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Morro Bay
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Summary Information
| Year Established: | 1995 |
| Location: | California |
| Area of Watershed: | 242 square kilometers |
Priority Management Issues: |
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nutrients pathogens (bacterial contamination) contaminated seafood habitat loss/alteration |
fisheries loss/decline freshwater inflow sedimentation |
Major Habitat Types: |
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submerged aquatic vegetation (sea grass, kelp, and green algae) open water geologic formations barrier islands/sand bars lagoon/shallow open water shellfish growing areas cliffs/bluffs beach/dune (bare and vegetated) sand/mud/salt flats salt/brackish marsh |
freshwater marsh (tidal and non-tidal) freshwater lakes/ponds grass/open field scrub/shrub non-wetland forest riparian/riverine (forested, tidal, and floodplain) abandonded agricultural |
Federally Endangered or Threatened Species: |
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mammals: Morro Bay kangaroo rat southern sea otter birds: brown pelican marbeled murrelet peregrine falcon western snowy plover amphibians: California red legged frog |
fish: steelhead trout tidewater goby invertebrates: banded dune snail (Morro shoulderband snail) plants: California sea-blite Chorro Creek bog thistle Indian Knob mountain balm Morro manzanita salt marsh bird's beak |
Overviews and Highlights
The Morro Bay Estuary joined the National Estuary Program in July 1995. It contains the most significant wetland system on California's south central coast. It serves a critical environmental function of the Pacific coast and serves international interests, in that it supports many species of migratory birds protected by international treaties and provides a protected harbor of off-shore marine fisheries.
There are many known and potential threats to this nationally significant estuary. Sediment threatens to shorten the life of this open water resource by as much as ten-fold. Other water quality concerns include excessive levels of bacteria, nutrients, and heavy metals. Water diversion, urban and agricultural runoff, and increasing impervious surfaces threaten the long-term health of the Bay. Recent wildfires in the upper watershed point to the need for appropriate long term fire management strategies by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry.
The Morro Bay NEP (MBNEP) has formed three issue groups to focus on the priority problems of urban discharges, riparian habitat restoration and enhancement, and soil erosion. One element of common ground that has emerged from initial meetings of these three issue groups is the need to respect individual property rights and to involve landowners in all phases of the process. MBNEP recognizes that the successful development and implementation of a management plan means the resulting action plans must be workable for everyone involved. For example, the Soil Erosion Group is looking at providing incentives for landowners to participate in programs aimed at reducing erosion and maintaining topsoil. Another possible approach is to streamline or otherwise change the permit process so erosion control programs can be more easily implemented.
A Research Needs Workshop was held which documented a wide range of issues in the bay and watershed that require further investigation. Technical studies that address the issues identified by the planning and monitoring processes are underway. A volunteer monitoring program has been developed to gather additional water quality and habitat information and to increase public awareness.
In addition to its status as a National Estuary, Morro Bay has also been designated a State estuary. The draft State Management Plan has recently been released. This plan will provide the framework for the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which is currently being prepared. Preliminary Drafts of CCMP sections are anticipated within a few months. A structural reorganization has recently taken place, and committees are forming to review the State Plan and provide input on CCMP Sections.
Maps
Select a map.
- Local Maps
Morro Bay Study Area
(area where the program is concentrating its efforts)
Morro Bay Watershed
(estuarine and fluvial drainage areas for the estuary)
- Regional Maps- West Coast
Locations of Estuaries in the NEP
Watersheds of Estuaries in the NEP
Study Areas of Estuaries in the NEP
