California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to...
Transcript of California Ocean Acidification Action Plan · 2018-08-02 · Thank you for taking the time to...
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CaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
August2018
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**NOTEFORPUBLICCOMMENT**
ThankyoufortakingthetimetoreviewthedraftCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan.Thisdraftwasdevelopedbasedonawiderangeofstakeholderinputandidentifiesobjectives,strategies,andalistofactionitemsforstakeholderstocollaborativelyimplementtoreduceandpreparefortheimpactsofoceanacidification.PleasenotethattheActionPlanisstillindraftformandafinalversionwillbemadeavailableafteritsanticipatedadoptionattheOceanProtectionCouncilmeetingonOctober25,2018.Youwillnoticethattherearesectionsofthetables,calloutboxes,andappendicesthatarenotyetcomplete.Thesewillbediscussedandfurtherfleshedoutduringthefinaleditingstages.Inparticular,wearesolicitingfeedbackonthefollowing:
1. Whatareyourthoughtsonthesixoceanacidificationactionstrategies?a. Dotheyreflectyourunderstandingofwhatthestate’socean
acidificationprioritiesare/shouldbe?b. Ifnot,whatoceanacidificationactionstrategiesdoyouthinkshould
beincludedasapriorityaction?
2. Doyouthinkthefive-yeartimelinethatthesixstrategiesofthisActionPlanareorganizedaroundisanappropriateandrealistictimescaleforthisdocument?Doyouthinkitwouldbebetterifthetimeframewaslongerorshorter?
YourcommentsonthisdraftwillhelpidentifyandaddressanygapsintheActionPlansactionitemsand/orprioritystrategies,andwillultimatelyfinalizetheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan.ThepubliccommentperiodonthedraftActionPlanisopenfromWednesday,August1throughFriday,August31,2018.Allcomments,edits,andquestionsregardingthedraftActionPlanshouldbesubmittedbyemailto:[email protected],August31,2018.OtherquestionscanbedirectedtoOceanProtectionCouncil’sClimateChangePolicyAdvisor,JennPhillips,at:[email protected]
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TableofContents
TABLEOFCONTENTS...................................................................................................3
LISTOFFIGURESANDBOXES.......................................................................................4
LISTOFAPPENDICES....................................................................................................4
ANOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLANFORTHESTATEOFCALIFORNIA...................5WHATISOCEANACIDIFICATIONANDWHYISCALIFORNIATAKINGACTION?....................................5THESCOPEOFCALIFORNIA’SOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLAN................................................7
SIXSTRATEGIESFORACTIONONOCEANACIDIFICATION............................................16Strategy#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts..........................16Strategy#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment.........................19Strategy#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA.................................................22Strategy#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon.........................27Strategy#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests......30Strategy#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries.......................................................33
MOVINGFORWARDWITHBOLDACTION...................................................................37
APPENDIX1:CORRESPONDENCEOFTHECALIFORNIAACTIONPLANTOGOALSOFTHEINTERNATIONALALLIANCETOCOMBATOCEANACIDIFICATION................................38
APPENDIX2:CONSULTATIONANDREVIEWPROCESSESTHATINFORMEDTHECALIFORNIAOCEANACIDIFICATIONACTIONPLAN.....................................................39
APPENDIX3:MEASURESFORASSESSINGPROGRESSINIMPLEMENTINGTHEPLAN...43
APPENDIX4:KEYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYANDCOMMUNICATIONNEEDSIDENTIFIEDINTHEPLANREQUIREDTOENABLEORIMPLEMENTOAPOLICYORMANAGEMENT..47
APPENDIX5:ASCIENCEPLANTOSUPPORTIMPLEMENTATIONOFTHEACTIONPLAN..................................................................................................................................50
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ListofFiguresandBoxesFigure1.Oceanacidification101Figure2.CaliforniaoceanacidificationpolicymilestonesFigure3.OceanacidificationispartofasystemofinteractingstressorsBox1.HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChangesBox2.Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCaliforniaBox3.InternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
ListofAppendicesAppendix1:CorrespondenceoftheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlantogoals
oftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationAppendix2:ConsultationandreviewprocessesthatinformedtheCaliforniaOcean
AcidificationActionPlanAppendix3:High-levelmeasuresforassessingprogressinimplementingtheActionPlanAppendix4:Keyscience/technologyandcommunicationneedsrequiredtoenableor
implementOApolicyandmanagementAppendix5:AdetailedscienceplanforadvancingtheActionPlan’simplementation1
1Note:IndevelopmentbytheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceandtobemadeavailable
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AnOceanAcidificationActionPlanfortheStateofCaliforniaWhatisOceanAcidificationandWhyisCaliforniaTakingAction?Globalemissionsofcarbondioxide(CO2)sincethestartoftheindustrialrevolutionhavebeendrivingnotonlychangestotheEarth’sclimate,butalsofundamentalshiftstothechemistryoftheworld’soceans.TheoceansareacidifyingbecausetheyareabsorbingasignificantshareoftheCO2releasedprimarilybytheburningoffossilfuelsandchanginglanduses(Figure1).Oceanacidification(OA)affectsthehealthofmanymarineorganismsinavarietyofways,includingmakingitdifficultforcertainspeciestobuildandmaintaintheirshellsandskeletons.Becauseoftheseeffectsonmarinespecies,OAhasthepotentialtosignificantlyaltermarinefoodwebsandothercriticalecologicalprocessesthataffecttheproductivity,health,andeconomicvitalityofcoastalandmarineecosystems.2TheeffectivenessofglobaleffortstoreduceCO2emissionswilldeterminehowmuchtheoceansacidifyandtheenvironmentalandsocialdisruptionthatresults.ThedevastatingfailureofoysterhatcheriesinthePacificNorthwestbetween2006and2009signaledthefirstOA-relatedwarningsigninourregionandledtotheestablishmentofaBlueRibbonTaskForceandalandmarkOAactionplanfortheStateofWashington.3Researchandobservationssincethenhaveshownwidespreadshellcorrosionamongcertainzooplanktonandsensitivityofmanyshellfishtoacidifyingconditions,andsuggestthatcommerciallyvaluablefisheriesalongtheWestCoastcouldbeatrisk.4OAisprogressingrapidly,withaveragesurfaceacidityoftheworld’soceansexpectedtodoublefromthatofpreindustriallevelsbytheendofthiscentury.OfparticularconcerntoCaliforniapolicy-makers,scientistsexpectthewestcoastofNorthAmericatoexperiencesomeoftheearliestandmostseverechanges,becausethewind-drivenupwellingthatfuelstheregion’shighproductivityalsowillbringincreasinglyacidifiedwaterstothesurface.5
2Theworld’soceanshaveabsorbedaboutathirdoftheCO2releasedthroughhumanactivitiessincethestartofthe
industrialrevolution.CO2dissolvedinseawatergoesthroughchemicalreactionsthatcauseadeclineinpHandtheavailabilityofcarbonateminerals,andanincreaseinthepartialpressureofCO2.Thesechangescanhaveimportanteffectsonthecalcification,physiology,andbehaviorofmanymarinespeciesthatcantranslateintosystem-levelimpactsonnutrientcycling,foodwebdynamics,andecosystemprocesses.See:Somero,G.N.etal.2016.Whatchangesinthecarbonatesystem,oxygen,andtemperatureportendforthenortheasternPacificOcean:Aphysiologicalperspective.BioScience66:14-26;Klinger,T.,etal.2017.Usingintegrated,ecosystem-levelmanagementtoaddressintensifyingoceanacidificationandhypoxiaintheCaliforniaCurrentlargemarineecosystem.ElemSciAnth5:16.
3WashingtonStateBlueRibbonPanelonOceanAcidification(2012).OceanAcidification:FromKnowledgetoAction,WashingtonState’sStrategicResponse.WashingtonDepartmentofEcology.
4See:Bednaršek,N.,etal.2017.ExposurehistorydeterminespteropodvulnerabilitytooceanacidificationalongtheUSWestCoast.NatureScientificReports7:4526;Busch,S.andP.McElhany.2016.EstimatesofthedirecteffectofseawaterpHonthesurvivalrateofspeciesgroupsintheCaliforniaCurrentEcosystem.PLoSONE11(8):e0160669;Marshall,K.N.etal.2017.RisksofoceanacidificationintheCaliforniaCurrentfoodwebandfisheries:ecosystemmodelprojections.GlobalChangeBiology23:1525-1539.
5Foradditionaldetailaboutthepattern,process,andimpactsofOAseefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
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ThescientificfoundationforthisActionPlanwaslaidbyCalifornia’spromptresponsetotheoysterhatcheryfailuresinthePacificNorthwest(Figure2).IncollaborationwithOregon,Washington,andBritishColumbia,CaliforniaspearheadedtheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel(Panel)–amulti-disciplinaryregionalefforttosynthesizethestateofknowledgeandidentifypotentialmanagementoptions.FollowingreleaseofthePanel’sfindingsin2016,theCaliforniaStateLegislaturepassedtworelatedbills(SenateBill1363andAssemblyBill2139)thatchargedtheOceanProtectionCouncil(OPC)totestpotentialOAmitigationmethods,beresponsivetothePanel’srecommendations,andensurethestatecontinuestoreceivethebestavailablescientificadvicethroughestablishmentofasciencetaskforce.6Overthepasttwoyears,theCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilhasmadeseveralstrategicinvestmentsinOA-relatedsciencethatisfundamentaltotakingeffectiveaction.Today,CaliforniaisactivelyparticipatinginagroundswellofinternationalactiononOA.In2016,thestatebecameoneofthefoundingmembersoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(OAAlliance),aninternationalnetworkofmorethan60governmentsandorganizationsthathavejoinedtogethertoelevatethevisibilityofOAinpublicdiscourseandpolicydevelopmentandtopushfortheinclusionofstrongoceanprotectionprovisionsininternationalclimateagreements.7ThisActionPlanfulfillsoneofCalifornia’sobligationstotheOAAlliance,isconsistentwiththeOAAlliance’sgoals(seeAppendix1),andmayserveasamodelforother
6RecommendationsoftheearlierWestCoastOcean
AcidificationandHypoxia(OAH)PanelgenerallyfocusedonaddressinglocalfactorsthataffectOAHexposure,enhancingtheabilityofbiotatocopewithOAHstress,andexpandingandintegratingknowledgeaboutOAH.
7FormoreontheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationsee:https://www.oaalliance.org.
Figure1*.Oceanacidification101.GlobalcarbonemissionsarethedominantcauseofOA,thoughlocalfactorsincludingnutrientandorganicmatterpollution,andlandusechangescanexacerbateconditionsatlocalscales.Oceanacidificationistriggeringawiderangeofmarineecosystemandcoastalcommunityimpacts.
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jurisdictionsseekingtoundertakeconcreteactionstobetterunderstand,mitigate,andadapttoOA.TheScopeofCalifornia’sOceanAcidificationActionPlan
TheprimarypurposeofthisActionPlanistoprovidearoadmapfortheStateofCaliforniatotaketractableandstrategicactionsandmaketargetedinvestmentstoreduceandpreparefortheimpactsofOA.AlthoughitfocusesonCalifornia’sparticularneedsandopportunities,thesearecastwithinaregional,national,andinternationalcontext,whereappropriate,toachievestategoals,advanceglobaleffortsandcollaboration,andhelpotherjurisdictionsmoveforwardonthischallengingproblem.SomeactionsintheActionPlanaddressOAasastand-aloneissueandothersaddressOAwithinthecontextofotherenvironmentaldriversandchanges,asappropriatetothepolicyormanagementcircumstances(Box1).
*Figure1adaptedfromtheNatureConservancy“WashingtonandOceanAcidification”figureintheWashington2017AddendumtoOceanAcidificationhttp://oainwa.org/assets/docs/2017_Addendum_BRP_Report_fullreport.pdfFactsfrom:NOAAPMLCarbonProgram.2018.“WhatisOceanAcidification”https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3FUNESCO.2017.“Rio+20Oceans-OceanAcidification”2018.http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/focus-areas/rio-20-ocean/blueprint-for-the-future-we-want/ocean-acidification/facts-and-figures-on-ocean-acidification/PCC.2018.RepresentativeConcentrationPathways.http://sedac.ipcc-data.org/ddc/ar5_scenario_process/RCPs.html
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Figure2.CaliforniaOApolicymilestones.SincetheoysterproductionfailuresinthePacificNorthwest,CaliforniahasparticipatedinagroundswellofactiononOAinrecentyears,includinginvestinginresearchandmonitoring,passingstatelegislation,andidentifyingscience-basedoptionstoaddressOAatregionalandlocallevels.
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Box1:HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChanges
Theworld’soceansareacidifyingbecausetheyareabsorbingasignificantshareoftheCO2releasedgloballythroughhumanactivities.ThepaceandintensityofOAalongtheCaliforniacoastvaries,however,fromplacetoplaceandovertime,inpartbecausetheacidificationcausedbytheabsorptionofCO2emissionsissuperimposeduponnaturallyoccurringpHvariationcausedbyupwellingandthedeliveryoffreshwaterbyriversandstreams.Also,locallygeneratedpollutionmayamplifyandspeedOAinareaswherenutrientsandorganiccarbonfromrunoffandoceandischargescauseexcessivealgalgrowthandthebreakdownofcarbon-containingmaterialsbybacteria.Theongoingandfuturechangesinoceanaciditywillhaveimportanteffectsonmarineanimalsandplantsthatcantranslateintoimpactsoncoastalandmarinefisheriesandecosystems,andthebenefitstheydelivertosociety.OAisjustoneofmanysignificantenvironmentalchangesnowoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,anditwillactincombinationwiththeseotherprocesses.Climatechangeisalteringtemperatureandprecipitationpatternsandoceanographicprocesses.Largerandmoreintenseregionsoflowoxygen(hypoxia)areoccurringinsomeareas.Sealevelisrisingandcoastalcommunitiesarerespondingbyrelocatingandprotectinginfrastructure.Humanusesandinputstotheoceansalsoareshifting,drivenbypopulationandlandusechange,shiftingfisheries,andnewusesoftheoceansforfood,energy,recreation,andhabitation.SomeoftheactionsidentifiedintheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanfocusspecificallyonOA,particularlythoseseekingtoelevateattentiontoOAamongpolicy-makers,managers,andaffectedinterestsortoreducethecausesofOA.Otheractions,suchasthoserelatedassessingrisksandadaptingtoOAormanagingbiologicalresourcesaffectedbyOA,addressOAwithinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchanges,becausetheeffectsofOAcannotbeconsideredormanagedseparately.Inmanycases,thestrategiesandactionsundertakentodealwithOAwillaidinaddressingotherkeychallenges,suchcopingwithcoastalhazardsandadaptingtoclimatechange.
