BACKGROUND
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project is a partnership of public agencies working cooperatively to acquire, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands and watersheds between Point Conception and the International border with Mexico. Using a non-regulatory approach and an ecosystem perspective, the Wetlands Project will work together to identify wetland acquisition and restoration priorities, prepare plans for these priority sites, pool funds to undertake these projects, implement priority plans, and oversee post-project maintenance and monitoring.

The goal of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project is to accelerate the pace, the extent, and the effectiveness of coastal wetland restoration in Southern California through developing and implementing a regional prioritization plan for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of Southern California's coastal wetlands and watersheds. Ultimately, the Wetlands Project's efforts will result in a long-term increase in the quantity and quality of the region's wetlands.


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WETLANDS AND WATERSHED MANGEMENT PLAN
Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part through a contract between Environment Now on behalf of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project and the State Water Resources Control Board (SCWRP) pursuant to the Costa-Machado Act of 2000 (Prop 13) and any amendments thereto for the implementation of California’s Nonpoint Source pollution Control Program. The contents of the documents on this page do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the SWRCB, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Description of Documents:

• Gaps report - Identifies who is doing what, where by county and the key gaps the watershed coordinators concluded should be addressed by their efforts.

• Watershed Plan Characterization Report - Describes the watershed management plans that have been completed and are underway by county.

• Map and Inventory of Watershed Management Plans - Depicts watershed management plans in the region to show where planning is intensive and where it is lacking.

• Map and Inventory of Prospective Restoration and Acquisition Projects- An extensive list of wetlands restoration projects, by county, with accompanying data base that could be useful resource in seeking funding or for applying mitigation fees.

• List of Prospective Funders in the 5 Coastal Counties - Provides a county-by-county list of foundations and other potential funders of wetlands restoration and education projects.

• Report on Using Local Ordinances to Protect Water Resources - Paper describing the “disconnect” between watershed management plans and local land-use planning authorities.

• Report on Findings and Recommendations for Using Local Ordinances to Protect Water Resources (Draft) - Describes the recommendations made by a “Blue Ribbon” committee of the Wetlands Recovery Project Public Advisory Committee for how the PAC should pursue wetlands protection at the local government level.

• Final Report (Draft) - Describes the activities that occurred under the Proposition 13 grant and includes recommendations for follow-up work. This must be presented for public comment at the annual symposium (October 23-25, 2003) and these comments are to be included in the final document submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board)

• Pocket Navigator (Draft) - Describes the many products that have been created by the WRP since its inception and how they can be obtained.