Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve “A Wetland of International Importance” International Ramsar Convention, 2005

301 Caspian Way Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Office (619) 575 3613 x.333 Fax (619) 575 6913 jcrooks@trnerr.org

14 November 2011 Dr. Falk Feddersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA Dear Dr. Feddersen, I am happy to have the opportunity to support the proposed Center for Marine Pollution and Health (cMPH) at the University of California San Diego, in response to the call from NIH/NSF (RFA-ES-11-012) for Centers for Oceans and Human Health. Here at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, our core mission is to use sound science to increase the ability to understand and manage coastal watersheds for the benefit of both natural systems as well as human populations. Your proposed Center would be an ideal way to further these efforts, and would be enormously beneficial to the region in general. As one of the leading such centers in the world, the Center for Marine Pollution and Health (cMPH) would bring together medical and ocean researchers to investigate, in densely populated urbanized coastal environments, mechanisms by which human-generated pollution that enters the marine environment affects human health. The proposed cMPH includes development of predictive models for pathogen and contaminant transport and fate in the coastal ocean together. Linked studies would include sub-lethal contaminant exposure in coastal ecosystems and human food webs as well as genetic analysis of endocrine disruption in coastal waters. These integrated projects will increase knowledge and awareness of the impacts marine pollution has on human health, and lead to actionable results that will have clear benefits. For our location specifically, the Tijuana River watershed encompasses a region of approximately 1,750 square miles on either side of the California-Baja California border. In terms of water quality, it is probably the most severely impacted watershed in the region, due to sewage contamination largely emanating from Mexico. We have been monitoring indicators of water quality in the Tijuana River Estuary (e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature, water level, and nutrients) for many years, and can provide access to these data for your efforts. We will also be happy to further facilitate your Center however we can. Given the water quality issues in this watershed, the dense human population impacted by this pollution, and the existence of our established monitoring program, it seems like an ideal opportunity to address a critical need. We look forward to working with you on this. Sincerely, Jeffrey Crooks, Ph.D.

November 17, 2011 Dr. Falk Feddersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego La Jolla CA 92093-0209 ffeddersen@ucsd.edu RE: Letter of Support for the proposed Center for Marine Pollution and Health (CMPH) Dear Dr. Feddersen: I am writing you to offer my strong support for the proposed Center for Marine Pollution and Health (CMPH) at the University Of California San Diego’s Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As the State Senator of California 40th District, I know firsthand the link between the health of a community and its surrounding waterways. The South Bay region of San Diego Country that I represent has significant health threats from ocean sewer outfalls, Tijuana River flows, and cross border pollution sources originating in coastal waters off Mexico. CMPH would integrate the biomedical and oceanographic components of the studies done on pollution and its effects on the South Bay. This work builds upon previous research efforts, in particular, Dr. Feddersen's IB09 dye-tracer transport and dilution project that took place in Imperial Beach, CA in 2009. I am also deeply interested in the proposed development of predictive models for the fate and transport of contaminants through the Tijuana River Estuary and coastal zone. During and after wet-weather events, many beaches and fishing areas in the region are pre-emptively closed due to fears of adverse human health impacts. I look forward to working with the Center for Marine Pollution on important research opportunities that will provide important information to safeguard the public health of the South San Diego community. Again, I am proud to lend my full support to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography’s proposal for the Center for Marine Pollution and Health project. Please do not hesitate to contact me, or my District Representative Aaron Allen, if you have any questions or concerns at (619) 409-7690. Sincerely,