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Box1(con’t.):HowthePlanAddressesOceanAcidificationwithintheContextofOtherEnvironmentalChanges
Figure3.Oceanacidificationispartofasystemofinteractingstressorsfacingmarineecosystems.Effectivelyamelioratingandadaptingtochangesrequirescoordinatedactionbylivingmarineresource,water,land,andairqualitymanagers.FormoreonthescienceofOAandhowOAinteractswithotherenvironmentalchanges,seefindingsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanel(http://westcoastoah.org).FigureadaptedfromOceanandCoastReport,California'sFourthClimateChangeAssessmentandQSR2010https://qsr2010.ospar.org/en/ch03_01.html
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California’swell-establishedpoliciesforfurtheringgoodstewardshipofouroceansandaddressingclimatechangeprovideasupportiveandenablingcontextforadvancingstateactionsonOA(Box2).Manyexistingprograms,processes,andcapacitiescanbeleveragedtoadvanceactiononOA.Moreover,thestate’sexperiencesundertakinginnovativeapproachestooceanstewardshipandclimatechangedemonstrateCalifornia’sabilitytotackletough,seeminglyintractableproblems,andtheyprovideusefulinsightsandmodelsthatthisplandrawsontoimprovethespeedandeffectivenessofCalifornia’sOAactions.Theten-yearvisionthatfollowslaysoutthestate’saspirationsformakingprogressonOA.ThesixstrategiesofthisActionPlanareorganizedaroundafive-yeartimeline,withaclearrationaleandapproach,setofgoals,andmeasuresfortrackingprogressandimplementation.TheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanispracticalanddesignedforintegrationintopublicagencyoperationsandtoinformdecisionsmadebymembersoftheprivatesectorandscientificcommunity.TheActionPlan’sdevelopmentwasinformedbyextensiveconsultationwithexpertsfromacrossocean-useindustries,stateandfederalgovernment,theconservationcommunity,relevantscientificdisciplines,andprivatephilanthropy(Appendix2).HelpfulinsightsandconceptsfromparalleleffortsinotherjurisdictionsandguidancedevelopedbytheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationwereadaptedforapplicationtotheCaliforniacontext.8Lookingforward,thisActionPlanisthefirststepinamuchlongereffort.ScientificunderstandingofOAisrapidlyevolving,asisexperienceworldwideinidentifyingandimplementingstrategiestomitigateandadapttoOA.PeriodicassessmentofprogressontheActionPlanandrevisionstoupdateandrefineitshouldbeundertakenataminimumofevery5yearstoincorporatewhathasbeenlearnedfromCalifornia’sexperienceandtheexperiencesofothers.
8SeveralotherstateshaveorarecurrentlytakingstepstoaddressOAthroughOAinitiativesandplansoraspartof
broaderoceaninitiatives,includingWashington,Oregon,Maryland,Maine,andNewYork.InternationaleffortsonOAincludeMonaco’sactionplanandregionalvulnerabilityassessmentsandplanningforthePacificislandregionandLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.Tohelpjump-startthedevelopmentofOAactionplans,theInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidificationprovidesan“ActionToolkit”(availableathttps://www.oaalliance.org/build-your-oa-action-plan/)thatprovidesnumerousoptionsforaddressingOAthroughimprovedscientificunderstandingandpublicawareness,mitigationandadaptation,andregionalandinternationalcollaboration.
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Box2:Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCalifornia
OceanStewardshipTwolawspassedin1998and1999,theMarineLifeManagementAct(MLMA)andtheMarineLifeProtectionAct(MLPA),establishedinnovativeframeworksforsecuringthehealthandproductivityofCalifornia’smarinefisheriesandecosystems.Bothtakeanecosystem-basedperspective,requireconsultationwithaffectedconstituenciesandscience-baseddecision-making,andemphasizeadaptiveapproachesasameansofenablingactionunderconditionsofuncertainty.Since2009,CaliforniahasadvancedthesustainablemanagementofnumerouscoastalfisheriesundertheMLMAthroughnewmanagementplansandrule-makings,and,undertheMLPAdesignatedthenation’sfirststatewidenetworkofmarineprotectedareas(MPAs),fullyprotectingmorethan9%ofstatewaters.TheseparateMasterPlansthatguideimplementationofeachactareperiodicallyupdated,providingamechanismforadoptingimprovedscientificunderstandingandmanagementtools.Recentupdatestobothhavebeguntointegrateapproachesforaddressingclimatechange,OA,andotherenvironmentalchangesbytakingstepstomaintainecologicalandsocialresilience,adoptingmanagementflexibility,andsystematicallyassessingandintegratingchangingconditionsintomanagementactions.Strategies#2,4,and5ofthisplancalloutactionsrelatedtoCalifornia’sfisheriesmanagementandMPAnetworkandidentifyprocessesforengagingaffectedconstituencies.
MitigationofGreenhouseGasEmissionsCalifornia’sprogramtoreducegreenhousegas(GHG)emissions–includingCO2,theprimarycauseofOA–hasevolvedthroughseverallawsandExecutiveActionsstartingin2005.ThecurrentgoalistoreducestateGHGemissionsto40%of1990levelsby2030.Strategiesforachievingthesereductions,specifiedinthe2017versionofthestate’s3-yearScopingPlan,includeimprovingenergyefficiencyinthebuildingandtransportationsectors,transitioningtorenewablefuels,reducingemissionsfromcommunities,agriculture,andothersectors,andcappingemissionsfromvariousindustries.TheGreenhouseGasReductionFund(GGRF)isamechanismthroughwhichproceedsfromthestate’sCap-and-TradeauctionsareinvestedtoreduceGHGemissionsandachieveotherstategoals.TheStateLegislature,inextendingtheCap-and-TradeProgramthrough2030inrecentlegislation,expresseditsintenttouseaportionofGGRFfundstosupport“climateadaptationandresilience,”openingthedoorforagenciestoconsideractionsthatimproveresiliencewhilesequesteringcarbonorreducingGHGemissions.Policy-makershavestartedtoexamineopportunitiesforbetterintegratingcoastalandoceansystemsintothismitigationframework,andthemostrecentupdatetotheScopingPlanincludesthepotentialfordirectingGGRFinvestmentstowardsstoringcarbonincoastalareasandtheoceans,suchasinseagrassmeadowsandsaltmarshes.Strategies#3and#4ofthisplanidentifyactionsforelevatingOAandtheroleofcoastsandoceansinthestate’sGHGreductioneffortsandforadvancingcarbonstorageandOAameliorationbynatural,restored,andconstructedlivingsystemsinCalifornia’scoastalandoceanhabitats.
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Box2(cont.):Oceanstewardship&climatechangepoliciesinCalifornia
ClimateChangeAdaptationClimatechangeadaptationinCaliforniahasprogressedalongseveralavenues,reflectingthemanydifferentpeopleandinstitutionsinvolvedindiversekindsofadaptationactivities.Eachofthesuccessivestatewideadaptationstrategiespreparedsince2009–currentlyreferredtoastheSafeguardingCaliforniaPlan–hasidentifiedOAasasignificantthreattoCalifornia’scoastsandoceans.Theplan’sOAactions,althoughnotextensive–haveprogressivelyexpandedbeyondinitialcallsforimprovedscienceandmonitoringtoalsoincludeintegratedvulnerabilityassessmentsandactionstoimprovefisheriesresilienceinthemostrecent2018update.TheseinitialstepsonOAhelpedpreparethegroundforthisActionPlan,which,inturn,setsoutabroaderrangeofactionsthatwillinformthenextstepsofstateagencies.
In2015,theGovernor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearchestablishedthenewlegislatively-mandatedIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResilienceProgram(ICARP).ICARPfacilitatestheworkoftherepresentativeTechnicalAdvisoryCouncil(whoseroleistohelpcoordinateclimateadaptationinthestate)andalsohostsaStateAdaptationClearinghousetoprovideacentralizedsourceofinformationandresourcesfordecision-makingatthestate,regional,andlocallevels.Otherstate-supportedmechanismsestablishedtofacilitatenetworkingandlearningamongclimateadaptationpractitionersandscientistdevelopingdecision-relevantclimatescienceincludethebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForumorganizedbytheLocalGovernmentCommissionandperiodicCaliforniaClimateChangeScienceSymposia.Actionsidentifiedunderstrategy#5ofthisplanidentifywaystobuildoffthesemechanismstohelpspeedOAinformationsharingandtohelpbuildthestate’sOAconstituencyandnetworks.
AdaptationtoSeaLevelRiseManystateagenciesmakedecisionsthatneedtointegratesealevelrise(SLR)projectionsanduncertainties–someinvolvingsignificantinvestmentsandlongtimelinesrelated,forexample,toinfrastructureandtransportation.In2010,CaliforniasoughttorapidlyspurintegrationofbestavailableinformationonSLRintodecision-makingofthesediverseagencieswhilealsoprovidingamechanismforupdatingthescientificbasisfordecision-makingasimprovedinformationbecameavailable.Thesolutiontothischallengewastoconveneamulti-agencyworkinggrouptodevelopedandenablebroadadoptionofoverarchingguidanceonSLRthatwasflexibleenoughtobeusefulwithintheagencies’differingdecisiontimelinesandrisktolerances.The2018updatetotheStateofCaliforniaSeaLevelRiseGuidanceincorporatesthemostup-to-dateSLRscienceandbroadensthedocumenttoaddresstheneedsoflocaldecision-makers,inadditiontostateagencies.ActionsinStrategy#1ofthisplanforactivatingstategovernmentdrawonlessonsfrommethodpioneeredpreviouslyforSLR.
Foradditionaldetailsaboutthesepolicies,programsandactivitiesdescribedabovesee:• https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MLMA(MLMA);• https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs(MLPA);• https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm(GHGemissionsreduction);• https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB398(recentlegislationonCap-and-
Trade)• http://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/(climatechangeadaptation);• http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org;http://californiascience.org(conveningprocessesforclimateadaptation);• http://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/(integratedclimateresilience);and• http://www.opc.ca.gov/2013/04/update-to-the-sea-level-rise-guidance-document/(adaptationtosealevelrise).
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Box3:TheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
The International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification brings together jurisdictions across the globe to combat ocean acidification and changing ocean conditions as an immediate and critical threat to coastal economies and ocean ecosystems. Members benefit from working together to mitigate carbon emissions and other contributors to ocean acidification, sharing knowledge about the impacts of ocean acidification, and learning how to adapt locally to the ongoing changes in ocean conditions. Globally, the OA Alliance is:
• Supporting governments to take meaningful actions to address changing ocean conditions • Pushing for inclusion of strong ocean protection provisions in international climate
agreements and other relevant frameworks • Creating a coalition of governments and partners to elevate the visibility and importance of
ocean acidification in public discourse and policy development
Individual Alliance members are encouraged to create an OA Action Plan that describes their own unique contribution to advancing some or all the 5 goals of the OA Alliance as written in the Call to Action. The Alliance’s Call to Action provides an immediate opportunity for parties across the globe to highlight ocean acidification as an imminent threat to coastal economies and ocean ecosystems. The Call to Action identifies five goals that the Alliance is working to further:
• Advance scientific understanding of ocean acidification • Take meaningful actions to reduce causes of acidification • Protect the environment and coastal communities from impacts of a changing ocean • Expand public awareness and understanding of acidification • Build sustained support for addressing this global problem
OA Action Plans will help governments create actionable responses to threats in their regions and will help affiliate members best leverage their expertise and resources on this issue. The OA Alliance has engaged with members in the development of OA Action Plans which describe real, tangible actions governments will take to respond to the threat of ocean acidification. Calling for the development of regional, member-driven, OA Action plans makes the OA Alliance unique in the focus on concrete, implementable actions to address changing ocean conditions. To facilitate the development of OA Action Plans, the OA Alliance has created a toolkit as a reference aid. The OA Action Plan Toolkit provides members with examples and suggestions of both regulatory and non-regulatory actions, and is meant to be a source of inspiration and a listing of suggested actions that members might consider when crafting their own OA Action Plan. The OA Alliance is continuing to develop the Action Plan toolkit and supporting resources for both government and affiliate members to utilize. For additional details on the OA Alliance, the Call to Action, or the OA Action Plan Toolkit, please see: https://www.oaalliance.org/
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TheStateofCalifornia’s10-yearVisionforActionto
AddressOceanAcidification Asoftheyear2028:
ü MOBILIZINGTHESTATE.California’spolicy-makers,resourcemanagers,public,andoceanindustriesunderstandthatoceanacidification(OA)isamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissions,onethathasasmuchpotentialtodisruptthehealthandproductivityofourcoastsandoceansasthechangingclimate.ThepeoplemostlikelytobeaffectedbyOAknowwhattheyhaveatstakeandareactivelyhelpingthestatetoadvancesolutions.TheStateofCalifornia–workinginpartnershipwiththeprivatesector,federal,tribal,andlocalgovernmentsaswellasgrowingregionalandinternationalcoalitions–hasmobilizedtoreducethecausesandadapttotheunavoidableimpactsofOA.
ü TAKINGACTION.California’seffortshaveresultedinsignificantreductionsintheCO2emissionsandotherpollutantsthatcauseOA.Throughactivestewardship,California’scoastsandestuarieshostrobusteelgrass,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststhatsupportthrivingfisheries.Improvedunderstandingofwhether,where,andhoweelgrass,saltmarshes,andkelpcanlocallyslowOAorsequestercarbonisbeingappliedinstatepoliciesandtheaquacultureindustry.Coastalcommunitiesandoceanindustrieshaveadoptednewwaysofdoingbusinessandaremaintainingtheirvitalityasoceanconditionschange.
