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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPPP Item 9 Part 1 The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority (SCCWRP) -'stabli.hedY Stephen B. Weisberg Executive Director WHAT IS SCCWRP? • Joint Powers Agency founded in 1969 • Our mission : Provide an unbiased scientific foundation for water quality management in California - We don't do policy - We don't do regulation - However, we judge success on whether our science is being used by those who do policy and regulation • Member organizations include city, county, state, and federal agencies - Unique combination of regulators and dischargers MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts San Diego Regional Water Quality Board City of Los Angeles Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Board Orange County Sanitation District Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board City of San Diego State Water Resources Control Board Ventura County Watershed Protection U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Division California Ocean Protection Council Los Angeles County Flood Control District Orange County Public Works County of San Diego COMMISSION • Governing board that includes decision leaders from each member agency - Meets quarterly • Unique interface between science and management The real strength of the organization INTERNAL STRUCTURE • 43 full-time staff - 22 of whom have a Ph.D. • Six departments - Biology - Microbiology - Chemistry - Biogeochemistry - Toxicology - Information Management and Analysis • 98% of our projects are conducted collaboratively - We have published scientific papers with 177 different institutions from 26 countries in the last four years RESEARCH PRIORITIES • Regional monitoring - Provide big picture assessment of management success - Achieve consistency in data collection methods • Approaches/thresholds for interpreting monitoring data • New measurement methods - Better, faster, cheaper - Present focus is on transitioning to molecular and real-time methods • Emerging issues - Investigate issues that are too speculative for inclusion in routine discharge monitoring programs ISSUES NOT PART OF TYPICAL DISCHARGER MONITORING PROGRAMS • Ocean acidification - ' • Marine debris - } • Harmful algal blooms • Emerging chemical contaminan s • Contaminant effects of fires