JUAN VARGAS State Senator 40th District

November 17, 2011 Dr. Falk Feddersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego La Jolla CA 92093-0209 ffeddersen@ucsd.edu Subject: STRONG SUPPORT for the proposed Center for Marine Pollution and Health (cMPH) Dear Dr. Feddersen: WiLDCOAST is pleased to provide our support for the proposed Center for Marine Pollution and Health (cMPH) at the University Of California San Diego Scripps Institute Of Oceanography. The South Bay region in San Diego Country experiences significant health threats from ocean sewer outfalls, Tijuana River flows, and cross border pollution sources originating in coastal waters off Mexico. The center will integrate biomedical and oceanographic research on pollution effects that are important for our region. This work will build upon previous projects in the region, specifically the IB09 dye-tracer transport and dilution project that took place in Imperial Beach, CA in 2009 and was directed by Dr. Feddersen. The center's development of predictive models for the fate and transport of contaminants through the Tijuana River Estuary and coastal zone is of great interest to us. During and after wet-weather events many beaches and fishing areas in the region are pre-emptively closed due to fears of adverse human health impacts. WiLDCOAST is a 501c3 nonprofit based out of Imperial Beach committed to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and wildlife. We work to protect the environmental and public health along the Pacific Ocean shoreline from Rosarito to Coronado including the Tijuana River watershed and Imperial Beach shoreline. We are confident that this center will provide a significant benefit to the community. The proposed Coastal Ocean Modeling system, that will develop regional forecasts of impacted water quality from the Tijuana River Estuary, into the near-beach region spanning from Mexico to Coronado, will specifically benefit the boaters, fisherman, divers, surfers, swimmers, and beach-goers of the region. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information. I can be reached at sdedina@wildcoast.net or (619) 423-8665 x202. Sincerely,

Serge Dedina, Ph.D Executive Director WiLDCOAST

November 15, 2011

Dr. Falk Feddersen

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla, CA 92093

Dear Falk,

On behalf of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS), I

am writing in support of your proposal submission (RFA-ES-11-012) to establish a

NSF-NIH Oceans and Human Health Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Your focus on coastal marine pollution, toxins, and human health impacts is timely as

it is an emerging concern of the State’s environmental health and water quality

regulatory agencies. The technical approach of developing and implementing high

resolution models to connect the physics of the surfzone to offshore waters for

predicting the predict the fate and transport of pollutants is unique. More importantly,

the partnership represented by the team of marine microbiologists, medical

researchers and physical oceanographers will provide our community insight on the

emerging threats to human health including endocrine disruption resulting from

marine discharges. The environmental data sets provided by SCCOOS, representing

several years of ocean observations, will be provided to your team for validating and

improving your forecast tools.

SCCOOS is a Regional Association within the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing

System (IOOS). National IOOS is designed to enhance the collection, delivery, and

use of ocean information across the country. The goal is to provide continuous data to

support research and inform decision-making. SCCOOS works with a broad base of

stakeholders that include scientists and coastal managers, educators, fishermen,

mariners, marine recreational users, search and rescue teams, coastal security and oil

spill response operations, water quality and public health officials, as well as policy

makers and government agencies.

There is a continuing need for identifying emerging health threats to our ocean users

along the California coast, and that network with users and communicate the results.

SCCOOS will provide observations to support your verification and analysis efforts

with the proposed Center. In addition, SCCOOS can provide assistance in

communicating your results to marine management stakeholders.

SCCOOS looks forward to further collaboration and expanding our partnership with

your team.

Sincerely,

Julie Thomas

SCCOOS Executive Director

CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE

UNIVERSITY, SAN LUIS OBISPO

CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL

ANALYSIS, CALIFORNIA STATE

UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION

CIENTIFICA Y DE EDUCACION

SUPERIOR DE ENSENADA

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY,

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE

ADMINISTRATION

SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF

OCEANOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA

DE BAJA CALIFORNIA

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,

SANTA BARBARA

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,

LOS ANGELES

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN

CALIFORNIA

November 11, 2011 Terry Gaasterland, Ph.D. and Falk Fedderson, Ph.D. Scripps Institute of Oceanography University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive MS0202 La Jolla, CA 920093 Dear Terry and Falk, I am writing in support of your proposal for a NSF/NIEH Center for Oceans and Human Health to be established at the University of California, San Diego (RFA-ES-11-012, Centers for Oceans and Human Health, P01). The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) routinely deals with issues of chemical contaminants as well as microbes in Southern California coastal and marine environments. The research outlined by the Physical Oceanography Core (predictive modeling in the nearshore) along with the proposed RO1 projects (“Sub-lethal contaminant exposure in coastal ecosytems and human food webs”; “Metagenomic tools for marine-derived toxic events”; and “Genetic analysis of endocrine disruption in coastal waters”) represent the proper focus and balance for a Center for Oceans and Human Health. SCCWRP runs a variety of large sampling programs, including the Bight Regional Monitoring Program and the Reference Site study. We would be glad to aid your work by providing seawater, sediment, and fish samples for your reference location (Channel Islands). Sincerely,