ü ADVANCINGSCIENCE.Arobustscientificinfrastructureexistsfordevelopinganddeliveringdecision-relevantinformationaboutthecurrentandfuturepatterns,causes,andimpactsofOA.CalifornianshaveagreatlyimprovedunderstandingofhowcoastalandoceanconditionsandecosystemswillrespondtotheeffectsofOAactingincombinationwithotherongoingoceanchanges(includingtemperature,circulation,oxygen,freshwaterinputs,humanuses)andofpotentialoptionsforsustainingbiologicalproductivityandecosystemfunctionsandbenefits.Thisinformationisinformingandimprovingtheday-to-dayactions,investments,andlong-termplanningofdecision-makersacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
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SixStrategiesforActiononOceanAcidification
Sixco-equalstrategiesformtheorganizingframeworkforCalifornia’sOceanAcidificationActionPlan.Thesefocuson(1)preparingforOArisksandimpacts,(2)activatingresponsibleelementsofstategovernment,(3)reducingthepollutionthatcausesofOA,(4)deployinglivingsystemstolocallyslowOAandstorecarbon,(5)buildingCalifornia’sadaptivecapacitiesandresilience,and(6)engagingbeyondstateborderstoaccomplishmorethanCaliforniacanonitsown.Eachofthesixstrategiesisessentialandallshouldbeundertakenexpeditiously.Foreachstrategy,thePlanexplainstheunderlyingrationale,providesa5-yearplanandgoals,andidentifiesasetofspecifictractableactions.Appendix3identifiespotentialmeasuresforevaluatingprogressagainstthe5-yeargoalsduringtheActionPlan’simplementation.ScienceandcommunicationsplayintegralrolesintheActionPlan.Botharesystematicallyembeddedthroughoutthesixstrategies,reflectingthediversewaysthatscienceandcommunicationsareessentialforeffectivepolicyandmanagement.Appendix4summarizestheActionPlan’sscienceandcommunicationactions.TheOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForce9establishedinJanuaryof2018asdirectedbyAssemblyBill2139(Williams)developedamoredetailedscienceplanforovercomingimpedimentstoactionandenablingsuccessfulimplementationoftheCaliforniaOAActionPlan.ThisscienceplanappearsinAppendix5(note:forthcomingOctober2018aspartofthefinalActionPlan).
Strategy#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
TheimplicationsofOAforthehealthandproductivityofCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystems,andthecommunitiesandindustriesthatdependontheseecosystems,areenormous.Fromcorrodingshellsandskeletonsofmarineorganismstodisruptingnormalfishbehaviors,OAhasthepotentialtoaltermarinefoodwebsandecosystemsandtoreduceoraltertheproductivityandpredictabilityofmarinefisheriesandaquacultureoperations.TheproductionfailuresexperiencedbyPacificNorthwestoysterhatcheriesbetween2006and2009providesasmallglimpseofwhatmaylieahead.10
9TheOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceservesasaresponsiveadvisorybodythatprovidesscientificguidancetotheOPCinanongoingmannertoinformcontinuedactionsonoceanacidificationandhypoxiainCaliforniaandalongtheWestCoast.Tolearnmoreseehttp://westcoastoah.org/taskforce/about/
10WashingtonStateBlueRibbonPanelonOceanAcidification(2012).OceanAcidification:FromKnowledgetoAction,WashingtonState’sStrategicResponse.WashingtonDepartmentofEcology.https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our-role-in-the-community/Partnerships-committees/Ocean-acidification-Blue-Ribbon-panel
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Evenso,wedonotyethaveaclearpictureofwhatisatstakeforCaliforniaasOAconditionsintensifyinthecomingdecades.IdentifyingtherisksthatOAposestoCalifornia’sinterestsandassetswillbeessentialtohelpthosewhowillbemostaffectedprepareforthecomingchanges.Thisprocesswillalsohelpwithdevelopingmanagementinterventionsandpoliciesthatcanbesthelpsustainthehealthandwell-beingofcoastalecosystems,communities,andeconomies.Promptactionnowislikelytoyieldbetteroutcomes,becauseoptionswilldecreaseasOAconditionsworsen.OAisunfoldingatatimewhenCalifornia’scoastalandoceanenvironmentsareundergoingothersignificantchanges.Warmingtemperatures,changingprecipitationandfreshwaterflows,risingsealevels,decliningoxygen,andchangestothetypesandintensityofhumanusesarejustsomeoftheshiftsalreadyunderway.RealisticassessmentsofOAriskswillneedtoconsidertheinteractingeffectsofthesevariouschangeprocessesactingincombination.Insomecases,takingstepstoreducetheeffectsofotherfactors(suchashumanusesandpollution)mighthelpenhancetheabilityofnaturalsystemsorpeopletocopewithOA.Conversely,effortsshouldbemadetoensurethatsocietalresponsestootherenvironmentalchanges,suchassealevelrise,aredesignedinwaysthatdonotexacerbateOArisks.115-YEARGOALS:
• TherisksOAposestoCalifornia’sassetsandinterestsarewellunderstoodamongpolicy-makers,resourcemanagers,affectedindustriesandcommunities,andthepublic.
• Decision-relevantmonitoringinformationaboutOAiswidelyavailable,deliveredinausableform,androutinelyappliedtodecisionsacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
• ImprovedscientificunderstandingofhowOA,andtheinteractionsofOAwithotherenvironmentaldrivers,affectscoastalandmarineecosystemsisinformingstateresource,landuse,andoceanandcoastalmanagementdecisions.
ACTIONS:
1. ConductastatewidevulnerabilityassessmenttoidentifytherisksOAposestotheCalifornia’sbiologicalresources,communities,andeconomies,withinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchangesandhazards,andtoidentifyprioritiesandoptionsforactiontoimprovesocietaladaptivecapacity.12,13
11Coastaladaptationtosealevelrise,forexample,shouldbeundertakeninwaysthatdonotunintentionallyenhance
nutrientrunoffthroughlandusechangeordegradeseagrasshabitatthroughcoastalarmoring.12Suchenvironmentalchangesandhazardsinclude,forexample,changingtemperatures,precipitationpatternsand
runoff,landuses,andhumanuses,sealevelrise,andharmfulalgalblooms.
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• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstospeciesofhighecologicalandeconomicvaluetothestate–including,butnotlimitedto,Dungenesscrabandsalmon.
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstoocean-dependentindustries–includingaquaculture,fisheries,andcoastaltourism.
• IdentifythosecommunitiesparticularlyvulnerabletotheeffectsofOA.Conductsocialandeconomicresearchtoevaluatepotentialpublicpolicyinterventionsforbolsteringthesecommunities’resilience,adaptivecapacity,andabilitytopursueemergingopportunities.
• Translateandcommunicateinformationaboutrisks,vulnerabilities,andpotentialinterventionstoassistpolicy-makersandaffectedcommunitiesandindustriesinprioritizingandundertakingactionsforimprovingsocietaladaptivecapacity.
2. Designandmaketargetedinvestmentsinamonitoringandobservation(M&O)
systemoptimizedtodeliverdecision-relevantinformationthatservesuserneeds.• BuildingonexistingeffortsinvolvingWestCoastjurisdictionsandthe
federalgovernment,finalizethesystemdesignformonitoringinstate,federal,andcoast-widewatersthatwillassisttheCaliforniainunderstandingandprojectingfutureOApatternsandimpactsonbiologicalresources,communitiesandeconomiesandinapplyingthisinformationtodecisionsrelatedtowaterquality(Strategy#3),themanagementoflivingmarineresources(Strategy#4),andsustainingsocietalandecosystemresilience(Strategy#5).
• TheM&Osystemdesignshouldbeinformedbyanassessmentofuserneedsandshould:encompassnear-andoff-shoreareas;coupleenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoring(e.g.,offishstocks,ecosystems,andbiologicalOAindicators,suchaspteropods);strategicallyintegrateexistingM&Oassets;includeindustry(e.g.,fishing)andcitizensciencewherefeasibleandbeneficial.
• Ensureadoptionandparticipationinmonitoringdesignandimplementationbyrelevantlocal,state,andfederalagencies.
• MakeandencouragecollaboratorstomaketargetedandsustainedinvestmentsintheM&Osystem.StateinvestmentsshouldbetargetedtowardM&OactivitiesthatarecriticalforimplementingstateactionprioritiesidentifiedinthisActionPlanandformakingpolicyandmanagementdecisionsrelatedtoanticipating,mitigating,andadaptingtoOA.
13Since2006,successiveCaliforniaClimateChangeAssessmentshaveprovidedthestatewithcriticalscientific
informationabouttheimpactsofclimatechangeandpotentialadaptationoptionsandprovideapossiblemechanismforsupportingelementsofthestatewideOAvulnerabilityassessment.FormoreabouttheCaliforniaClimateChangeAssessmentsseehttp://climatechange.ca.gov/climate_action_team/reports/climate_assessments.html.
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• EnhanceandexpandcoupledenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoringacrossthestatewideMPAnetworktoprovideessentialbaselineinformationforunderstandingOAecosystemimpactsandpotentialcontributionsofMPAstosustainingregionalecosystemfunctionsandsocietalbenefitsunderintensifyingOA.
• ProvideopenaccesstoinformationdevelopedthroughtheM&Osystemviaexistingornewweb-basedplatformsanddataportal(s)thatallowtheOAinformationtobeviewedandanalyzedincombinationwithotherenvironmentalinformation.
• Theplatformshouldbedevelopedinwaysthat,overthelonger-term,willsupportweb-basedmappingtoolsthat,amongotherthings:showcurrentandprojectedfutureOAtrends,forecastsandscenarios;highlightareashistoricallysubjecttogreatpHvariation;andidentify“hotspots”wherefutureOAchangeswillbefasterandmoreintense.
3. CharacterizehowinteractionsbetweenOAandotherenvironmentalchangeswill
affectthestructure,function,andsocietalbenefitsderivedfromCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystems.
• InvestdirectlyandthroughpartnershipsinbuildingthescientificfoundationforunderstandingandprojectingthepotentialfutureecosystemimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherchangeprocesses(e.g.temperature,runoff,hypoxia,humanuses,landusechangeandchangestocoastalinfrastructure).Supportedworkshouldincluderesearchonfoodwebimpactsthatcaninformfisheriesmanagement.Thestatewidenetworkofmarineprotectedareascanpotentiallyserveasa“livinglaboratory”forrelatedresearch.
• Identifyandtest,usingmodelsandothermeanssuchasfieldexperimentsandlaboratorymanipulations,potentialpolicyandmanagementinterventionstosloworreduceOAecosystemimpacts.Examplesmightincludeadjustingotherenvironmentaldriversthataffectecosystemhealth(e.g.,pollution,disturbance,resourceextraction)andexaminingtheextenttowhichmarineprotectedareasaidinlocallyorregionallysupportingecologicaladaptationtoOA.14
Strategy#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
14Marineprotectedareasmight,forexample,harborrobustandgeneticallydiversepopulationsofmarinespeciesthatcanhelpre-seedareassubjecttotransientOAextremesorincludevariantsthatarenaturallymoreresistanttoOA.MarineprotectedareasthatsupporthealthyseagrassmeadowsmayamelioratelocalOA.
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Overthecomingdecades,intensifyingOAalongtheCaliforniacoastwillinteractwithotheroceanchangestosignificantlyalterandpotentiallydegradecoastalandoceanwaterqualityandecosystemsandthewell-beingofcommunitiesandindustriesthatdependonthecoastandocean.15Althoughstategovernmentcoulddomuchtoanticipate,mitigate,andadapttothesechanges,sucheffortshaveonlyjustbegun.California’ssuccessinaddressingOAdemandstheengagementofamuchbroadersetofstateagenciesandprograms–includingallwhosemissionsandactionswillaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA.ThesubstantivecoverageandmissionsoftheseagenciesgoeswellbeyondthosethathavealreadybeguntoaddressOAinaconcretefashion,andincludesgreenhousegasemissionsreduction,sealevelriseadaptation,landuseandtransportationplanningandmanagement,watermanagementandquality,agriculturalandseafoodproduction,andwildlifeconservation.BroadengagementacrossagenciesandsectorswillensurethatthestateisdoingeverythingitcantolimitharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOA,andthatworkonOAthroughoutstategovernmentiscoordinated,wellaligned,andeffective.Californiahastakenonsimilarchallengesinbuildingapproachesforaddressingclimatechange,anditseffortshaveresultedinwell-recognizedmodelsofsuccessfulmulti-agencygovernanceforreducinggreenhousegasemissionsandadaptingtoclimatechangeandsealevelrise.16TheActionPlanhasdrawnonlessonsfromtheseexperiencesindesigningtheapproachbelowforspeedingtransformationalchangeinthestate’sapproachtoOA.5-YEARGOALS:
• AllrelevantstateagenciesaresuccessfullyintegratingthebestavailablescientificinformationaboutOAintodecisionsandpoliciesthathavethepotentialtocontributetoortoslowOAalongtheCaliforniacoastorthatdealwithbiologicalresources,industries,orcommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyOA.
• StategovernmentisdoingasmuchasitcantominimizeharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOAandtoanticipateandadapttothoseharmfulimpactsthatcannotbereduced.
ACTIONS:
15SeefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
16http://www.opc.ca.gov/updating-californias-sea-level-rise-guidance/,https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm,andhttp://resources.ca.gov/climate/safeguarding/providebriefhistoriesandrelevantdocumentsrelatedtothedevelopmentofCalifornia’sapproachestosealevelrise,GHGemissionsreduction,andclimatechangeadaptation,respectively.
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1. FullyintegrateOAintoCaliforniastategovernmentpolicies,planning,andoperations
• TheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilwillconveneandleadaninteragencyOAworkinggroupthatincludessenior-levelstafffromthefullsetofstateagencieswhosedecisionsaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA.
