and [[Aquifers of California's Central Coast Region|aquifers]]. The suit goes on to claim that these excesses can harm public health, fish and wildlife, and [[Beneficial_uses|beneficial uses]] (BUs). The suit claims that by allowing and contributing to water resource contamination, the MCWRA is breaching  its fiduciary obligations under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_trust_doctrine Public Trust Doctrine]. The MCK [http://www.otterproject.org/water-resources-agency-lawsuit/ Water Resources Agency Lawsuit] webpage provides more information and links to various legal documents associated with the case<ref name="The Otter Project, Homepage" />.
  
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*      What is The Monterey County Coastkeeper?
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On March 19th, 2015, the [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/ Monterey County Weekly] reported that Judge Thomas Wills of the [http://www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/ Superior Court of California, County of Monterey] ruled in favor of the MCK in its lawsuit against MCWRA, implying that MCWRA is a pollutant discharger and is responsible for filing a waste discharge report<ref> [http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/news_blog/judge-slams-monterey-county-water-resources-agency-labels-them-as/article_4766746e-ce60-11e4-b6ac-33294ca8d662.html MC Weekly, MCK vs. MCWRA Lawsuit Article] </ref>. The Judge has still not released his final written decision.
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**    The Monterey Coastkeeper is a member of the California Coastkeeper's Alliance, and as such its borders are contiguous with those of the San Francisco Baykeeper to the north, and the San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper to the south. The Monterey Coastkeeper service area includes all of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties as well as portions of San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Benito Counties.  
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*      Why was The Monterey County Coastkeeper formed?
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==References==
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**    The Monterey Coastkeeper was formed with the intent of tackling issues of water quality through policy advocacy and legal tools to ensure that the interests of development, industry and urban activity are kept in line with the environmental needs and wishes of the community it serves. Since its inception, The Coastkeeper has been active in championing for effective government regulations, good public policy and an active community role in protecting freshwater and marine waters alike.
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*      Food Safety
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<references/>
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**    Food Safety is a major concern to consumers in our country. The 2006 nationwide outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was traced back to bagged spinach being sold in supermarkets that was produced on Central Coast Farms. What has followed has been a rush by buyers and sellers of vegetables to try and ensure that the food being sold is “safe” for consumers. What is troubling to is that food “safety” measures have focused on pathogens and are ignoring the pesticides and chemicals flowing into our waterways, groundwater, and sometimes watering the crop itself. Think of a pendulum with pathogen food safety on one side and chemical safety, water quality and wildlife on the other; we have swung to the pathogen food safety extreme.
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==Links==
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**     Food safety is important, but pesticides and chemicals to kill anything near the crop can be a food safety concern as well.  Food safety practices are in sometimes in direct opposition to water quality and wildlife protection practices guarding against chemical pollution.  Good soil and water conservation practices implemented with taxpayer monies are now being ripped out with no scientific basis.  These practices were not only encouraged by farms organizations, but the Monterey Bay Marine National Sanctuary, many environmental organizations and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
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*[[California_Coastkeeper_Alliance|California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA)]]
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*[[Central_Coast_Regional_Water_Quality_Control_Board_%28CCRWQCB%29|Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB)]]
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*[[Central_Coast_Region_Agricultural_Waiver|'ag waiver']]
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*[[Urban_stormwater_management|stormwater management on the Central Coast of California]]
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*[[NPDES|National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)]]
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*[[Urban_stormwater_management_in_the_Monterey_Bay_region|Monterey area]]
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*[[Urban_stormwater_management_in_the_City_of_Santa_Cruz|Santa Cruz]]
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*[[Riparian_corridors_in_the_California_Central_Coast_Region|riparian corridors]]
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*[[Low_Impact_Development_%28LID%29|Low Impact Development (LID)]]
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*[[Monterey_County_Water_Resources_Agency|Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA)]]
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*[[Porter-Cologne_Water_Quality_Control_Act|Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act]]
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*[[Salinas_river|Salinas River]]
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*[[Aquifers of California's Central Coast Region]]
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*[[Beneficial_uses|beneficial uses (BUs)]]
  