John F. Griffith, Ph.D Principal Scientist Department of Microbiology

Stationed at: Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8604 La Jolla Shores Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037 November 11, 2011 Dr. Falk Feddersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive MS0209 La Jolla, CA 920093 Dear Falk, I am writing to confirm my strong support of your proposal to establish a Center for Oceans and Human Health at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in response to RFA-ES-11-012 (Centers for Oceans and Human Health, P01). The proposed cMPH (the Center for Marine Pollution and Health) at UCSD outlines an excellent plan to tackle many important questions that remain in the field of Oceans and Human Health. The center proposes modeling of coastal pollution, sediment, and planktonic ecosystems as its core. This concept nicely captures the vision for the Oceans and Human Health Centers – linking the ocean sciences and biomedical communities. Having this as the center’s foundation recognizes that fate and transport exerts primary control of human exposure contaminants. The predictive modeling to be produced from the core is of critical importance because agencies need tools to help minimize human exposure and to understand the causes of exposure so that mitigation strategies may be devised. The proposed work is novel because it will integrate the diverse dynamics of estuaries, the near-shoreline region, and the coastal waters farter offshore. This is required to accurately model shoreline concentrations, but as yet to be realized. The individual research projects are well-rounded, dealing with chemical contaminants, endocrine disrupters, and phytoplankton bloom dynamics and toxin production. The science appears both solid and innovative; suggesting maximum return with minimal risk. Furthermore, the projects appear to be well-coordinated. This should provide cost efficiencies and, importantly, an integrated picture of risk. I would be pleased to coordinate with the cMPH to further Oceans and Human Health goals. Work you propose dovetails with current work in my laboratory supported by the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative (“Coordinated Research to Meet the Demands of the Ocean Research Priority Plan (ORPP): Facilitate Implementation of Biological Sensors for Microbial Contaminants”). This work involves a collaboration of two NOAA labs (AOML and NWFSC), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), Stanford University, and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). My part involves improving DNA yield and quality for DNA extracted from seawater, with particular application to the MBARI Environmental Sample Processor (ESP). This work includes application of the ESP to detect HABs in Seattle area. I would be happy to share findings to aid your efforts and will be pleased to assist as you seek to employ genetic markers for early molecular detection of toxin production that can be adapted to hand-held or automated field devices. Furthermore, through associations with a local environmental consulting company, I can offer support with regard to identifying the major direct inputs of stormwater into your sampling area. Sincerely,

Kelly D. Goodwin, Ph.D.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami FL 33149

University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences

College of Liberal Arts and sciences

An Equal Opportunity Employer 1080 Shennecossett Road Groton, Connecticut 06340-6097 Telephone: (860) 405-9151/9152 Facsimile: (860) 405-9153 Email: mscadm04@uconnvm.uconn.edu Web: marinesciences.uconn.edu

November 14, 2011 Dr. Terry Gaasterland Scripps Institution of Oceanography 8602 La Jolla Shores Drive La Jolla, CA 92037 USA

Dear Terry,

I am delighted to hear your plan to propose a COHH center. I am glad to be involved and collaborate on the project. Thank you for invitation to participate in the work on microbial metagenomics with dinoflagellates as a focus.

The project would be a nice extension of our ongoing collaboration on dinoflagellate transcriptomics research. I believe the full-length cDNA libraries that we have generated will be useful for identifying metagenes that you will retrieve from the natural plankton assemblages. As you know, since our collaborated work on the initial discovery of spliced leader in dinoflagellates, my laboratory has strived to make the spliced leader a tool for dinoflagellate-specific metatranscriptomics studies. Last year, we published two papers reporting some initial success in such applications. Since then, we have adapted the technique to a high-throughput sequencing format. The technique can be made available to the currently proposed project if needed. In addition, new dinoflagellate transcriptomic data that my laboratory may continue to generate can be made available for data analysis.

I wish you every success in the effort, and looking forward to a new collaborative project.