• Theworkinggroupwill,withinoneyear:(a)Identifyagencypolicies,decision-makingprocesses,andinvestmentsthatshouldconsiderinformationaboutpotentialimpactstocoastalOAorpossibleeffectsofOAonmanagedresourcesorinterests;(b)Articulateoverarchingstateguidance,,intheformofgeneraloperatingprinciplesandpractices,thatwillassistthememberagenciesandprogramsinmovingforwardinaddressingOAwithintheirpurview;and(c)SpecifyhowmemberagenciesandprogramswillconsiderandimplementtheCaliforniaOAActionPlanandintegrateOAintotheirpolicyandmanagementdecision-making.
• OvertheActionPlan’s5-yearlifespan,theworkinggroupwilltrackimplementationprogressand,attheendofthisperiod,developarevisedplaninlightofdocumentedaccomplishments,identifiedchallenges,learning,andscienceadvances.
• Tosupporttheday-to-daypolicyandmanagementdecisionsandactionsonOAbymemberagenciesandprogramsoftheworkinggroup,theOPC,workingincollaborationwiththeOAHScienceTaskForce,willoverseeproductionofasciencesynthesisthattranslatescurrentunderstandinganduncertaintiesaboutOAintoactionableknowledgethatisusefulforagencyandprogramdecision-making.17ThissynthesiswillincludeOApatternsandprojectionsandtheanticipatedbiologicalandsocioeconomicimpactsofOAinrealworldsituationswhereOAinteractswithotherenvironmentaldrivers,manyofwhicharealsochanging.ThesynthesiswillberesponsivetoachargefromtheOAworkinggroup,andwillbeupdatedaminimumofeverythreeyearsinlightofimprovedscientificunderstanding.
• ImproveunderstandingofOAanditssignificanceamongpolicy-makersandleadersinCalifornia’slegislatureandpublicagencies.
• Sharewithpolicy-makersoutsideofCalifornia(domesticallyandinternationally)lessons,insights,andpracticalaccomplishmentsfromCalifornia’sexperienceelevatingattentiontoOAintothestate’spolicyframeworksforclimatechange(mitigation,adaptation),oceanstewardship(fisheries,wildlife,marineprotectedareas),andcoastalwaterquality.
17ThissynthesiswouldplaythesameroleforOAthatRisingSeasinCalifornia:AnUpdateonSeaLevelRiseScienceisplayinginthestate’sguidanceonsealevelrise.Seehttp://www.oceansciencetrust.org/projects/updating-californias-sea-level-rise-guidance/
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2. EnsureimplementationoftheActionPlan• ProvidededicatedcapacityandstafftimetoimplementtheActionPlan,
evaluateprogress,andperiodicallyupdateandrevisetheplan.ThelogicalnexusforleadingandcoordinatingimplementationoftheOAActionPlanistheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncilandtheCoastalandOceansResourcesWorkingGroupestablishedaspartofthestate’sClimateActionTeam.18IndividualagenciesandprogramsparticipatingintheOAworkinggroupwillneedtoallocatestafftimetocontributeandbuildinternalexpertiseaboutOAanditsimplicationsforagencypoliciesandoperations.
• IdentifyandtargetfundingtoimplementtheActionPlan,includingthroughpublicfunding,public/privatepartnerships,leveragedinvestments,andidentificationofprioritiesforotherfunders(science,federal,privatephilanthropy).
Strategy#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
Oceanacidificationisfundamentallyawaterpollutionproblem.Byfar,themajordriverispollutionoftheworld’soceanscausedbyabsorptionofglobalCO2emissions.19Consequently,themostimportantactionsCaliforniacantaketolimitOAanditsimpactsarethoseaimedatreducingCO2emissionsandsecuringcarbonstorage.Californiaalreadyhasawell-establishedprogramtoreducegreenhousegasemissions.BuildinguponthegroundbreakingCaliforniaGlobalWarmingSolutionsActof2006(AssemblyBill32),thestateestablishedarobustaccountingframework,hassetincreasinglyambitiousGHGreductiongoals,andlaunchedastrategicsetofactionsandinvestmentstoachievethesegoals.California’scurrent2030targetofreducingemissionsto40%below1990levelsby2030isthemostambitiousGHGreductiongoalforNorthAmerica.TheGHGreductionprogramscope,whichinitiallyemphasizedmeasurestoimproveenergyefficiency,reducefossilfueldependence,andlimittransportationemissions,recentlyexpandedattentiontomeasuresforpromotingcarbonsequestrationonnaturalandworkinglandsandreducingemissionsfromlandandresourcemanagementpractices.20Attentiontocoastsandoceansinthesevariousapproacheshasbeen
18FormoreontheCoastalandOceansResourcesWorkingGroupoftheClimateActionTeamsee:http://www.opc.ca.gov/2010/07/coastal-and-ocean-climate-action-team-co-cat/).
19SeefindingsandreportsoftheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaPanelavailableathttp://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/.
20See:CaliforniaAirResourceBoard(webpage).NaturalandWorkingLandsSector:GHGReductionsandCarbonSequestrationGoalsforCalifornia’sForests,Ranches,andFarms.
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limitedsofar,andopportunitiesnowexisttomoresystematicallyelevateattentiontoOAandtocoastalandoceansystemsinCalifornia’sGHGreductionframework.21California’sClimateChangeScopingPlan,inparticular,shouldfullyintegratestrategiesforreducingOA.22InadditiontoongoingOAresultingfromglobalCO2emissions,locallygeneratedpollutionhasthepotentialtoacceleratetherateatwhichcoastalwatersareacidifying,especiallyinsemi-enclosedwaterslikeestuariesandbays.Thislocalaccelerationoccurswheninputsofwaterborneorganiccarbonandnutrientsfromoceanwastewaterdischarges,agriculturalandurbanrunoff,andothersourcesresultinadditionalcontributionsofCO2tocoastalwaters.23,24Absorptionoflocalairborneemissions(includingCO2andchemicalsthatdirectlyacidifyoceanwaterssuchasnitrousoxidesandsulfurcompounds),fromsourcessuchastransportationandelectricutilities,alsohasthepotentialtoexacerbateOAlocally.FreshwaterrunofffromimpervioussurfacesinsomeareascanworsenOAbyfloodingcoastalwaterswithlowpHwater.InplaceswherelocalinputsareacceleratingOA,reducinglocalpollutioncouldhelpslowthisprocess.TechnicalassessmentsofthemagnitudeandimpactsoflocalcontributionstocoastalOAinCaliforniahavebegun,buthavenotyetbeencompleted.Importantquestionsremainrelatedto:WhereandwhatproportionoftheOAoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoastisduetolocalwater-borneoratmosphericpollution?Howwilltheserelativecontributionschangeinthefuture?Whichlocations,ifany,couldorshouldbeprioritizedforreducinglocalinputsinordertoslowthenear-termpaceofOA?Overthenextfewyears,modelscurrentlyunderdevelopmentareexpectedtostartprovidinganswers.Theresultsshouldaidinevaluatingthepotentialbenefits(intermsofslowinglocalacidificationrates)ofinterventionstoreduceorrelocatelocalpollutioninputs,includingmorecostlyorcontroversialinterventions,suchaschangestooceanwastewaterdischargesoradjustingagriculturalpracticestoreducefertilizerrunoff.25https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/natandworkinglands/natandworkinglands.htm.Forestsreceivedparticularattentionbecauseoftheirlargesequestrationpotentialandbecauseoftherisksofcarbonleakageposedbywildfire(seeForestClimateActionTeam(2018).CaliforniaForestCarbonPlan:ManagingOurForestLandscapesinaChangingClimate).http://www.fire.ca.gov/fcat/downloads/CaliforniaForestCarbonPlaFinal.pdf)
21Arecentconceptpaperdevelopedtoinformfutureinvestmentsinnaturalandworkinglandsincludesseagrassandsaltmarshrestorationasproposedmanagementactivities.See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard,etal.(2018).California2030NaturalandWorkingLandsClimateChangeImplementationPlanConceptPaper.https://arb.ca.gov/cc/natandworkinglands/nwl-implementation-plan-concept-paper.pdfSeealsoStrategy#4ofthisplan.
22See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(2017).California’s2017ClimateChangeScopingPlan.https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm
23CO2isreleasedwhenbacteriadecomposeorganiccarbonthatisdischargedintoriversorcoastalwaterorwhennutrientsinputs(e.g.,nitrogenandphosphorous)thatstimulatetheproliferationofalgaethatlaterreleaseCO2whentheydieanddecompose.
24InadditiontoexacerbatingOA,throughcomplexandinteractingprocesses,excessivenutrientandorganiccarboninputsalsocancontributetoharmfulalgalbloomsandlowoxygen(hypoxia),andtheseeffectsmaybeexacerbatedbytemperatureincreasescausedbyclimatechange.See,forexample,Breitburg,etal.2018.Decliningoxygenintheglobaloceanandcoastalwaters.Science359:46.
25Seedescriptionofmodelingprojectathttp://westcoastoah.org/resources/california/
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Whilethisinformationisbeingdeveloped,actionstillcanbetakenthroughvariousmulti-benefitoptionsthatsimultaneouslyreducelocalinputswhileachievingotherpolicyoreconomicgoals.Forexample,wastewatertreatmentplantsundertakinginfrastructureupgradestoimproveenergyoreconomicefficiency,orinvestinginwaterreusetoachievewatersavings,couldsimultaneouslymakechangestoreducenutrientdischarges.26Overthelonger-term,evaluating,communicating,andundertakingmoreaggressivestepstoreducethecausesofOAwillrequiredevelopmentandadoptionofscientificallyrobustandbiologicallymeaningfulOAindicatorsforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanwaters,andindicatorvaluesthatcouldserveasmanagementgoalsandregulatorytriggers.27Suchindicatorsandvalueswillsupportseveralimportantapplications,including:evaluating,communicating,andtrackingacidificationinCalifornia’scoastalwaters;justifyingmanagementinterventionsbyRegionalWaterQualityControlBoards;anddevelopingcriteriaandobjectivesforregulatingcausalpollutantsunderfederalandstatelaw(theCleanWaterActandPorter-CologneWaterQualityControlAct).285-YEARGOALS:
• AttentiontocoastalandoceansystemsandtoOAiselevatedandsystematicallyaddressedinCalifornia’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Near-termoptionsforreducinglocalsourcesofacidifyingpollutants(voluntary,incentive-based,permitting)havebeenidentifiedandarefullyemployed.
• Thestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneeds–includingscientificallyrobustwaterqualityindicatorsandappropriatemodelsforassessingcontributionsoflocalandglobalCO2–tomeasureandevaluateOA-relatedchangesoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,toselectwaterqualitygoals,andtoinitiatemanagementorregulatoryactiontoslowtheserates,iffeasibleandappropriate.
26Notethatwaterreuseimprovementsthatdonotalsoremovenutrientsyieldconcentratednutrient-richeffluentsthatcouldcauseintensifiedlocalOAaroundoceandischarges.
27Theterm“indicator”isusedhereinageneralsensetorefertoawaterqualitycharacteristic(chemicalorbiological,suchaspHlevel,durationoflowpHperiods,carbonatesaturationstate,abundanceorconditionofsensitivespecies,etc.)thatisassociatedwithimpacts,whenitreachescertainvalues,onthestate’scoastalandmarineecosystemsandtheirbeneficialuses.Waterqualitymanagers,scientists,andregulatorsdevelopandusevariouskindsofwaterqualityindicatorsandindicatorvaluesthatcanaidinevaluatingandcommunicatingenvironmentaltrendsorcanserveaswaterqualitygoalsandactiontriggers,variouslyreferredtoas“thresholds,”“benchmarks,”“assessmentthresholds,”“assessmentendpoints,”“objectives,”and“criteria,”dependingonthecontext.FordetailsaboutterminologyusedbyCalifornia’swaterqualitymanagerssee:Marschack,J.B.2016.ACompilationofWaterQualityGoals:17thEdition.StateWaterResourcesControlBoard.https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality_goals/.
28RevisionofexistingwaterqualitycriteriawasoneofeightmajorrecommendationsmadebytheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanelbasedonthePanel’sconclusionthatexistingwaterqualitycriteriaareoutofdateandinsufficientlysensitivetodetectchangesthatarebiologicallysignificantandofmanagementconcern.See:Chan,F.etal.(2016).TheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel:MajorFindings,Recommendations,andActions.http://westcoastoah.org/westcoastpanel/
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ACTIONS:
1. SystematicallyintegrateOAandcoastsandoceansintoCalifornia’sGHGemissionsreductionprogram.
• DevelopandamplifyclearmessagesthatidentifyOAasamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissionsandreductionofOAasamajorbenefitofthestate’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Identify,evaluate,andimplement,aswarranted,additionalopportunitiestoreduceGHGemissionsbycoastalandoceanuses(suchastourism,recreation,anddesalinization)andrelatedindustriesthroughvoluntary,incentive-based,and/orregulatorymeasuresandtosecurecarbonstoragethroughsystemssuchasseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,kelpforests,andnovelmechanismssuchaskelpmariculture(seealsoStrategy#4).
• Reducethecarbonfootprintofseafoodconsumptioninthestate.Thefirststepistoevaluatethepotentialforandtheenvironmental,economic,andsocialcostsandbenefitsofincentivizingconsumptionoflocallysourcedproducts(wildcapture,aquaculture)andreducingimportsofforeignsourcedproducts.Ifwarranted,workwithseafoodcertificationandratingprogramstointegratecarbonfootprintinformationintoratingsystemsandpubliceducationproducts.
• Identifyandassignprioritytoemissionsreductionactionsthatalsohavethepotentialtoreduceorslowlocalratesofacidification.Forexample,managementofnitrogenfertilizeronagriculturallandstoreduceemissionsofnitrousoxide(agreenhousegas)alsomayreducenutrientrunoffthatcanintensifylocalOA,andsubmergedaquaticvegetationsecuredtodelivercarbonstoragemayalsoameliorateratesoflocalacidification(seealsoStrategy#4).29,30
• EvaluateandadvanceopportunitiesfordirectinginvestmentsoftheGreenhouseGasReductionFundtowardsactionsthatsimultaneouslyimproveresilienceofindustriesandcommunitiesvulnerabletoOAwhilereducingGHGemissionsorimprovingcarbonstorage.(SeealsoStrategy#5.)