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*      Stormwater Management
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==Disclaimer==
  
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*      Agricultural Runoff
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This page may contain students's work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.
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*      Lawsuits
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*      Return to Conditional waiver of waste discharge requirements for irrigated lands [http://ecoviz.csumb.edu/wiki/index.php/Conditional_waiver_of_waste_discharge_requirements_for_irrigated_lands  Conditional waiver of waste discharge requirements for irrigated lands]
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*      Homepage [http://www.otterproject.org/site/pp.asp?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=4136551  Monterey Coastkeeper]
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Latest revision as of 14:53, 26 March 2019

Summary

The Monterey Coastkeeper (MCK) is a part of the California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA), and serves Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as portions of Santa Clara, San Benito, and San Mateo Counties[1][2]. The MCK aims to protect water quality within this region of Central California, and works in the following arenas: agricultural pollution, urban stormwater, and watershed function[3]. MCK is managed by The Otter Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to assist recovery of the California sea otter[3].

Water Quality Areas of Focus

Agricultural Pollution

One area of water quality advocacy that MCK is actively working within, is in agricultural related water quality and pollution[3]. The MCK is concerned with water quality degradation associated with pesticide and nutrient runoff from farms, and its impact on the environment. Management of these pollutants in Central California is managed by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) under the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP), known as the 'ag waiver'[4]. The Otter Project, and MCK, believe in the farmer's right to use water for agricultural purposes, yet also believes that does not include the right to discharge pollution[3].

Urban Stormwater

Another area of water quality protection and advocacy that MCK is involved with, is in urban stormwater management[3]. MCK is committed to taking a proactive role in working towards effective stormwater management on the Central Coast of California. Management of stormwater runoff is handled within the framework of the Clean Water Act, predominantly under section 402, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. MCK has made comment on Stormwater Management Plans for the Monterey area, Salinas, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz, as well as hiring consultants to help improve some of these plans[3].

Watershed Function

The last area of interest for the MCK, is watershed function[3]. The MCK believes that healthy watersheds play a vital role in providing habitat for wildlife, and by acting as a filter to improve water quality. Riparian corridors are an example of an area that can provide these services. The MCK also works to support Low Impact Development (LID), which consists of a wide range of land development practices that help reduce the impact of developed areas on hydrologic function[5]. Ultimately, the MCK supports the management of water and pollution through restoration of natural watershed function[3].

Litigation

On October 21st, 2010, the MCK filed a suit against the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA), alleging that the MCWRA is violating the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act[3]. The suit claimed that the MCWRA illegally discharged waters containing pesticides, nutrients, sediments, and pathogens into subsurface and surface waters in the Salinas River watershed that were in excess of water quality standards. These discharges occur during the course of normal MCWRA operation, which includes the operation of a network of infrastructure to move water between reservoirs, users, and aquifers. The suit goes on to claim that these excesses can harm public health, fish and wildlife, and beneficial uses (BUs). The suit claims that by allowing and contributing to water resource contamination, the MCWRA is breaching its fiduciary obligations under the Public Trust Doctrine. The MCK Water Resources Agency Lawsuit webpage provides more information and links to various legal documents associated with the case[3].

On March 19th, 2015, the Monterey County Weekly reported that Judge Thomas Wills of the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey ruled in favor of the MCK in its lawsuit against MCWRA, implying that MCWRA is a pollutant discharger and is responsible for filing a waste discharge report[6]. The Judge has still not released his final written decision.

References

  1. ↑ MCK, Facebook Page
  2. ↑ California Coastkeeper Alliance
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 The Otter Project, Homepage
  4. ↑ CCRWQCB, ILRP
  5. ↑ US EPA, Low Impact Development (LID)
  6. ↑ MC Weekly, MCK vs. MCWRA Lawsuit Article

Links

Disclaimer

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

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