Best regards, Senjie Lin, Ph. D.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

BERKELEY DAVIS IRVINE LOS ANGELES RIVERSIDE SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO• • • • • •

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR WILLIAM GERWICK SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY CENTER FOR MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMEDICINE SKAGGS SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 9500 GILMAN DRIVE LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA 92093-0212 Phone: (858) 534-0578 Fax: (858) 534-0529 E-mail: wgerwick@ucsd.edu 15 November 2011 Professor Falk Feddersen Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA, 92093 Dear Falk: It is with great enthusiasm that I write this letter of collaboration for the grant proposal entitled “Metagenomic tools for marine-derived toxic events” which is part of the center grant application entitled “Center for Marine Toxins and Health”. The goal of the proposed research is to genomically and chemically identify potential toxins and characterize the genes for the biosynthesis of novel bioactive toxins (compounds) from dinoflagellates growing off the coast of Southern California using innovative technologies. In addition, transcription patterns will be monitored to discern how these genes might be regulated by pollutants in the water column. My responsibilities on the project are to provide expert guidance in the area of isolation and structure elucidation of novel compounds from these dinoflagellate populations. Additionally, I will help the group use genomic information to predict which “toxins” (compounds) can potentially be produced as well as how they are produced. I have longstanding (>30 years) experience in the isolation of bioactive compounds from marine organisms as well as considerable knowledge of natural product biosynthetic processes at the mechanistic, pathway and genomic levels. This information could be used to predict the structures of natural products encoded in genomic information of these dinoflagellates. I believe my experience will be invaluable in carrying out the goals of this project. My laboratory has a wide range of instruments and expertise that are used to define the chemical structures of new natural products as well as to characterize biosynthetic products. This involves a range of analytical and chemical methodologies, mainly featuring NMR and MS. From other of my research activities, I am heavily involved in joint research projects with other academics as well as industry partners, and thus, I have the capacities and experience to effectively and successfully engage in the collaborative aspects of the proposed program.

SANTA BARBARA SANTA CRUZ•

I look forward to participating as a collaborator on this project. Sincerely,

William Gerwick, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DIRECTOR 9500 GILMAN DRIVE, MC0505 SAN DIEGO SUPERCOMPUTER CENTER LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA 92093-0505 TELEPHONE: (858) 822-5461 DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR, FAX: (858) 534-5056 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

November 14, 2011

Terry Gaasterland, Ph.D. University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive MS0202 La Jolla, CA 92093 Dear Terry:

I am writing to confirm the support of the San Diego Supercomputing Center for your grant proposal responding the NIEHS call for applications to RFA-ES-11-012 (Centers for Oceans and Human Health). Your R01 project called “Metagenomic tools for monitoring and modeling dinoflagellate contaminant exposure” is part of a Center application, “Center for Marine Pollution and Health (cMPH) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography”.

In your R01, you propose high-throughput sequencing of 384 samples distributed in space and time. The work will produce large DNA sequence datasets and require storage and computational analysis. The proposed work depends critically on the best computational infrastructure available, where the computers are both absolutely reliable and also the fastest available. We are already working with you to provide you this level of support for your current research program and will continue to do so for your proposed work.

Your proposed work will benefit from co-location at the San Diego Supercomputing Center (SDSC). The computers maintained by your laboratory host locally installed unix-based bioinformatics tools. Your system is effectively a complete computational “workshop” for analyzing sequence and genomics and genetics data. Executables for the bioinformatics tools are maintained by supercomputing staff, and hosted on servers owned by your laboratory and managed by SDSC staff. SDSC provides 24/7 administrative service, data storage, archiving and retrieval, high performance networking, and emergency power as part of the hardware and software environment. Regarding the proposal at hand, we are glad to be in a position to provide 24/7 support and systems management for your laboratory’s hardware and software. The equipment will be hosted in a robust, professional environment and connected through state-of-the-art high speed networks to the outside world. We will also be glad to provide continued software development expertise and support from members of the SDSC team.

The proposed high performance computing infrastructure builds squarely on top of initiatives well underway at SDSC. In particular, the storage environment for your cluster is already integrated with Data Oasis—a high performance parallel file system for the Triton cluster. This offers higher bandwidth I/O and economies of scale in operating cost. Housed in the Supercomputer Center, your computer system is optimally positioned for users in your laboratory and your collaborators across campus and at other sites to access data securely, and analyze it quickly and efficiently on centralized high-performance servers.

We are excited about this opportunity to work with you on this important initiative, and wish your proposal success. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Michael L. Norman Director, San Diego Supercomputer Center Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics