“As we look to 2022, our goal at the agency is to… continue California’s global leadership, combating climate change, transitioning our economy, and protecting our people and nature in the meantime. I believe strongly that people are resilient and that nature is resilient. We can adapt and weather these changes we are experiencing right now, and we at the Natural Resources Agency and across state government are focused on strengthening the resilience of our communities, our residents, and of our natural places to these changes we are experiencing. I’m optimistic that we will work harder than ever before and make unprecedented process toward building this resilience.” – from California Natural Resources Secretary and Ocean Protection Council Chair Wade Crowfoot’s end of the year video message
As 2021 brought global challenges to the forefront, the state of California responded with bold, decisive actions to protect our coast and ocean. OPC staff led multiple projects designed to restore wetlands, improve water quality, prevent plastic pollution, respond to environmental justice inequities, promote sustainable fisheries, protect marine wildlife and build resilience to climate change.
Despite the many looming threats, we continue to find hope in the form of scientific solutions to the planet’s biggest problems and in the promising work done by our grantees on the front lines. Join us in celebrating specific achievements from the past year below: … read more
California recently co-authored a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross opposing proposed Federal rulemaking to streamline the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) consistency review process.
The CZMA is our country’s foundational coastal and marine management legislation. The proposed rulemaking appears to undermine the State’s role in coastal management by shortening the time for review and limiting the scope of continued State objection to outer continental oil and gas exploration and development.
California, alongside Oregon and Washington, maintains that a “balance between national priorities and healthy coastal communities … exists because of the federal consistency process.”
OPC is pleased to release its draft Strategic Priorities to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean, which will guide OPC’s priorities and investments over the next five years.
We welcome feedback on this draft plan. Public comments should be submitted to COPCpublic@resources.ca.gov by 5 pm on April 19, 2019.
A revised draft, based on public comment, will be released on May 3, 2019 for consideration by the Ocean Protection Council at its May 15, 2019 meeting. Questions can be directed to OPC’s Deputy Director, Jenn Eckerle, at jenn.eckerle@resources.ca.gov.
*Please note that this draft has not yet been formatted by a designer. The final document will include photographs and graphics.
The Marine Protected Areas Senior Environmental Scientist will be responsible for leading aspects of OPC’s MPA management program including: outreach and education; research and monitoring; compliance and enforcement; policy and permitting; and preparation for the 2022 adaptive management review of California’s MPA network, in collaboration with OPC’s other MPA program staff and external partners. The Senior Environmental Scientist will also direct funding efforts focused on marine protected areas in coordination with OPC staff, state agencies, local governments, scientists, non-profits, and other constituents. The position involves grant and contract management including developing grant/contract content, tracking deliverables, processing invoices, and coordinating with grantees. The Senior Environmental Scientist will also provide additional organizational support and capacity, as needed.
Applicants should have a strong scientific background, knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, experience working on projects, research, policy and/or management related to MPAs in California or elsewhere, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks is a must. Experience with public relations, such leading communications campaigns and/or drafting content for memos, newsletters, press releases, websites, or social media posts is a plus. The position is located in Sacramento, California. Candidates who do not want to work in Sacramento five days a week should not apply.
The application deadline is December 19, 2018. For more details and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=136818
The Climate Change Senior Environmental Scientist will be responsible for leading OPC’s climate change policy and funding efforts to address sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and other changing ocean conditions in coordination with OPC staff, state agencies, local governments, scientists, non-profits and other constituents. This work will include state, regional and international efforts to advance adaptation and mitigation solutions to the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems and communities. The Senior Environmental Scientist will also be responsible for grant and contract management including developing grant/contract content, tracking deliverables, processing invoices, and coordinating with grantees. The Senior Environmental Scientist may also provide additional organizational support and capacity, as needed.
Applicants should have a strong scientific background, knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, experience working on projects, research, policy and/or management related to climate change impacts on the coast and ocean in California or elsewhere, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks is a must. The position is located in Sacramento, California. Candidates who do not want to work in Sacramento five days a week should not apply.
The application deadline is December 11, 2018. For more details and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=135826
OPC is thrilled to announce the adoption of “The California Collaborative Approach: Marine Protected Areas Partnership Plan” (Partnership Plan) at the December 2, 2014 OPC meeting. This plan outlines a partnership approach to managing California’s network of MPAs among state agencies, California tribes and tribal governments, fishermen, non-consumptive recreational users, academics, federal and local governments, and non-profits. The California Collaborative approach is the commitment for all partners to work together in support of a healthy ocean, and to use the network of MPAs as a key feature in that effort. The final adopted version is now available here.
Letters to Congress regarding ocean initiatives in the federal FY15 Budget (March 2014)
On December 31, 2013, Secretary for Natural Resources and OPC Chair John Laird sent the attached letter to the California Congressional delegation to encourage them to support funding for the Coastal Zone Management grants (within NOAA) in the FY13-14 budget at $71 million. This level of funding is consistent with allocations established by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
On December 11, 2013, Governor Brown, Governor Kitzhaber (OR), Governor Inslee (WA), and Premier Christy Clark (BC) sent a letter to President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper urging increased federal funding for ocean acidification research. The letter was prompted by the Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy, which specifically calls for action on ocean acidification.
For more information on the Pacific Coast Collaborative, please visit: http://www.pacificcoastcollaborative.org
Update to the State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document
The State of California is in the process of updating the State Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document. For more information, please visit: https://opc.ca.gov/climate-change/updating-californias-sea-level-rise-guidance/
Current Version of the State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document
On Wednesday March 15, 2013 OPC staff presented an update to the State of California Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document. The purpose of the SLR Guidance remains the same, to help state agencies incorporate future sea-level rise impacts into planning decisions, but has now been updated to include the best current science, as summarized in the final report from the National Academy of Sciences, Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
… read more
