Issuu

2025

IMPACT REPORT

Climate Resilient Monterey Bay is federally funded as part of the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge administered by the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Since 1995, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) has worked to protect California's coastal ecosystems and strengthen coastal resilience in the face of population growth, urban and industrial pressures, climate change, and resource extraction. CMSF leads and manages complex, multi-partner conservation projects across the state, working alongside local communities, government agencies, Tribal communities, and NGOs to design and implement practical, science-based solutions. That combination of hands-on implementation and strong public-private partnership is what allows CMSF to deliver results at a scale no single organization could achieve alone.

CONTENTS

05 OVERVIEW 08 2025 AT A GLANCE 09 REGIONAL COLLABORATION & CAPACITY BUILDING 12 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 15 FLOOD RISK REDUCTION 18 FIRE RISK REDUCTION 21 PROJECT PARTNERS

CMSF

OVERVIEW

CLIMATE RESILIENT MONTEREY BAY

The Monterey Bay region, home to a spectacular and productive ecosystem, faces catastrophic climate-driven events, including river flooding, ocean storm surges, and increasingly severe wildfires. Recent disasters underscore the urgent need for action. The 2020 CZU Complex Fire burned 87,000 acres, forced 70,000 evacuations, and impacted 20% of the San Lorenzo River watershed. In 2023, Pajaro River flooding displaced nearly 3,000 residents from a vulnerable community, and ocean storm surges caused over $40 million in damages to local infrastructure. Many communities and critical infrastructure are extremely vulnerable. Three of the region’s four wastewater treatment plants are at low elevations, immediately adjacent to major rivers. Essential transportation corridors like California State Highway 1 and the Union Pacific railway are also at risk. Drought-weakened forests add to the threat, with uncontrolled wildfires increasing in scale and intensity. The 2020 fire season saw four major wildfires, burning over 269,548 acres in three months, leading to greatly elevated debris flow and storm runoff hazards in surrounding mountainous areas. Recognizing the shared risks, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF) brought together dozens of government agencies, educational institutions, resource districts, and nonprofits to propose a unified, region-wide approach to climate resilience. This collective commitment led to CMSF being awarded a transformational $71.1 million Climate Resilience Regional Challenge grant from NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management in Fall 2024. This grant enables a coalition of nearly 30 partners to implement the "Climate Resilient Monterey Bay" program. Climate Resilient Monterey Bay focuses on nature-based strategies and collective action to address high-priority climate risks in low-lying, coastal communities threatened by sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding along the San Lorenzo, Pajaro, Salinas, and Carmel rivers, as well as wildfire in their watersheds.

OVERVIEW

The “Climate Resilient Monterey Bay” program stands on four pillars: Adaptation Strategy 1. Regional Collaboration and Capacity Building The initiative has launched the Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network (MBCAAN) to coordinate adaptation planning across jurisdictions. It also provides capacity funding for other complementary networks and is establishing a revolving fund to offer critical bridge financing and rapid response for climate adaptation projects.

Adaptation Strategy 2. Workforce Development Led by Hartnell College, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay, and Watsonville Wetlands Watch, this strategy builds a climate-ready local workforce. Programs include targeted training, certificates, internships, and fellowships to upskill recent graduates and professionals in fields like wetland restoration and environmental planning, focusing on communities most affected by climate risks.

Adaptation Strategy 3. Flood Risk Reduction This strategy increases adaptive capacity for fluvial flooding, sea level rise, and storm surge. The program supports ten projects across the Monterey Bay Area to improve the function of coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats that moderate extreme flood flows, protecting over 120,000 residents.

Adaptation Strategy 4. Wildfire Risk Reduction Focusing on fuels management, prescribed fire, and cultural burning, this pillar supports five projects across 5,000 acres. Actions include installing over six miles of shaded fuel breaks and reducing fuel loads to lower the risk of high-severity wildfire. By building collaborative partnerships, governance structures, and long-term capacity, the Climate Resilient Monterey Bay program is laying the essential foundation for a more resilient future for the region. Grant Wildfire Risk Reduction 17.1% 17.1%

Management 4.8% 4.8%

Collaboration 13.3% & Capacity 13.3% Workforce Development 9.5% 9.5%

Allocation of the NOAA grant funds across the four adaptation pillars

Flood Risk 55.2% Reduction 55.2%

The geographic focus of the project is the Monterey Bay region on California’s Central Coast, primarily centered in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. 7

EXECUTIVE REPORT

2025 AT A GLANCE The year 2025 marked a crucial period for establishing the foundation of Climate Resilient Monterey Bay (CRMB). Key partnerships were formalized through executed contracts, essential personnel were hired, and the official launch of the Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network (MBCAAN) was celebrated. Although the implementation of this five-year grant has just begun, the initiative's initial success lies in strengthening trusted collaboration, fostering open communication, and developing robust project plans that will pave the way for future impact. The influence of this initiative extends beyond relationships and projects, significantly benefiting the economy. A forthcoming economic analysis conducted by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management estimates that the CRMB grant will generate $126.3 million in total economic output and 705 jobs over its five-year duration. A strong return on investment: for every $1 invested in 1 this work, $1.88 of economic activity is generated at the national level.

$126.3 M

total economic output

705 Jobs over 5 years

Protecting our coastlines and communities from the extreme impacts of climate change is essential for our livelihoods and the nation's future. These substantial challenges demand significant solutions, and the coordinated effort demonstrated in this first year of the grant is effectively setting the stage for the achievements to come.

MEET OUR NOAA FELLOWS Climate Resilient Monterey Bay is honored to host two NOAA Coastal Resilience Fellows. They will be joining the team for 2 years and working on critical aspects to ensure long-term regional resilience.

Lauryn Cummins

Paige Siegel

Communications & Outreach Fellow

Regional Monitoring Program Fellow

Hosted by CMSF

Hosted by Central Coast Wetlands Group

NOAA Office for Coastal Management

REGIONAL COLLABORATION & CAPACITY BUILDING

REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

SUMMARY This Adaptation Strategy centers on the Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network (MBCAAN), a collaborative forum designed to unify regional resilience efforts. Key functions include: Regional Forum: Serving as a regional hub for climate planning and project performance monitoring across all partners.

Inclusive Engagement: Partnering with vulnerable communities and Tribes through a Community Advisory Group and bi-directional engagement between Indigenous groups and MBCAAN members. Capacity Building: Strengthening three existing climate collaboratives to ensure integrated implementation. Rapid Response: Creating the $1.6M Resilient Monterey Bay Revolving Fund to provide low-interest bridge financing for critical climate adaptation needs.

Our partners in this Adaptation Strategy include Ecology Action, Regeneración, Four Directions Indigenous Consulting, Collaborative for Right Relations, the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, City of Watsonville, Monterey Bay Area Regional Climate Project Working Group, Central Coast Climate Collaborative, Farallon Strategies, and the Community Based Organization (CBO) members of the Community Advisory Group, representing NGO/nonprofit sector focused on labor advocacy, community services, social justice, and equity, dedicated to climate justice and community resilience in the Monterey Bay region.

REGIONAL COLLABORATION PROJECTS Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network (MBCAAN)

Project Lead: California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF), with participation of all grant partners

Community Engagement in Regional Risk Reduction & Resilience

Project Lead: Ecology Action with Regeneración and Monterey Bay Area Climate Justice Collaborative

Tribal Engagement to Address Climate Adaptation for the Monterey Bay Area

Project Lead: Four Directions Indigenous Consulting with Collaborative for Right Relations

Resilient Monterey Bay Revolving Fund

Project Lead: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County (CFSCC)

CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) Management Team: Farallon Strategies

Monterey Bay Regional Climate Project Working Group (RCPWG)

Project Lead: City of Watsonville with RCPWG partners and Farallon Strategies 10

Regional Collaboration & Capacity Building

2025 AT A GLANCE

302

individuals engaged over 5 MBCAAN meetings

CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION

IMP RO

engaged over capacity building events

participants engaged across 13 organizations

CE EN LI

1277

CLIMATE RE G SI N VI

community organizations supported

"Natural disasters don't wait for funding. The Resilient Monterey Bay Revolving Fund will be an asset for our community to deploy resources when urgency matters to mobilize nature-based response and adaptation projects that protect and support our communities and environment.” - Eric Lombardo, Director of External Affairs, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County

CBOs engaged in the Community Advisory Group

TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT

Tribal convenings held

Tribal members recruited to participate, representing

O-PEER LEA PEER-T EDGE EX RNING CHANG WL E & KNO

5 13

Events hosted

Tribes

“Indigenous engagement requires the activation of multiple generations. Under Climate Resilient Monterey Bay, we challenged local Tribes to put forth tribal youth who have an interest in climate change and sea level rise, creating the first cross-tribal Indigenous Youth Council on climate change (IYC). Youth are now considering careers in environmental sciences.” - Charlene Eigen-Vasquez, Founder, Four Directions Indigenous Consulting, Chairwoman for the Confederation of Ohlone People

