Ocean Protection Council Meeting — August 7, 2017
On Monday, August 7, 2017, at 1 PM, the Ocean Protection Council will hold a public meeting at the Natural Resource Building Auditorium, 1416 Ninth Street in Sacramento.
OPC is hiring an Associate Governmental Program Analyst
The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring an Associate Governmental Program Analyst to support implementation of OPC’s mission and the Governor’s policy positions on ocean and coastal matters, primarily through grants/contract administration, support of and reporting from interagency workgroups, and other administration of OPC.
Applicants should have a strong working knowledge of grant and contract management and state accounting systems, including CalSTARS and ABCRS. Experience with Fi$cal, excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment are highly desirable. The position is located in Sacramento, California.
Deadline for application is July 13, 2017. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=70196
“Readying California Fisheries for Climate Change” Report Out Today
The Readying California Fisheries for Climate Change report and in-brief are now available. The report identifies four climate change scenarios for the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem and seven potential management strategies to adapt to climate change impacts. The report was produced by a working group of the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team (OPC-SAT) and the California Ocean Science Trust.
This project was developed for consideration by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to help inform the state’s process to amend the Marine Life Management Act (MLMA) Master Plan. Products from this project have been submitted to CDFW for review and may be integrated, in full or in part, into a draft Master Plan Amendment. Additional information about the Master Plan amendment process, including key resources and opportunities for stakeholder engagement, is available at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Master-Plan.
Ocean Protection Council Adopts Resolution Incorporating Latest Sea-Level Rise Projections
On April 26, 2017, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) adopted a resolution acknowledging a recent science report as a foundational piece for updating the State’s Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document and directing staff at the Ocean Protection Council to begin the policy update, which will help state and local agencies incorporate sea-level rise into their decision-making.
“This latest scientific report on sea-level rise off California should be of concern to all Californians,” stated California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird. “It’s not just the possibility of the seas rising a few feet in the next century—it’s what happens when there are extreme storms that magnify the difference. Our ongoing efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions could significantly help safeguard local communities and important infrastructure. However, this report indicates that no matter what, sea levels will rise off California’s coast; it’s just a question of how much. We must lower our greenhouse gas emissions and we must plan and take action with regard to the rising sea level.”
Read the press release on OPC’s adoption of the resolution here.
Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team Working Group Releases Report on Sea-level Rise Science
A seven-member working group of the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team has provided the State with a report on the best available sea-level rise science — including recent scientific advances on the role of polar ice loss. The report, entitled Rising Seas in California: An Update on Sea-level Rise Science, includes key findings, an analysis of the contributors that affect how much sea levels will rise along California’s coast, as well as new information on the likelihood of sea level changes based on different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
This report provides the scientific foundation for updating the State’s Sea-level Rise Guidance Document, which was initially released in 2010 and updated in 2013. Now, the Ocean Protection Council is leading a process to update this statewide guidance document, in collaboration with the California Natural Resources Agency, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, the California Energy Commission and the Ocean Science Trust. The guidance document will reflect recent scientific advances and focus on the needs of local governments and state agencies as they incorporate sea-level rise projections into planning, permitting, investment and other decisions.
Public input will be integrated into the final guidance document, which is scheduled for adoption by the California Ocean Protection Council in January 2018. A series of listening sessions to better understand the needs of those who will use the guidance document are occurring on April 17 and 18, 2017. To register, please visit the Updating California’s Sea Level Rise Guidance Document page. A series of public workshops to share the science findings and solicit feedback on how stakeholders will utilize the guidance document will occur in May and June 2017. A draft guidance document will be circulated for formal public comment in the fall of 2017.
The science report is available here.
The press release on the report is available here.
For additional details on the process, please visit the Updating California’s Sea Level Rise Guidance Document page.
