Agriculture Water Quality Programs
The central coast of California abounds in natural resources. The watersheds that flow to Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, spanning 7,000 square miles and six counties, are also an important resource, supporting a diverse multi-billion dollar agricultural industry. Sanctuary staff support many regional partnerships to protect water quality in the sanctuary.
Agriculture Water Quality Alliance
Farmers face a number of challenges to stay viable, comply with regulations, and protect natural resources. In response to these challenges, farmers and agencies on the central coast formed the Agriculture Water Quality Alliance (AWQA). AWQA is a unique regional partnership that brings together farmers, ranchers, technical service providers, researchers, and resource conservation agencies to protect water quality in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary while maintaining the productivity of central coast farmlands through a voluntary stewardship approach.
Since 2000, AWQA partners have worked together to reduce the runoff of sediments, nutrients, and pesticides from agricultural and rural lands through education and outreach, technical and financial assistance, research and monitoring, permit streamlining, and watershed coordination. The leadership and participation of central coast farmers and ranchers is key to achieving the vision:
"Together we will protect and enhance water in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the adjacent watersheds while sustaining a world class production agriculture region through voluntary collaboration with managers of agricultural and rural lands."
Reducing Agriculture Field Plastic Impacts
Sanctuary staff, in collaboration with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and key stakeholders, are working to implement end of life solutions for agricultural field plastics.
Healthy Soils Program
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, in partnership with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, conducted Healthy Soils Programs intended to build soil organic carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gasses by sequestering carbon and improving soil health. Reducing global warming is important to the sanctuary for many reasons including slowing sea level rise, preventing ocean acidification, minimizing coastal erosion, and mitigating ocean warming—all of which negatively impact marine organisms and ecosystems. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary agriculture programs encourage growers and ranchers to participate in operations that benefit from installing carbon storage practices such as cover crops, compost application, hedge rows, riparian buffers, tillage management, and other Natural Resources Conservation Service approved practices.
The California Marine Sanctuary Foundation has been successful in receiving four Healthy Soils Program grants for 1) small animal farms; 2) vegetable crops; 3) rangeland; and 4) large production reduced tillage (otherwise known as regenerative agriculture). One Healthy Soils Program grant project sequestered approximately 718 tons of carbon dioxide in the soil after three years by incorporating practices such as cover crops, crop rotation, low tillage, and compost addition. The goal is to encourage all growers to implement these practices to mitigate other greenhouse gas emissions.
