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Santa Monica Bay
Coastal and Estuary Quick Finder |
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Summary Information
| Year Established: | 1988 |
| Location: | southern California |
| Area of Watershed: | 1,465 square kilometers |
Priority Management Issues: |
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nutrients toxics pathogens (recreational water quality) contaminated seafood |
habitat loss/alteration species loss/decline sedimentation floatable debris |
Major Habitat Types: |
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submerged aquatic vegetation (kelp) open water geologic formations (canyons) reefs (artificial) lagoon/shallow open water rocky intertidal/subtidal beach/dune (vegetated and bare) sand/mud/salt flats |
tidal pools salt/brackish marsh freshwater marsh (tidal and non-tidal) fresh water lakes/ponds grass/open field scrub/shrub riparian/riverine |
Federally Endangered or Threatened Species: |
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birds: brown pelican California gnat catcher California least tern peregrine falcon western snowy plover reptiles: green sea turtle leatherback sea turtle loggerhead sea turtle olive ridely sea turtle |
fish: steelhead trout insects: El Segundo blue butterfly Palos Verdes blue butterfly plants: salt marsh bird's beak |
Overviews and Highlights
With more than 45 million visitors per year, Santa Monica Bay is one of Southern California's prime recreational destinations. One of the main goals of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project (SMBRP) has been to address public concerns regarding potential health risks to Bay swimmers. To help achieve this goal, a landmark epidemiology study--the first of its kind--was conducted in 1995 to assess the health risks of swimming in Bay waters contaminated by storm drain runoff. Earlier research efforts had determined that storm drain runoff contained pathogens and viruses--a surprising finding since the storm drain and sewer systems are completely separate.
Results of the "epi" study, released in spring, 1996, finally confirmed with solid data what experts had long suspected: beach goers who swim near storm drains are almost 50 percent more likely to contract colds, sore throats, gastroenteritis and other illnesses than those who swim farther away in cleaner water. In response to the findings, the SMBRP outlined a list of actions that the public can take to reduce urban runoff pollution. The SMBRP also developed a series of actions which government agencies have agreed to implement. Designed to better inform and further protect the public, these actions are already underway and will be updated as necessary. To ensure public safety, this NEP produced bilingual advisory signs for posting by lifeguards, and initiated one of the first stormwater runoff permit programs in the nation in order to reduce the amount of pollution entering the bay.
Maps
Select a map.
- Local Maps
Santa Monica Bay Study Area
(area where the program is concentrating its efforts)
Santa Monica 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