Technical assitance provided for

176

Project concepts identified

ENGAGEMENT

34 11

Regional networks

partners

35 17

Businesses

CBO’s Agencies 11

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY Through the Workforce Development Adaptation Strategy, we are training the next generation of climate leaders. Our collaborative Workforce Development Team provides essential skills, connects learners with employers, and offers paid earn-and-learn opportunities with stackable credentials. Across the 5-year program, our Workforce Development partners are making an impact: Watsonville Wetlands Watch: Training 120 young adults in habitat restoration, planning, and GIS. Hartnell College: Engaging over 400 learners (including incumbent farm workers) in no-cost certificate programs and placing an estimated 350 students in climate internships. CSU Monterey Bay: Providing 45 paid undergraduate internships, professional internship stipends, and scholarships. UC Santa Cruz: Supporting up to 84 undergraduates in climate internships, externships, and drone training, plus 7 graduate students in year-long adaptation projects. Elkhorn Slough NERR Coastal Training Program: Delivering climate training to 105 local professionals, including stipends for 18 Tribal and disadvantaged community leaders. Together, we are evaluating regional workforce needs and developing the targeted courses and training required to close the climate adaptation and resilience skills gap.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Creating Generational Capacity in Coastal Climate Resilience and Risk Reduction Project Lead: Cal State University, Monterey Bay

Climate-Ready Workforce Development and Leadership Program Project Lead: Hartnell College

Building and Diversifying the Climate Resilience Workforce Through Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Training Project Lead: University of California, Santa Cruz

Pajaro Valley (PV) Climate Corps

Project Lead: Watsonville Wetlands Watch

“Climate Resilient Monterey Bay has allowed me to actually apply for my master's degree, and I'm learning so much about the ecosystem here in a whole new field that I had no idea about, so I'm extremely grateful.” - Leslie Munoz, 1st Generation & 1st Year CSUMB Master's Student, Studying Dune Science and Restoration 13

Workforce Development

2025 AT A GLANCE

142

students engaged

*includes scholarships, TAs, grad student support

enrollments

in resilience classes and trainings

scholarships provided

drone pilot licenses completed

“Our collaboration with CMSF is training the next workforce to address climate change resilience issues here in Monterey Bay and beyond by allowing them to hone professional skills they need to land that first job and the technical skills to succeed in their careers through experiential learning in internship placements and cohort-based skills training. For example, our drone Part 107 and drone handling skills training course has allowed students to contribute to local environmental science projects with partnerships extending beyond the grant itself, such as using drone mapping to assist a local water district quantifying water holding capacity of a local reservoir and tracking the nesting behavior of rare bird species with the Audubon Society.” - James Guilinger (CSUMB CRMB Principal Investigator & Assistant Professor)

2702 internship hours

“Thanks to the NOAA-funded interns, we were able to engage with the community and help make an impact across, including this village here in Salinas. We were able to transform multiple grassy areas into a more water-friendly landscape. And it is thanks to them that our community was able to learn of these types of efforts that we have and the programs that we have. It is by educating the community through our students.” - Marisol Diaz, Volunteer Program Service Specialist, Ecology Action 14

FLOOD RISK REDUCTION

SUMMARY The Flood Risk Reduction Adaptation Strategy implements a complementary suite of the region’s highest priority nature-based flood risk reduction projects. The projects are re-establishing lost hydrologic accommodation space and improving the condition and function of coastal, estuarine, and riparian habitats that moderate extreme flood flows. Benefits accrue to some of the most marginalized communities in the state, including Watsonville, Pajaro, Castroville, and others. Projects are located along the region’s four major rivers, along the Monterey Bay shoreline, and in the Elkhorn Slough:

San Lorenzo River: Two floodplain and marsh restoration projects covering more than 10 acres, reducing flood risk for marginalized communities in the City of Santa Cruz Pajaro River: Three floodplain restoration projects totaling 110 acres, reducing flood risk for valuable agriculture and coastal communities, including the City of Watsonville Salinas River: The establishment of secondary channels in the Salinas River to reduce agricultural flooding, and a project to restore floodplain function and improve flood control resilience along the Old Salinas River channel Carmel River: Floodplain restoration, contributing to a multi-year, multi-million dollar project to protect businesses and residents in the city of Carmel Monterey Bay Area Living Shorelines: Six living shoreline projects, stabilizing more than 10 acres of coastal dunes for resilience to storm surge, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve: Three projects include a 35-acre marsh restoration, the creation of a living shoreline and improved access along a heavily used public trail at Kirby Park, and planning for 200 additional acres in Elkhorn Slough to protect critical transportation infrastructure and public access.