• Continuetoadvancecollaborativedialogueonocean-basedproductionofrenewablewindenergy,whereitiscompatiblewithsustaininghealthyoceanecosystems,fisheries,andcoastaleconomies
2. Identifysourcesandreducelocalwater-borneandairbornepollutionthatcan
exacerbatecoastalOA.
29See:CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard(2017).California’s2017ClimateChangeScopingPlan.
https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm30Manyofthesesameactionsarelikelytoyieldadditionalwaterqualitybenefitsbyreducinghypoxiaincoastalwaters.
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• Expandincentivesforcoastalinfrastructureupgradesthataredesignedtosimultaneouslyreduceoreliminatenutrient-andcarbon-ladenoceandischargesthatexacerbatelocalacidificationwhilealsoadvancingCalifornia’sclimateadaptationgoalsforthewatersectorbyimprovingwaterreuseandrecycling.31
• Assesswhetherlocalsourcesofacidifyingairborneemissions(e.g.,nitrogenoxides,sulfuroxides)areaffectingtherateofOAinselectregionsofthecoast,suchasnearCaliforniaportsandharborsorcoastalelectricpowerplants.Identifyandimplementoptionsforreducingtheseairbornepollutantsunderstatelaw,asappropriate,whichmayalsoyieldpublichealthbenefitsinsomeplaces.
• SupportandhighlightthesignificanceforOAofintegratedwatershedplanningandlandmanagementandprotectionactivities(e.g.,runoffreduction,protectionofuplandwetlandsandriparianareas)thatarelikelytoyieldimproveddownstreamwaterqualityinbaysandestuarieswhererisksofintensifiedOAfromlocalinputsaregreatest.Targetcommunicationstowardskeyaudiencesdemonstratingtheselinkagesandhighlightingthemultiplepotentialbenefitsforcoastalwaterqualityandproductivity.32
3. DeveloptechnicaltoolsforevaluatingcoastalOAandforattributingintensifying
OAtocausalpollutants.33Prioritizethosetoolsthatsupportbothnear-andlonger-termapplications,includingvulnerabilityassessments,publiceducation,targetedmanagementinterventions,andregulatoryaction.
• Buildoninitialeffortstodevelopascientificallyrobust,well-vetted,andbiologicallysignificantsetofcoastalwaterqualityindicatorsforevaluatingOAconditionsoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast.Identifyvaluesandthresholdsfortheseindicatorsthatcouldserveaswaterqualitygoalsandtriggersformanagementorregulatoryaction.
• Buildoninitialeffortstoadvanceandvalidatespatiallyexplicitmodelsandanalyticaltoolsthataidinaccountingfortherelativecontributionsofdifferentpollutionsources(e.g.,globalCO2emissions,localwater-bornenutrientsororganiccarbon,localairborneacidifyingchemicals)toongoingandfuturepHchangesalongtheCaliforniacoastandhowthesecontributionsmightbeaffectedbyvariousinterventions.
31TheprimaryincentivecurrentlyavailableistheCleanWaterStateRevolvingFundthatofferslowcostfinancingfor
waterqualityprojectthatcanbeapplied,amongotherpurposes,toupgradingcoastalwastewatertreatmentinfrastructure.https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/
32ReducingnutrientandorganiccarboninputsthroughactionstakeninupstreamwatershedscanpotentiallynotonlyslowratesofOA,butalsohelpreduceeutrophication,oxygendepletion,andharmfulalgalblooms.
33FormoreaboutinitialinvestmentsoftheOceanProtectionCouncilinthisareaseeprojectsrelatedtowaterqualityandintegratedmodelingathttp://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/ocean-acidification-2/.
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Strategy#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
California’sseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsarehometodiverseandabundantwildlife,providehabitatsforcommerciallyandrecreationallyimportantfisheries,andareimportantattractionsforcoastaltourismandrecreation.Increasingly,theyalsoarebeingrecognizedascriticaltoachievingthestate’sgoalsforclimatechangeadaptationandmitigation.Thesehabitatshavethepotentialtoprotectshorelinesfromsealevelrise,sequestercarbon,andlocallyameliorateOAbyremovingCO2fromoceanwaters(seagrasses,kelp)andbyremovingnutrientsandorganiccarbonfromrunoff(saltmarshes).34Thestatecurrentlysupportsseagrass,saltmarsh,andkelpconservation,restoration,andmanagementunderavarietyofauthoritiesandfundingmechanismsthatreflectallofthesediversebenefits.35Lookingahead,Californiahasanopportunitytodeliberatelyleveragethecollectivebenefitsofthestate’sseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforests,andtheplantsthatdominatethesesystems,forlocallyslowingOAandforstoringcarbon–atthesametimeastheselivingsystemsprovidemanyotherbenefits.Doingsowillrequiretreatingcurrentandfutureprotection,restoration,andmanagementprojectsandplacesasanetworkofsitesfor“learningbydoing”tohelpfillgapsincurrentunderstanding.Suchapproachesfortakingactioninthefaceofincompleteinformationarealreadywellestablishedinthestate’soceanmanagementpolicies.36Saltmarshcapacitiesforstoringcarbonandremovingwaterbornenutrients,forexample,havebeenwelldocumented.Nevertheless,understandingofhownutrientremovalbysaltmarshesmighttranslateintoreducedratesofOAinareassubjecttoagriculturalorurbanrunoffislimited.Similarly,althoughweknowthatcertainseagrassesandkelpscanlocallyameliorateOA,andthatseagrassmeadowsalsocansequestercarbon,wedonotyetknowenoughtoprescribespecificpracticesorplacesforoptimizingtheseOAandcarbonstoragebenefitsorforquantifyingtheireffects.37
34Neilsen,K.etal.(2018).EmergingUnderstandingofthePotentialRoleofSeagrassandKelpasanOceanAcidification
ManagementToolinCalifornia.CaliforniaOceanScienceTrust.35Examplesinclude:WithinstatemarineprotectedareasimplementedundertheMarineLifeProtectionActandstate
parks;ClimateReadyProgramgrantsadministeredbytheCaliforniaCoastalConservancy(http://scc.ca.gov/climate-change/);InvestmentsmadeundertheGreenhouseGasReductionFundtosecurecarbonsequestration;LeasingandlicensingofkelpbedsbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife;ManagementofEstuarineResearchReservesandStateParks;ResearchanddevelopmentgrantsmadebytheCaliforniaOceanProtectionCouncil(http://www.opc.ca.gov/opc-climate-change-program/ocean-acidification-2/).
36ThelawsthatgovernstatemanagementoffisheriesandMPAs,TheMarineLifeManagementActandTheMarineLifeProtectionAct,eachsupportsanadaptivemanagementapproachthatincludesdeliberativeinformationgatheringandflexibledecision-makingasnewknowledgebecomesavailable.SeealsoBox2ofthisplan.
37Thepotentialcarbonstoragebykelpforestsundernaturalconditionsappearstobesmall,becausekelpsliveonhardsurfacesanddonotaccumulateorganicmaterialsinsedimentslikeseagrassesandsaltmarshesdo.However,kelpharvestedandremovedfromnaturalandmariculturesystemscanprovidegreaterandmorelastingcarbonstorageundercertaincircumstances.
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Earlyinvestmentsbythestateinrelatedresearchisalreadyyieldingimportantinsights(seeFigure2).Implementingalargeranddeliberativeapproachtolearningfromexperienceacrossthenetworkofstateinvestmentsinlivingsystems(seagrasses,saltmarshes,kelp)tohelpslowlocalOAandstorecarbon,wouldspeeddevelopmentofimprovedmethodsformanagingthesesystemsandaccountingfortheirOAandcarbonstoragebenefits.Thesegainswouldimprovethestate’sabilitytooptimizefutureinvestmentsandoveralleffectiveness.5-YEARGOALS:
• RestorationofhealthyseagrassmeadowsacrossallofCalifornia’sestuariesisnowstatepolicyandiswellunderwayandfinanced.
• Stateinvestmentsintoseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststosecureOAameliorationandcarbonstoragebenefitsarestrategicandeffective.
• Aquacultureproductionsystemshavebeendeveloped,tested,andadopted,ifwarranted,thatintegratekelpandseagrasstoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproductionandthatendeavortoenableco-locationofaquaculturewithsuccessfulseagrassconservation.
ACTIONS:
1. Implementacoordinatedandstrategicstatewideapproachtorestoring,conservingandassistinginthemigrationofseagrassmeadows,kelpforests,andsaltmarshestoachievemultiplestategoals.
• Mapcurrentandprojectedfuturehabitatspaceforseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsalongtheCaliforniacoastusingscientificallyvalidandreproduciblemethodsthatareverifiedthroughfieldsurveys.Futurehabitatprojectionsshouldincludeconsiderationofthestate’smostrecentguidanceonsealevelrise.Provideforpermanent,centralized,onlinearchivingandopenaccesstotheresultinginformationandmapstoinformpublicandprivatemanagementandpermittingdecisions.
• Accelerateinvestmentinconservingandrestoringthrivingeelgrassbedstothestateestuariesandbaysthroughfundingforgreenhousegasmitigation,waterquality,andnaturalresourcesprotection.38Testandadoptmethodstodrivedowncostsandimprovethesuccessrateofmanagement,restoration,andassistedmigrationofseagrassmeadows.
38Wherepossibleandadvisableinlightofsealevelrise,priorityshouldbegiventoconservingexistingeelgrass
meadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforests,becauseconservationislessexpensiveandmorelikelytosucceedthanrestoringlostordegradedsystemsorestablishingnewones.
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• InventoryandacknowledgethepotentialOAandcarbonstoragebenefitsofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsinthestatewidenetworkofMPAs.IntegrateresultsfromMPAmonitoringofOA(seeStrategy#2)intothelearningframeworkforthestate’ssystemofseagrassmeadowsandkelpforests.
• Usethegrowingnetworkofstateinvestmentsinplace-basedconservationandmanagementofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsasasystemfor“learningbydoing”toidentifywhether,where,andhoweffectivelythesenaturalsystemscanameliorateOAandsequestercarbonovernear-andlong-termtimelinesandattendantimpactsonotherspeciesofmanagementconcern.Translateverifiedfindingsintoprescriptiveguidancetoimprovetargetingoffutureinvestmentsandtodevelopbestmanagementpractices.
2. EvaluateandadvanceaquacultureapproachesthatoptimizeOAameliorationandcarbonstorage,whilebenefitingshellfishproduction.
• Developandevaluatetheeffectivenessoftechnologiesandmanagementpracticesdesignedtoallowshellfishaquaculturetoco-existwiththeconservationofthrivingeelgrassbeds
• Buildoninitialeffortstodevelop,test,andapplycoupledaquacultureproductionsystemsthatenhanceshellfishproductionbyintegratingseagrassesorkelpstolocallyameliorateOA.
• Continuetodevelop,evaluate,andrefinekelp-farmingaquacultureasawaytolocallyameliorateOAwhileproducingcommercialproducts,suchasfood,biofuels,agriculturalamendments,andwaterpollutiontreatmentservices.
• Aswarrantedbyevaluationsoffeasibility,costeffectiveness,risks,andbenefits,expandapplicationsoftheaboveapproachesbyinvestingintechnicaltrainingandgreatersupportofextensiontotheaquacultureindustry,suchasthroughCaliforniaSeaGrantand/ortheUniversityofCaliforniaCooperativeExtension.
3.ExplorethepotentialofotherinnovativeoptionsfordeployinglivingsystemstoameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringothersocietalbenefits.
• Evaluatecurrentevidencedemonstratingtheabilityofothernaturaland
constructedlivingsystems(e.g.,non-kelpalgaeandoysterreefs)tolocallyameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefitssuchasfoodproductionandshorelineprotectionfromsealevelrise.
• Supportpiloteffortstotesttheseapproachesinreal-worldsettingsaswarranted.
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Strategy#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&
Interests
MountinganeffectivecampaigntoreduceOA’sharmfulimpactsonCalifornia’snaturalassetsandpeoplewillrequirecomprehensive,coordinatedactionbygovernment,industry,andconservationentities.Thepeoplemostatrisk,aswellasthosewhodirectlyorindirectlycontributetoOA,mustparticipateindeveloping,launching,andensuringthesuccessofcollaborativesolutionsthatwillimproveandsustainsocietalresilienceandtheresilienceofcoastalandmarineecosystemsastheoceansacidify.39TodayinCaliforniathesignificanceofOAisnotyetwellappreciatedbeyondthescientificcommunityandarelativelysmallsetofpolicymakers.ThiscontrastswithplaceslikeWashingtonStateandtropicalislandnationslikeFiji,wheretheimminentandobviousrisksposedbyOAtokeyeconomicinterests(e.g.,oysteraquacultureandcoralreeftourism)haveheightenedpublicconcernsanddrivenindustryengagement.AlthoughthesignificanceofOAforCaliforniaisgreat,thestatehasnotyetdirectlyexperiencedhighprofile,newsworthy,orphotogenicevents.UnderstandingofOArisksandresponseoptionsacrosstheindustriesthatwillbemostdirectlyaffected–aquacultureandfisheries–isuneven,andOAisnotyetahighpriorityfortheleadersofcoastaltowns,cities,orcounties.OurchallengeinCaliforniaisnotsimplytocommunicateinformationaboutOAmoreeffectivelyandtomoreaudiences;itistobroadenownershipoftheproblemandofitssolutions,sothatthesolutionsimplementedbythestateareequitableandsociallyacceptableaswellastechnicallyandfinanciallyfeasible.TheimportanceofdoingsohasbeenamplydemonstratedthroughCalifornia’sextensiveexperiencesmanagingoceanfisheriesandecosystemsandundertakingclimatechangemitigationandadaptation.Manymorepeoplewillneedtobringtheirenergiesandideasintothemixforustosucceed.Fortunately,California’spastdecadeofexperiencewithclimatechangehasyieldedgoodmodelsforengagingdiverseinterestsandgovernmententitiesatalllevels(localtostatewide)tohelpbuildadaptivecapacityandresilience.Thesegenerallyinvolveestablishingmechanismstosurfaceandaddresstheneedsofaffectedgroups;developingandfacilitatingthesharingofknowledge,tools,andguidance;andmaintainingongoinginteractionstoensurealignmentofstate-ledprogramswiththe
39Californiadevelopedanoperationalapproachto“resilience”inestablishingtheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgramcalledforinSB246(Wieckowski,2015).Identifiedelementsofresilienceinclude:peopleandcommunitiesrespondtochangingconditionsinwaysthatminimizerisksandmaximizeequityandprotectionofthemostvulnerable;naturalsystemsadjustandmaintainfunctioningecosystemsinthefaceofchange;andinfrastructureandbuiltsystemswithstandchangingconditionswhilecontinuingtoprovideessentialservices.Fordetailsseehttp://opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/tac/.
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goalsandchallengesfacedbylocalandregionalentities.ThelegislativelymandatedIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgram,establishedin2015intheGovernor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearch,performsthesefunctionsforthestate’sclimatechangeeffortsandcouldhelpsupportsimilareffortsrelatedtoOAandassistinintegratingOAwithexistingplanning,hazardmitigation,andclimateandsealevelriseadaptationefforts.405-YEARGOALS:
• Californiahasawell-informed,well-functioning,andhighlycollaborativeOAconstituencythatishelpingtoidentifyandadvanceinnovativeandeffectivestrategiesforsustainingcommunity,industry,andecosystemresilienceasOAintensifies.
• Drawingontheknowledgeandtalentsofpeoplefromindustry,publicagencies,tribes,andthescientificcommunity,aquacultureandfisheriesmanagementinCaliforniaisadaptingtoOAthroughimprovedtechnologies,tools,andmanagementflexibility.
• TheconstituencyforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystemsisadvancingtractableoptionsforsecuringecosystemresilienceastheoceansacidify.
ACTIONS:
1. EngageinterestedpartiesfromacrossthepublicandprivatesectorstosharelearningandtakeactiontoaddressOA
• EstablisharepresentativestatewideadvisorygroupthatincludesthediverseintereststhatwillaffectandbeaffectedbyOAaswellastechnicalandpolicyexperts–includingfishing,aquaculture,agriculture,tribes,municipalities,counties,watermanagement,conservation,wastewatertreatment,stateandfederalagencies,andscientistsfromrelevantdisciplines.Thisgroupwilladvisethestateonitspolicy,management,science,andcommunicationsprioritiesandstrategies,startingwiththeStatewideVulnerabilityAssessmentdescribedinStrategy#1.
• UseCalifornia’sconveningandknowledge-sharingprocessesforclimatechangeadaptationandscienceinCaliforniatoshareandaccelerateinnovationandlearningaboutOA.PossibleoptionsincludethebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForum,theonlineAdaptationClearinghouse,andperiodicCaliforniaClimateChangeSymposia.41
40FormoreabouttheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgramseehttp://opr.ca.gov/planning/icarp/.41ThebiennialCaliforniaAdaptationForumgatherstogetherclimateadaptationpractitioners
(http://www.californiaadaptationforum.org).TheonlineAdaptationClearinghouseprovidesacentralizedinformationrepositoryandishostedbytheIntegratedClimateAdaptationandResiliencyProgram(http://www.opr.ca.gov/clearinghouse/adaptation/).ThestateperiodicallyconvenesCaliforniaClimateChange
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• DevelopacampaigntoraisepublicawarenessaboutOAanditscauses,impacts,andsolutionsinCalifornia.Thecampaignshouldclearlyspecifythecommunicationgoals,targetaudiences,anticipatedoutcomes,andimpactmeasures,andshouldincorporateameansofevaluatingeffects.
• Establishguidanceandextension-typetechnicalsupporttospeedintegrationofOAintoplanningandoperationsofpotentiallyaffectedcommunitiesandindustries(e.g.,coastalcitiesandtowns;tribes;portsandharbors;aquaculture,fisheries,coastaltourismindustries).Delivertargetedindustry-andcommunity-specificadviceandinformationproducts.
2. Advanceresilienceoftheaquacultureindustry
• FacilitatepartnershipsthatbringtogethermembersoftheaquacultureindustryandthescientificcommunitytofullyunderstandimplicationsofOAfortheindustryandtosolvepracticalproblems.42
• BuildOAmonitoringcapacitiesandinstrumentationathatcherylocationsinCaliforniaattherightlevelofspatialandtemporalresolutiontoassistindustryinanticipatingandrespondingtoOA.
• PartnerwithaquacultureexpertsintheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationtofacilitateproduceraccesstofederalinformationresources,includingmonitoringandobservations,sciencefindings,andspatialanalysisandplanningtoenhancethesitingandmanagementofaquaculturefacilitiesinlightofOAprojections.
3. Advanceresilienceofthefisheriesindustry
• ImplementprovisionsoftherevisedMarineLifeManagementActMaster
Planthatcallforadaptivefisheriesmanagementunderchanginganduncertainconditions.Developpolicymechanismstosupportregulatoryflexibilityasconditionsshiftand/ornewinformationbecomesavailable.
• Developscience-basedpracticesforhowOAcanbestbeintegratedintothestate’sevolvingtoolsforflexiblymanagingchangingfisheryresources,suchasscenario-basedmodelstoexplorealternativemanagementoptionsandscience-basedtriggersandthresholdsfordecision-making.
• Advancecapacitiesofmembersofthefishingcommunitytoidentifyandrespondtoshiftsintherelativeabundancesofdifferenttargetspecies.
• EncouragethePacificFisheriesManagementCounciltotakestepstobetterunderstandtheimplicationsofOAforWestCoastfisheriesandto
Symposiatosharetheresultsofresearchsupportedtoinformstateadaptationandmitigationstrategies(http://californiascience.org).
42Examplesinclude:developmentofdurable,lowcost,andeasytousemonitoringtechnologies;technicaltraininginOAmonitoringequipment;anddevelopmentofOAresistantbroodstock.
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integratethisunderstandingintofisheriesmanagementscienceanddecisions.
• Supportsciencetounderstandanddevelopscenario-basedprojectionsoftheeffectsofOAactinginconcertwithotherenvironmentalchangesonCalifornia’sfisheryfoodwebs,productivity,andecosystems.Translatethisinformationintoaformthatmakesitusefulandusabletomembersofthefishingcommunityandtostatemanagersformakingfisheries-relateddecisions.
4.Advanceresilienceofcoastalandoceanecosystems
• Establisharepresentativeworkinggroupofthosepublicandprivatesectorintereststhatdependonorsustainadeepinterestinthehealthofnaturalcoastalandoceanecosystems–includingtourism,recreation,coastalmunicipalities,harbors,parksandreserves,andconservationorganizations,andrelevantscientificexperts.
• TheworkinggroupwillexaminetheimplicationsofOAforecosystemresilienceandsocietalbenefitswithinthecontextofotherongoingenvironmentalchangesandwillidentifypublicpolicyoptionstohelpsustainecosystemresilienceasconditionsacidify.
• Communicatefindingsoftheworkinggrouptopublicandprivatesectorleadersandsupportpilotprojectstotesttheidentifiedoptions.
Strategy#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
BecausetheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanisastateplan,Strategies#1-5appropriatelyfocusonanticipatingandmeetingstateneeds.TheydovetailwithandexpandupontheeffortsalreadyundertakenbyCaliforniatocombatgreenhousegasemissions,adapttoclimatechange,andsecurethehealthandproductivityofoceanecosystemsandfisheriesinachangingworld.Althoughessential,thesestate-focusedstrategiesandactionsarenotenough.OAisplayingoutonaglobalstage,andwillaffecteverynationandcommunitywhoseeconomicandsocialwellbeingdependsuponhealthyoceans.AndtheprimarycauseofglobalOAisglobalGHGemissions.JustasCaliforniahashelpedoverthepastdecadetoadvancethegrowthofinternationaleffortstoreduceemissions,sotooitmusthelpbuildthemomentumofinternational,national,andregionaleffortstocombatOA.Thestatehasmuchtocontribute,butalsowillbenefitgreatly.Byworkingbeyondstateboundaries,Californiacanlearnmuchfromexperiencesinotherjurisdictionsandgeographiesandaccomplishmorethanitcouldonitsown.
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ThroughmembershipinthePacificCoastCollaborative,CaliforniaalreadyisworkingcooperativelywiththestatesofOregon,Washington,andAlaska,aswellasBritishColumbia,onclimatechangeandemissionsreductions.43TheWestCoastscaleistherightoneforaddressingcertainOAissues,becauseoftheregion’ssharedoceansystems,biologicalresources,andpolicyandeconomicinterests.TheWestCoastwastheorganizinggeographyforCalifornia’sinitialeffortstoaddressOAthroughtheWestCoastOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaSciencePanel.Lookingahead,itmakesgoodsense,forexample,tobuildtechnicalcapacitiesforobservingandunderstandingOAatthisregionalscale,whichshouldbeexpandedtoincludeMexico.Atthenationallevel,theNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramhasbeensupportingimportantworkonOAsinceitsestablishmentin2011byinvestinginobservationnetworksandmonitoringinstrumentation,researchonspeciessensitivity,oceanographicandecosystemmodeling,socialscience,education,andcommunication,andstakeholderengagement.44TheprogramprovidesCaliforniawithagoodentrypointforlinkingtofederalOAresearch,development,andapplicationscapacities.ThePacificCoastCollaborativeandthefederalInteragencyWorkingGrouponOceanAcidificationhaveinitiatedastrongpartnershiponregionalmonitoringandobservation.Morebroadly,thefederalgovernmentwillsignificantlyinfluencewhetherandhowthestateachievesmanygoalsoutlinedintheActionPlan,throughitsmanagementoffisheriesandecosystemsinfederalwatersanddiverseprogramsandresponsibilitiesthataffectwaterqualityandrunoff.TherecentestablishmentoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(ofwhichCaliforniawasafoundingmember),with60membersrepresentinggovernments,industry,academiaandnon-profitorganizations,inadditiontotherecentefforttodevelopanOAactionplanfor14countriesinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,signalgrowingattentiontoOAworldwide.45Theopportunitynowistotransformthiselevatedattentionintoacoherentinternationalinitiativethatspeedsprogressandenhancesthecollectivesuccessofallparticipants.5-YEARGOALS:
• RegionalcollaborationonOA-relatedpolicy,science,andcommunicationsacrosstheWestCoastisrobust,withefficient,effective,coordinatedresponsesacrosstheregion.
43FormoreonthePacificCoastCollaborativeseehttp://pacificcoastcollaborative.org.44ForfurtherinformationabouttheNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramsee
https://oceanacidification.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre.aspx.TheprogramhelpssupporttherecentlylaunchedOceanAcidificationInformationExchange(https://www.oainfoexchange.org/index.html),anonlineforumforcollaborative,multi-sector,teamsthataretacklingtechnical,communication,orpolicyandmanagementissuesrelatedtoOA.
45FormoreabouttheOAplanningeffortforLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanseehttps://www.iucn.org/news/secretariat/201804/latin-american-and-caribbean-countries-threatened-rising-ocean-acidity-experts-warn.
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• Californiastateagenciesarepartneringcloselywithrelevantfederalagenciestoleverageinvestmentsandtoensureactionsinstateandfederalwatersarewellalignedandcoordinatedwhereneeded.
• CaliforniaishelpingtoleadaninternationalcoalitionthatisspurringworldwideactiononOAandimprovingattentiontooceansininternationalclimatenegotiations.
ACTIONS:
1. ParticipateinandhelptoleadWestCoastregionalinitiativesthatwillyieldsignificantefficiencies,speedlearning,andadvancecollectiveprogressinreducingthecausesandimpactsofOAacrosstheCaliforniaCurrent.
• DevelopintegratedmonitoringandobservationcapacitiesandfillcriticalinformationgapsessentialforbuildingregionalunderstandingofOApatterns,processes,andfuturescenarios(seealsoStrategy#1).
• Support,lead,andengageinregionalvenues,suchasthePacificCoastCollaborative,forrapidlysharingtheimprovedscientificunderstandingandpolicyandtechnicalinnovationsandinsightsderivedfromparticipatinggovernments’investmentsandexperiencesdevelopingandimplementingactionplans.
• Improvealignment,wherebeneficial,betweenCalifornia’sactionsandtheactionstakenbyotherWestCoastjurisdictionstoimprovetheregion’saggregateefficiencyandimpacts.
• CollaboratewithotherWestCoaststatestospeakwithonevoiceinidentifyingpriorityneedsandpartneringopportunitieswiththeFederalgovernment,includingthoserelatedtooceanresourcesmanagement(e.g.,fisheries,aquaculture,renewableenergy)andscience(e.g.,monitoringandobservations,spatialplanning).
2. Buildnational-levelpartnershipsthatwillsimultaneouslyimproveCalifornia’s
successinimplementingthisActionPlanwhileadvancingfederalOA-relatedefforts.
• ContinuecollaborationwiththeNOAAOceanAcidificationProgramandthefederalInteragencyWorkingGrouponOceanAcidificationtocoordinateresearchandmonitoringinvestmentsandefforts.
• Participateinnational-levelforumsandteams,suchastheOceanAcidificationInformationExchange,thatfacilitateknowledgesharingandcollaborativeproblemsolvingamongdifferentregionsoftheUnitedStates.
• BuildcooperativepartnershipswithCalifornia’sNationalMarineSanctuaries,NationalEstuaries,andNationalEstuarineResearchReservesthatwillaidinaccomplishingtheActionPlangoals.
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• SeizeopportunitiesforleveragingCalifornia’sActionPlanandOAaccomplishmentstosupportnationalOAeffortsundertheFederalOceanAcidificationResearchandMonitoringActof2009(FORAM)andtheStrategicPlanforFederalResearchandMonitoringofOceanAcidification.46
3. HelpbuildtheinternationalcoalitiontoraiseglobalunderstandingofOAandto
spuractionstobothadapttoandreducethecausesofOA.• ProvidecontinuedleadershipandsupportfortheInternationalAlliance
toCombatOceanAcidification,andpartnercloselywithrelevantinternationaloceanclimateinitiativesandallianceswhereapplicable.
• AmplifyandsharetheCaliforniamodelforelevatingattentiontoOAinclimatechangemitigationandadaptationandoceanstewardshippoliciesandactions,includingthroughparticipationintheConferenceofthePartiesconvenedundertheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange.47
• ImportlessonsfromothergeographiesthatwillhelptospeedandimproveCalifornia’sOAefforts.
