california ocean acidification action plan

DRAFTCALIFORNIAOAACTIONPLAN[FORPUBLICCOMMENT8.1.18]

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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.


• 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.


• 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]

california ocean acidification action plan

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