Promoting clean boating practices, as well as water quality, conservation and supply alternatives on the central coast.

SOS hosted its 2005 Stewardship Series™ “Get On Board: A Citizen’s Role in Water Supply Concerns & Alternatives”, a forum that engaged citizens in regional strategies to address water supply and desalination as one solution. The forum featured top experts from the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Planning & Conservation League, and the Water & Sustainability Program at the Pacific Institute.

SOS joined the Coalition for Responsible Desalination, a community-based initiative to promote awareness of the social, economic, and environmental costs of desalination and its alternatives. In addition, SOS co-sponsored the Second Annual AMBAG Conference on Water Alternatives which focused on the overall water supply portfolio in the region.

SOS endorsed a statewide policy for the strengthening of water quality protection policy and regulation enforcement for Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) under review by the State Water Quality Control Board. SOS was engaged in the hearings concerning the Cease and Desist Orders for discharge into ASBS along Pacific Grove, Monterey, Carmel, and Pebble Beach. In addition, SOS began a partnership with the City of Pacific Grove to coordinate watershed groups, volunteers, and agencies including the County Environmental Health Department, to monitor and deliver Best Management Practices education for improving water quality at the near shore waters of Lovers Point.

SOS partnered in the 2005 Half Moon Bay Water Summit, an effort to identify alternative sources of reliable water supply and implement a recycled water program on the San Mateo County coastside to restore the habitat of the Pilarcitos Creek watershed.

SOS’ Clean Boating Program continued to educate and increase awareness for improving water quality along the central coast as a member of the California Clean Boating Network. We led the Santa Cruz Harbor Stormwater Task Force working with the Harbors & Port Masters Association to assess oil/water separator and bilge pump-out station performance and improve bilge pump-out station signage at four harbors within the MBNMS. SOS sponsored informational Re-refined Oil Workshops for the boating community focusing on the use of re-refined oil and promoting the ‘reduce, reuse, and recycle’ conservation ethic. SOS also conducted Community Oil Use Surveys to assess public behavior and educate on the proper disposal of used oil. We presented findings from the recycled oil surveying at the Hazardous Waste Conference held in San Diego.

SOS advocated for stronger coastal water quality protection measures. We sought increased action and education in the Monterey Regional Integrated Stormwater Mitigation Plan and the draft Santa Cruz Regional Stormwater Management Plan by working with federal, regional, and local agencies.

In continuing greater awareness of the “Land to Sea Connection”, SOS called for the closure of the “Donut Hole,” an area located off the San Mateo county coast without Sanctuary status. SOS also commented on the City of Half Moon Bay’s Local Coastal Plan and the Monterey County General Plan urging stronger protective measures for our coast.