46ThetextofFORAMcanbefoundathttps://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hr14/BILLS-111hr14ih.pdf.47Seehttps://unfccc.int.
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MovingForwardwithBoldAction
ThisActionPlanhaslaidoutacourseofactionthat,whenitissuccessfullyimplemented,willfundamentallyalterhowCaliforniansviewandaddressOA.ThestatewillhavethepoliticalwillandknowledgetotakeeffectiveactiontoreduceOAcauses,toimprovetheresilienceofvulnerablegroups,andtomanagemarineresourcesinnewwaysthatminimizeharmfulsocialandenvironmentalimpactswhilebolsteringresilience.Tobeeffective,theseimprovementsmustaddressOAwithinthecontextofthechangingclimate,escalatingandshiftinghumanuses,andotherchangesthataresignificantlyalteringCalifornia’scoastalandoceanenvironmentsandecosystems.Historically,attentiontotheoceansinstate,national,andinternationalpoliciestomitigategreenhousegasemissions(thebiggestcauseofOA)andtoadapttoclimatechangehasbeensomewhatlow.Atthesametime,oceanresourcemanagershavebeenslowerindevelopingpracticalframeworksandtoolsforanticipatingandadaptingtoclimatechangethantheircounterpartswhomanagelandandfreshwaterresources.California’sOceanAcidificationActionPlanwillhelptobridgethisgapbytakingconcretestepsforaddressingOAwithinthecontextofthestate’sambitiousandwell-establishedpoliciesforoceanmanagementandclimatechange.ThisinnovativeapproachwillcontinuethestateonthepathalreadyforgedbyCalifornia’snationalandgloballeadershiponreducinggreenhousegasemissions.EffectiveimplementationoftheActionPlanwillrequirebroadadoptionandassertiveactionbyallthose,insideandoutsideofstategovernment,whohaveimportantrolestoplay.Overthecomingyear,theActionPlanwillbewidelysharedacrossthestate,regionally,andatinternationalforums.Relatedinformationandcommunicationtoolswillbeavailableviahttp://www.opc.ca.gov/oa-action-plan/forusebyanyoneseekingtoadvanceandcontributetoCalifornia’sefforts.Ultimately,though,thespeedandsuccessofCalifornia’seffortstocombatOAwilldependoncommitmentsofleadership,capacity,andfundingfromacrossstategovernment,thelegislature,andtheprivatesector.Byholdingourselvesaccountableforresults,wecanmakeprogressinbetterunderstandingandaddressingOA,andindoingsosecureabetterfutureforallCalifornians.
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Appendix1:CorrespondenceoftheCaliforniaActionPlantogoalsoftheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification
TheInternationalAlliancetoCombatOceanAcidification(OAAlliance)bringstogetherjurisdictionsacrosstheglobetocombatoceanacidificationandchangingoceanconditionsasanimmediateandcriticalthreattocoastaleconomiesandoceanecosystems.IndividualOAAlliancemembersarecommittedtosupportingtheworkoftheOAAlliancebroadly,andarecommittedtotakingmeaningfullocalactionsbycraftingtheirownuniqueOceanAcidificationActionPlan,withparticularfocusonadvancingthefivegoalsoftheAlliance’sCalltoAction.TheCalltoActionprovidesanimmediateopportunityforpartiesacrosstheglobetohighlightoceanacidificationasanimminentthreattocoastaleconomiesandoceanecosystems,whiletheActionPlanswillhelpgovernmentscreateactionableresponsestothreatsintheirregionsandwillhelpaffiliatemembersbestleveragetheirexpertiseandresourcesonthisissue.
THEFIVEGOALSOFTHEINTERNATIONALALLIANCETOCOMBATOCEANACIDIFICATION StrategiesforActioninthe
CaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
AdvanceScientificUnderstanding
ReduceCausesofOA BuildAdaptation&Resilience
ExpandPublicAwareness
BuildSustainedInternationalSupport
#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
X X X
#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
X X X X
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
X X X X #4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
X X X #5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests
X X X X
#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
X X X X X
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Appendix2:ConsultationandReviewProcessesthatInformedtheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlan
TheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationActionPlanbenefittedgreatlyfromtheeffortsofmanypeoplewhogenerouslycontributedtheirtimeandthoughtfulinputintothePlan’sdevelopment.TheActionPlan’sdevelopmentwasinformedbytheideasandadviceofmorethan70peoplefromacrosstheaquacultureandfisheriesindustries,stateandnationalgovernments,privatephilanthropy,andthescientificcommunity.Mostwereconsultedthroughphoneorin-personinterviewsthatsolicitedtheirviewsabouttheplan’s10-yearvision,specifictractableactionstoincludeintheplan,andhowtoensuretheplan’sadoptionandsuccessfulimplementation.California’snewlyconvenedOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForce[establishedunderAssemblyBill2139(Williams,2016)]providedscientificandtechnicalinputtothedraftplandevelopmentrelatedtomonitoringandobservations,applicationsofSAV,andwaterqualityissuesanddevelopedthesupportingscienceplan(forthcomingAppendix5).TheinitialdraftoftheActionPlanwasreviewedforscientificfeasibilitybytheOAHScienceTaskForceandforpolicyfeasibilitybyagroupofpolicyexperts.IntervieweesSaraAminzadeh,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaCoastkeeperAlliance
ClarissaAnderson,ExecutiveDirector,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalOceanObservingSystem(SCCOOS)
MatthewArmsby,ProgramOfficer/Attorney,ResourcesLegacyFund
DebbieAseltine-Neilsen,SeniorEnvironmentalScientistSpecialist,MarineRegion,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
SusanAshcraft,SeniorEnvironmentalScientistandMarineAdvisor,CaliforniaFishandGameCommission
BetsyBehl,DivisionDirector,HealthandEcologicalCriteriaDivision,USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency
JonathanBishop,ChiefDeputyDirector,CaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard
ElliotBourgeault,SeniorPolicyAnalyst,ClimateActionSecretariat,BritishColumbia,Canada
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CarenBraby,ProgramManager,MarineResourcesProgram,DepartmentofFishandWildlife,Oregon
MariaBrown,Superintendent,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuary,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
ShallinBusch,Ecologist,NationalOceanAcidificationProgramandNorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
MarkCarr,Professor,Ecology&EvolutionaryBiologyDepartmentandInstituteofMarineSciences,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz
MargaretCaldwell,DeputyDirector,Oceans,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
FrancisChan,AssociateprofessorandSeniorResearcher,DepartmentofZoology,OregonStateUniversity
WilliamCraven,ChiefConsultant,CaliforniaStateSenate
AimeeDavid,DirectorofOceanConservationPolicyStrategies,MontereyBayAquarium
WilliamDouros,WestCoastRegionalDirector,OfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
JamesEckman,Director,CaliforniaSeaGrant
JuliaEkstrom,ClimateAdaptationProgramDirector,CoastalandMarineSciencesInstitute,UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
ChadEnglish,ProgramOfficer,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
RebeccaFitzgerald,Manager,WaterQualityStandardsandAssessmentSection,CaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard
AlexHarper,ProgramManager,CentralandNorthernCaliforniaOceanObservingSystem
ElliotHazen,AssociateResearcher,NationalMarineFisheriesServicesatLongMarineLab,InstituteofMarineSciences
TessaHill,Professor,DepartmentofEarth&PlanetarySciences,andAssociateDirector–AcademicPrograms,BodegaMarineLaboratory,UniversityofCalifornia,Davis
GretchenHofmann,ProfessorandChair,DepartmentofEcologyEvolutionandMarineBiology,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaBarbara
SaraHutto,OceanClimateProgramCoordinator,GreaterFarallonesNationalMarineSanctuary,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
ClaireJahns,Clair,AssistantSecretaryforNaturalResourcesClimateIssues,CaliforniaNaturalResourcesAgency
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EmilyJeffers,StaffAttorney,OceansProgram,CenterforBiologicalDiversity
MarthaKongsgaard,Kongsgaard-GoldmanFoundation
KristyKroeker,AssistantProfessor,Ecology&EvolutionaryBiologyDepartment,InstituteofMarineSciences,UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz
DanLaffoley,SeniorAdvisor,MarineScienceandConservation,InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature,andMarineViceChair,WorldCommissiononProtectedAreas
JohnLaird,CaliforniaSecretaryforNaturalResources
GeorgeLeonard,ChiefScientist,OceanConservancy
PhillipLevin,LeadScientistandProfessor-of-Practice,TheNatureConservancyandtheUniversityofWashington
HeatherLudemann,ProgramOfficer,ConservationandScience,TheDavidandLucilePackardFoundation
JayManning,PartneratCascadiaLawGroup,EnvironmentalAttorneys
SarahNewkirk,CoastalProgramDirector,TheNatureConservancy
MichaelNorthrop,ProgramDirector,SustainableDevelopmentGrantmakingProgram,RockefellerBrothersFund
NoahOppenheim,ExecutiveDirector,PacificCoastFederationofFishermen’sAssociations
DianePleschner-Steele,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaWetfishProducersAssociation
TerrySawyer,Terry,FoundingPartnerandVicePresident,HogIslandOysterCompany
MatthewRodriquez,CaliforniaSecretaryforEnvironmentalProtection
AmandaSantoni,CoastalManagementFellow,NOAADelawareCoastalPrograms
CraigShuman,MarineRegionManager,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
MarySmall,ChiefDeputyExecutiveOfficer,CaliforniaCoastalConservancy
BruceSteele,Captain,F/VHalcyon
MarkStone,Member,CaliforniaStateAssembly
AaronStrong,AssistantProfessor,SchoolofMarineSciences,UniversityofMaineatOrono
LisaSuatoni,SeniorScientist,NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil
MarthaSutula,PrincipalScientist,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
DanielSwezey,LeadScientist,TheCulturedAbaloneFarm,LLC
ValerieTermini,ExecutiveDirector,CaliforniaFishandGameCommission
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DanaThomas,EnvironmentalScientist,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency
JessieTurner,PolicyandGovernmentAffairsSpecialist,CascadiaLawGroup,EnvironmentalAttorneys
KirstenWasson,ResearchCoordinator,ElkhornSloughNationalEstuarineResearchReserve
SteveWeisberg,ExecutiveDirector,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
DianeWindham,SouthwestRegionalAquacultureCoordinator,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration
AmyWolfrum,CaliforniaOceanConservationPolicyManager,MontereyBayAquarium
DebWilson-Vandenberg,SeniorEnvironmentalScientist,CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandWildlife
MembersoftheCaliforniaOceanAcidificationandHypoxiaScienceTaskForceSteveWeisberg,Co-chair,SouthernCaliforniaCoastalWaterResearchProject
FrancisChan,Co-chair,OregonStateUniversity
JimBarry,MontereyBayAquariumResearchInstitute
AlexandriaBoehm,StanfordUniversity
ShallinBusch,NorthwestFisheriesScienceCenter,NOAA
SarahCooley,OceanConservancy
RichardFeely,PacificMarineEnvironmentalLaboratory,NOAA
LisaLevin,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegoPolicyexpertswhoreviewedtheinitialdraftoftheActionPlanKenAlex,Director,Governor’sOfficeofPlanningandResearch
MattArmsby,ProgramOfficer/Attorney,ResourcesLegacyFund
LisaSuatoni,SeniorScientist,NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil
VirgilWelch,SpecialCounseltotheChair,CaliforniaAirResourcesBoard
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Appendix3:MeasuresforAssessingProgressinImplementingthePlan
Strategy 5-YearGoals
MeasuresofProgress
#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
• TherisksOAposestoCalifornia’sassetsandinterestsarewellunderstoodamongpolicy-makers,managers,affectedindustriesandcommunitiesandthepublic.
• Decision-relevantmonitoringinformationaboutOAiswidelyavailable,deliveredinausableform,androutinelyappliedtodecisionsacrossthepublicandprivatesectors.
• ImprovedscientificunderstandingofhowOA,andtheinteractionsofOAwithotherenvironmentaldrivers,affectscoastalandmarineecosystemsisinformingstateresource,landuse,andoceanandcoastalmanagementdecisions.
• Newpoliciesandinvestmentsarebeingmadetoaddresskeyrisksandgapsinadaptivecapacityidentifiedthroughthestate’sOAvulnerabilityassessment.
• Californiaandthestate’sfederal,academic,andregionalpartnersalongthewestcoastaredevelopingamonitoring&observation(M&O)systemoptimizedtodeliverdecision-relevantinformation.
• ElementsoftheM&OframeworkthatarecriticalformakingpolicyandmanagementdecisionsinCaliforniaarereceivingsustainedsupport.
• InformationdeliveredbytheM&Oframeworkisopenlyavailableonthewebandcanbemanipulatedanddisplayedgraphicallywithuser-friendlydecision-supporttoolsthatmeettheneedsofkeyaudiencesandusers.
• ImprovedunderstandingofpotentialimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherenvironmentalchangesonecosystemsandfoodwebsisinformingstateresourcemanagementdecisions.
#2–ActivateResponsibleElementsofStateGovernment
• AllrelevantstateagenciesaresuccessfullyintegratingthebestavailablescientificinformationaboutOAintodecisionsandpoliciesthathavethepotentialtocontributetoortoslowOAalongtheCaliforniacoastorthatdealwithbiologicalresources,industries,orcommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyOA.
• StategovernmentisdoingasmuchasitcantominimizeharmtoCalifornia’sinterestsfromOAandtoanticipateandadapttothoseharmfulimpactsthatcannotbereduced.
• ThestateinteragencyOAworkinggroupisconvenedregularly,withhighparticipationbyallrelevantagenciesandprograms,andishighlyeffective.
• Allrelevantagencies–whosedecisionsaffectorwillbeaffectedbyOA–haveadoptedthestateOAguidance,integratedrelevantelementsoftheOAActionPlanintotheiroperations,andaremakingrelateddecisionsinformedbythebestavailableOAscience.
• StategovernmentisactivelyworkingtoreducetheglobalandlocalcausesofOA.