RESTORATION PROJECTS WILL FOCUS ON: Public access protection Flood risk reduction for disadvantaged communities and agriculture Protection of critical transportation infrastructure Hydrologic connectivity protection Increased resiliency of flood control systems Floodplain restoration Dune restoration and stabilization

FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS Lower Watsonville Slough Ecosystem Restoration Project Lead: Pajaro Storm Drain Maintenance District

Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Program

Project Leads: Groundswell Ecology, Central Coast Wetlands Group, California State Parks

City of Santa Cruz Living Shorelines Project Lead: City of Santa Cruz

Salinas River Flood Risk Reduction and Habitat Improvement Project Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

Santa Cruz City Parks Flood Mitigation and Habitat Enhancement Project Lead: City of Santa Cruz

Salinas River Lagoon/Old Salinas River Floodplain Resiliency and Connectivity Project

Project Leads: Coastal Conservation & Research, Central Coast Wetlands Group, Monterey County Water Resources Agency

Pajaro Estuary Restoration Program

Project Lead: Land Trust of Santa Cruz County Additional Partners: Central Coast Wetlands Group, The Nature Conservancy, Watsonville Wetlands Watch 16

FLOOD RISK REDUCTION

FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS ctd. Pajaro River Confluence Area Project

Project Lead: Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA)

Adapting Marshes and Transportation Corridors to Sea Level Rise in Elkhorn Slough to Improve Public Safety and Tidal Habitat

Project Lead: Elkhorn Slough Foundation

Carmel River Floodplain Restoration & Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project Lead: Big Sur Land Trust

Climate Resilient Monterey Bay Regional Monitoring Program (CRMB-RMP)

Project Lead: Central Coast Wetlands Group, San Jose State University Research Foundation

TO REDUCE FLOOD RISKS ACROSS THE REGION, THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE:

330 ACRES

of coastal dune and flood restoration on the four major Monterey Bay river systems

San Lorenzo River

Pajaro River

Salinas River

Carmel River

10 acres

3 projects

Improving hydrologic connectivity and increasing the resiliency of the flood control system.

110 acres 42 acres

2.1 miles of estuary shoreline 35 acres of marsh restoration

7.4 acres of intensive revegetation 35.5 acres of floodplain habitat slated for restoration

Coastal Dune Restoration

resilience to storm surge 10 acres toandimprove protect inland communities.

ONE YEAR IN Across the various projects, significant work has been done in community engagement, building design and engineering teams, starting the regulatory permitting process, and hiring new staff. This will lay the foundation for implementation work to begin on the first projects as early as Fall 2026.

“The NOAA CRRC grant enables CCWG to connect long-term wetland and dune monitoring, living shoreline restoration, and flood-resilience planning and implementation in the Lower Salinas Valley—three pillars of a resilient Monterey Bay. CMSF’s partnership helps ensure these efforts deliver meaningful benefits for our coastal habitats, the surrounding working lands, and most importantly the local communities.” - Kevin O’Connor (Program Manager of Central Coast Wetlands Group)

The project team visiting the future restoration site at the Carmel River

WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION

SUMMARY The goal of the Wildfire Risk Reduction Strategy is to mitigate extreme risks to coastal communities and ecosystems from increasingly frequent large, highintensity wildfires. Our project partners include the Peninsula Open SpaceTrust, Santa Lucia Conservancy, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County, Big Sur Land Trust, Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, and Elkhorn Slough Foundation.

PROPOSED WILDFIRE ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Fuel reduction activities on over 5,000 acres Installation of over 6 miles of shaded fuel breaks Prescribed and cultural burning on 115 acres

Cultural burning activities will be conducted under the leadership of our Tribal partner, the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. The complementary projects are strategically designed to maximize positive impact across diverse habitats and communities. Collectively, they are projected to reduce severe wildfire risk for over 120,000 residents in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, specifically targeting areas state agencies classify as having "high" or "very high" fire hazard severity.

WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS

Resilient Forest Restoration: Protecting Communities in Wildland Urban Interface

Project Lead: Big Sur Land Trust

Monterey Bay Prescribed Fire and Cultural Burning Expansion Project Lead: Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

San Vicente Redwoods Prescribed Burn Preparation and Fuel Reduction Project Project Lead: Peninsula Open Space Trust

Santa Lucia Fuels Reduction Project

Project Lead: Santa Lucia Conservancy

North Monterey County Eucalyptus Treatment and Wildfire Prevention Project Lead: Resource Conservation District of Monterey County with Elkhorn Slough Foundation

Wildfire Risk Reduction

2025 AT A GLANCE

800

acres of grass fuels reduced

through cattle grazing in the Santa Lucia range

143

Shrub encroachment reduced across

18.9

acres

acres of invasive plants removed

Before

After Santa Lucia Fuels Reduction Project before and after manual weed removal.

“Effectively adapting to climate change requires more than just know-how; it takes resources and adoption of key strategies at scale. By addressing our region’s highest priority climate risks—flooding and wildfires—NOAA’s funding is catalyzing the formation of networks, workforce development, and capacity building, creating a bulwark for the residents who reside in the Central Coast region.” - Jamison Watts, Executive Director, Santa Lucia Conservancy 20

PROJECT PARTNERS

PROJECT PARTNERS Climate Resilient Monterey Bay brings together nearly 30 cross-sector organizations dedicated to driving collective action for regional resilience.