Thank You Ocean Podcast: San Clemente Dam Removal Project
Since 1921, the Carmel River and its wildlife resources have been impacted by San Clemente Dam. As a result, the Carmel River suffers accelerated erosion, the once vibrant steelhead run has dramatically decreased, and lives and property below the dam are threatened with potential collapse of the dam -- which has been deemed unsafe by the State of California. We speak with Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer, State Coastal Conservancy. He discusses an extraordinary opportunity to remove the antiquated dam through a unique example of public and private interests working together to realize benefits far beyond what either could achieve working alone. We invite you to watch this video podcast by visiting the Thank You Ocean website. [youtube]http://youtu.be/DdnnwUNbkPQ[/youtube]

OPC November 29, 2012 Meeting Highlights

TO: California Ocean and Coastal Community FROM: John Laird, Secretary for Natural Resources DATE: January 2, 2012 SUBJECT: Ocean Protection Council Meeting Summary – November 29, 2012 in Sacramento The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) convened its last meeting of 2012 on November 29 in Sacramento. The Council authorized up to $2,500,000 to fund competitive grants to create vulnerability assessments, data collection, and updates to Local Coastal Programs to help local governments plan for adaptation to sea-level rise and associated climate change impacts along the open coast of California. The Council was updated on progress to support state agencies’ use and sharing of scientific and geospatial information for coastal- and ocean-relevant decision making. The Council was also presented with information on State Water Resources Control Board’s proposed trash policy and Southern California Coastal Water Research Project’s report evaluating the impact of 40 years of implementing the Clean Water Act on the southern California coastal ocean. For further information, we encourage you to visit our website to access the meeting summary or the meeting webcast. The Ocean Protection Council’s next meeting will be held at 1 p.m. on March 27^th, 2013 at the Natural Resources Auditorium at 1416 Ninth Street in Sacramento.

Government of Japan gifts NOAA $5 million to address tsunami marine debris
[caption id="attachment_6512" align="alignleft" width="200"] Credit: US Navy[/caption] The Government of Japan announced on Friday, November 30th a gift of $5 million to the United States, through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, to support efforts in response to marine debris washing ashore in the U.S. from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

West Coast Data Now Available on NOAA Coastal Services Center’s Sea-Level Rise Viewer

OPC September 13, 2012 Meeting Highlights

First Map Set from California Seafloor Mapping Program Now Available

Ocean Protection Council Meeting, September 13, 2012

Ocean and Coastal Photo Contest: Viewers’ Choice Winners Announced
[caption id="attachment_6260" align="alignleft" width="231"] Joel Goldstein, 2012 Viewers' Choice Winner[/caption] Dear Ocean and Coastal Community, The Thank You Ocean Campaign, California Coastal Commission, and Fairmont Hotels are pleased to announce the "Viewers’ Choice" winners of this year's California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest. Joel Goldstein, a resident of Laguna Woods in Orange County, is the first-place winner of the Viewers' Choice prize based on online voting. He took the winning photograph of McWay Falls in Big Sur during a road trip to the Central Coast with his wife and grown children. This was Mr. Goldstein's first photography contest even though he has been taking pictures since he was nine years old.

Prestigious Independent Study Underscores Need to Address Impacts of Sea Level Rise
June 22, 2012

Prestigious Independent Study Underscores Need to Address Impacts of Sea Level Rise

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A National Research Council (NRC) study released today confirms the need to take action to address the impacts of rising sea level. The review, requested by numerous state and federal agencies, will be used to ensure that California is safeguarding its citizens, strengthening its economy, and minimizing impacts to natural resources by investing in climate-ready development and infrastructure.

New Resources on Climate Adaptation
Two new resources on coastal climate change adaptation were recently made available by OPC partners: the 2011 California Coastal Adaptation Needs Assessment Survey Report and  Adapting to Sea Level Rise: A Guide for California's Coastal Communities.