• StategovernmentactivelysupportingadaptationtoOAinthe
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managementofcoastalandoceanbiologicalresourcesandamongaffectedindustriesandcommunities.
• Policy-makersandleadersinstategovernmentandtheLegislatureunderstandthesignificanceofOAandarepromotingstepstoreducethecausesandimproveresilience.
• California’sexperienceactivatingstategovernmenttoaddressOAishelpingtoinformapproachesadoptedbyotherstatesandnations.
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
• AttentiontocoastalandoceansystemsandtoOAissystematicallyaddressedandelevatedinCalifornia’sGHGreductionefforts.
• Near-termoptionsforreducinglocalsourcesofacidifyingpollutants(voluntary,incentive-based,permitting)havebeenidentifiedandarefullyemployed.
• Thestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneeds–includingscientificallyrobustwaterqualityindicatorsandthresholdsandappropriatemodelsforassessingcontributionsoflocalandglobalCO2inputs–tomeasureandevaluateOA-relatedchangesoccurringalongtheCaliforniacoast,toselectwaterqualitygoals,andtoinitiatemanagementorregulatoryactiontoslowtheserates,iffeasibleandappropriate.
• OpportunitiestoreduceGHGemissionsthroughcoastalandocean-basedactivities,industries,andinfrastructurehavebeensystematicallyexamined,andfeasibleoptionshavebeeninitiated.
• FundingdecisionsbytheGreenhouseGasReductionFundissupportcarbonsequestrationincoastalandoceansystems,considerOAimpacts,andadvanceresilienceofcommunitiesandindustriesvulnerabletoOA.
• ImpactsofCO2emissionsonOAandresultingenvironmentalandsocietalimpactsarewidelyunderstoodandacknowledgedinstateemissionsreductionefforts.
• AsignificantincreasehasoccurredinvoluntaryorincentivizedeffortstocurtailnutrientandorganiccarbonpollutionincoastalbaysandestuariesathighriskorOA.
• ThestatehasthetechnicaltoolsitneedforformeasuringandevaluatingacidificationchangesalongtheCAcoastandfordevelopingOA-relatedwaterqualitygoalsandstandards.
• Thestatehasidentifiedprioritylocationswhereinterventionsareneededtoreducesourcesofnutrientandorganiccarbonpollutionandistakingstepstoreducethesesourcesthroughregulatoryandnon-regulatorymeans.
#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
• RestorationofhealthyseagrassmeadowsacrossallofCalifornia’sestuariesnowstatepolicyandiswellunderwayandfinanced.
• Stateinvestmentsintoseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,and
• Targetedeffortsareunderway–guidedbymapsofcurrentandpotentialfuturehabitat–torestoreseagrassmeadowsacrossCalifornia’sestuaries.
• Scientificallyverifiedprinciplesandpracticesguideandenhancetheeffectivenessofstateinvestmentsintoseagrass
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kelpforeststosecureOAameliorationandcarbonstoragebenefitsarestrategicandeffective.
• KelpandseagrassesarewellintegratedintoaquacultureproductionsystemstoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproduction.
• Aquacultureproductionsystemshavebeentestedandadopted,asappropriate,thatintegratekelpandseagrassestoreduceOAandenhanceshellfishproductionandthatendeavortoenableco-locationofaquaculturewithsuccessfulseagrassconservation.
meadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforeststosecureOAandcarbonstoragebenefits.Theseprinciplesandpracticesareroutinelyupdatedtoincorporatenewinformation.
• EconomicallyviablemethodshavebeendevelopedthatintegrateseagrassesandkelpsintocommercialaquaculturetohelpmodulateOA.
• Methodstoenablethecoexistenceofaquaculturewithhealthyseagrassmeadowshavebeentestedandverifiedorrejected.
• OtherinnovativeoptionsforusinglivingsystemstoameliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefitsarebeingtested.
#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries,&Interests
• Californiahasawell-informed,well-functioningandhighlycollaborativeOAconstituencythatishelpingtoidentifyandadvanceinnovativeandeffectivestrategiesforsustainingcommunity,industry,andecosystemresilienceasOAintensifies.
• Drawingontheknowledgeandtalentsofpeoplefromindustry,publicagencies,tribes,andthescientificcommunity–aquacultureandfisheriesmanagementinCaliforniaisadaptingtoOAthroughimprovedunderstanding,technologies,andmanagementflexibility.
• TheconstituencyforCalifornia’scoastalandoceanecosystemsisadvancingtractableoptionsforsecuringecosystemresilienceastheoceansacidify.
• TherepresentativestatewideadvisorygrouphasbeenconvenedandcharteredandisadvisingthestateonOApriorities,improvingunderstandingamongkeyconstituencies,anddevelopingcollaborativestrategiesthatcrosssectorsandintereststoreduceandrespondtoOA.
• Thediversityofinterestsparticipatingintheadvisorygrouphasexpanded,reflectingbroadeningappreciationofOA’ssignificance,whowillbeaffected,andwhatcanbedonetoreducelocalratesandimpacts.
• ActiononOAisacceleratinginCalifornia.OAisnowaprominentelementofstate-sponsoredmeetingsandonlineresourcesdesignedtospeedinformationsharingaboutclimatechangeimpactsandresponseoptionsandoceanmanagement.
• GoodunderstandingaboutOAexistsacrosstheaquacultureandfisheriesindustries,andindustrymembersareactivelymonitoringOAanddevelopingapproachesforreducingOAimpactsthroughindustry,public,andscientificpartnerships.
• Awell-informedconstituencyforsustainingecosystemresiliencehascoalescedandispromotingpoliciestoachievethisoutcome.
#6–EngageBeyondState • RegionalcollaborationonOA-relatedpolicy,science,and • GovernmentsalongthewestcoastofNorthAmericaare
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Boundaries communicationsacrosstheWestCoastissignificantlystrengthened,resultinginsubstantialimprovementstothespeed,efficiency,andeffectivenessofparticipatingmembers’OAefforts.
• Californiastateagenciesarepartneringcloselywithrelevantfederalagenciestoleverageinvestmentsandtoensureactionsinstateandfederalwatersarealignedandcoordinatedwhereneeded.
• CaliforniaishelpingtoleadaninternationalcoalitionthatisspurringworldwideactiononOAandimprovingattentiontooceansininternationalclimatenegotiations.
implementingaregionalsystemforintegratedOAmonitoringandobservation.Thesegovernmentsaremakingtargetedinvestmentstobuildthesystem.
• WestcoaststatesspeakwithaneffectiveunifiedvoiceinidentifyingOAprioritiesandpartneringwiththeFederalgovernment.
• Effectiveregional,national,andinternationalmechanismsandvenuesareinplacethatspeedsharingofOAinformation,technicaladvances,andpolicyinsights.TheStatehasestablishedcapacitiesandmechanismsforcontributingtoandbenefitingfromtheseprocesses.
• StateandfederalactionsaffectingorrespondingtoOAinoceanwatersoffofCaliforniaarealignedandcoordinated,whereappropriate.
• InternationalprogressonOA,asmeasuredbygrowthoftheinternationalcoalitionanddevelopmentofOAactionplans,isaccelerating.
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Appendix4:Keyscience/technologyandcommunicationneedsidentifiedintheplanrequiredtoenableorimplementOApolicyormanagement
Strategy
Science/TechnologyNeeds
CommunicationNeeds
F#1–PreparefortheFullRangeofOARisksandImpacts
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstospeciesofhighecologicalandeconomicvaluetothestate.
• Assesscurrentandfutureriskstoocean-dependentindustries–includingaquaculture,fisheries,andcoastaltourism.
• Conductsocialandeconomicresearchtoevaluatepotentialpublicpolicyinterventionsforbolsteringvulnerablecommunities’resilienceandadaptivecapacity.
• Finalizeasystemformonitoringinstate,federal,andcoast-widewatersthatwillassistthestateinunderstandingandprojectingfutureOApatternsandimpactsonbiologicalresources,communitiesandeconomies.
• ExpandandenhancecoupledenvironmentalandbiologicalmonitoringatthestatewideMPAnetworktoprovidethebaselineinformationessentialforunderstandingOAecosystemimpacts.
• Developweb-basedmappingtoolsthatshowcurrentandprojectedfuturescenariosofOAalongtheCAcoast.
• InvestindevelopingthescientificfoundationforunderstandingandprojectingthepotentialfutureecosystemimpactsofOAinteractingwithotherchangeprocessesandwhetheralleviatingotherstressorsandmarineprotectedareasmightsupportecologicaladaptationtoOA.
• Translateandcommunicateinformationaboutrisksvulnerabilities,andpotentialinterventionstoassistpolicy-makersandaffectedcommunitiesandindustriesinprioritizingandundertakingactionsforimprovingsocietaladaptivecapacity.
#2–FullyMobilizeStateGovernment
• Tosupporttheday-todaypolicyandmanagementdecisionsandactionsonOAbymemberagenciesandprogramsoftheworkinggroup,theOPCworkingincollaborationwiththeOAHScienceTaskForcewilloverseeproductionofascience
• ImproveunderstandingofOAanditssignificanceamongpolicy-makersandleadersinCalifornia’slegislatureandpublicagencies.
• Sharewithpolicy-makersoutsideofCalifornia
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synthesisthattranslatescurrentOAscience(e.g.,OApatternsandprojections,causes,interactionswithotherenvironmentaldriversandchanges,impacts,anduncertainties)intoactionableknowledgeformthatisusefulforagencyandprogramdecision-making.
(domesticallyandinternationallylessonsandinsightsfromCalifornia’sexperienceelevatingattentiontoOAintothestate’spolicyframeworksforclimatechange(mitigation,adaptation),oceanstewardship(fisheries,wildlife,marineprotectedareas),andcoastalwaterquality.
#3–ReducethePollutionthatCausesOA
• Evaluatethepotentialforandtheenvironmental,economic,andsocialcostsandbenefitsofincentivizingconsumptionoflocallysourcedseafood.
• AssesswhetherlocalsourcesofacidifyingairborneemissionsareaffectingOAratesinselectregionsofthecoast.
• Developandbiologicallysignificantindicatorsandvalues(thresholds)thatcanaidinmeasuring,evaluating,andcommunicatingpHchangesoccurringalongtheCAcoastandserveaswaterqualitygoalsandtriggersformanagementorregulatoryaction.
• BuildoninitialeffortstoadvanceandvalidatespatiallyexplicitmodelsandanalyticaltoolsthataidinaccountingforandprojectingtherelativecontributionsofdifferentsourcestoongoingandfuturepHchangesalongtheCaliforniacoast.
• DevelopandamplifyclearmessagesthatidentifyOAasamajorimpactofglobalCO2emissionsandreductionofOAasamajorbenefitofthestate’sGHGreductionefforts.
• TargetcommunicationstowardskeyaudiencesinvolvedinwatershedandlandmanagementdemonstratingthepotentiallinkagesbetweenupstreammanagementanddownstreamOA.
#4–DeployLivingSystemstoSlowOAandStoreCarbon
• Mapcurrentandprojectedfuturehabitatforseagrasses,saltmarshes,andkelpsalongtheCaliforniacoast.
• Usethegrowingnetworkofstateinvestmentsinplace-basedconservationandrestorationofseagrassmeadows,saltmarshes,andkelpforestsasasystemfor“learningbydoing”toidentifywhether,where,andhoweffectivelythesenaturalsystemscanameliorateOAandsequestercarbonovernear-andlonger-termtimelines.Translatefindingsintoprescriptiveguidance.
• InventorytheOA&sequestrationbenefitsofseagrasses,saltmarshes,andkelpsinthestatewideMPAnetwork.
• Developimprovedandcost-effectivemethodsforrestoringandrelocatingseagrasses.
• Develop&testtechnologies&managementpracticesthat
• Shareinnovativeaquacultureproductionmethodsthroughtechnicaltrainingandextension.
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mighenhancethecompatibilityofaquaculturewithseagrassconservation.
• Develop&testcoupledaquacultureproductionsystemsthatintegrateseagrassesorkelpwithshellfishtoreducelocalOA.
• IdentifyandtestthepotentialofotherlivingsystemstoameiliorateOAand/orstorecarbonwhiledeliveringotherbenefits.
#5–BuildResilienceofAffectedCommunities,Industries&Interests
• Support/facilitatepublic/private/scientificpartnershipstofullyunderstandOAimplicationsfortheaquacultureindustryandtosolvepracticalproblems.
• BuildOAmonitoringcapacitiesatCalifornia’shatcherylocations.
• Developscience-basedpracticesforintegratingOAintoadaptivefisheriesmanagement.
• Supportsciencetounderstandanddevelopscenario-basedprojectionsoftheeffectsofOAactinginconcertwithotherenvironmentalchangesonCalifornia’sfisheryfoodwebsandproductivity.
• Establisharepresentativestatewideadvisorygrouptoengageinsharedlearningandidentifyingneededactions.
• LeverageCalifornia’sconveningandknowledge-sharingprocessesforclimatechangeadaptationtoshareandaccelerateinnovationandlearningaboutOA.
• DevelopacampaigntoraisepublicawarenessaboutOAcauses,impactsandsolutions.
• Establishextension-typetechnicalsupporttospeedintegrationofOAintoplanning&operationsofpotentiallyaffectedindustries.
• Advancecapacitiesinthefishingindustrytoidentifyandrespondtoshiftingrelativeabundancesoffishedspecies.
• Communicatefindingsoftheworkinggrouponecosystemresiliencetopublicandprivatesectorleaders.
#6–EngageBeyondStateBoundaries
• Developintegratedregionalmonitoringandobservationscapacities.
• Support,lead,andengageinregionalvenuesforrapidlysharingimprovedscientificunderstandingandpolicy&technicalinnovationsandinsights.
• SeizeopportunitiesforleveragingCalifornia’sOAActionPlanandOAaccomplishmentstosupportnationalOAefforts.
• AmplifyandsharetheCAmodelforelevatingattentiontoOAinclimatechangemitigation&adaptationandoceanstewardshippoliciesandactions.
• ImportlessonsfromothergeographiestospeedandimproveCalifornia’sOAefforts.
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Appendix5:ASciencePlantoSupportImplementationoftheActionPlan
[AvailableOctober2018aspartofthefinalactionplan]