California Ocean Protection Council

10/06/2026

Ocean waters off California have warmed by about 2°F over the past century. Now, one of the largest marine heat waves on record and a strengthening “Super El Niño” are stacking on top of that trend, with surface temperatures up to 8°F above normal in some areas. 🌡️

Join us Monday, October 19, 2026 at noon for the second episode of Below the Surface: Diving Deeper Into California’s Coast and Ocean Report, our webinar series that brings together the scientists behind California’s Coast and Ocean Report with other leading experts in the field.

This episode: the Ocean Temperature Indicator. We’ll talk with Andrew Leising, Ph.D. from NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and the lead scientist behind the Ocean Temperature Indicator, and Joshua Smith, Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz, about what long-term data show about a warming California coast, why 21% of monitored rocky intertidal species are already moving north, and what this year’s extreme conditions could mean for kelp, wildlife, fisheries, and coastal communities. We’ll also look at how California is preparing, from rapid response funding to ocean monitoring.

This informal, podcast-style chat will be hosted by Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager and Tribal Liaison, California Ocean Protection Council. Come ready with your questions, we’ll have live Q&A!

📅 Monday, October 19, 2026
🕛 12 – 1 PM
💻 Register via Zoom: bit.ly/OPC-BTS2
📄 Learn more: opc.ca.gov/2026/10/below-the-surface-ocean-temp

10/05/2026

Join the state in building a more equitable future for our coast and ocean! Since 2024, the first Environmental Justice Advisory Board has provided expertise and insight on ways the state can improve equitable grantmaking, community outreach, ocean science, and more. We invite community leaders across California’s diverse coastal and statewide regions to serve on the next Advisory Board. Apply today and be a part of the change! 🌊🌎

Learn more and apply: opc.ca.gov/environmental-justice-advisory-board

09/30/2026

Some of the best tidepool residents are the ones you have to look twice to find. This East Pacific red octopus (Octopus rubescens) was spotted in a tidepool at Soquel Cove, also known as "Shark Park," in Santa Cruz County.

Despite the name, these octopuses aren't always red. They can change both the color and texture of their skin in an instant to blend in with rocks and algae. They hunt crabs, clams, and snails in the intertidal zone, and their range stretches along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California.

📷 Photo of the Month by Hallie Brown

ICYMI, see this photo and catch up on the latest OPC news in our September newsletter: bit.ly/OPC-SEPT2026

Ready to submit your own for October? We want to showcase your best shots of California's coast and ocean in our Photo of the Month feature. More info and submission details here: opc.ca.gov/2024/08/submit-photo

09/29/2026

Record ocean temperatures. A "Super El Niño" on the horizon. What does it mean for California's coast?

Our new Marine Heat Wave and El Niño hub is your starting point: ➡️ opc.ca.gov/marine-heat-wave-el-nino-hub

09/23/2026

It's not too late, there's one more day to get your application in. YOU just might be our next OPC team member! 💙

Join Our Team!

OPC is hiring an Environmental Scientist (Biodiversity Program Manager) to advance strategic priorities related to coastal, marine, and estuarine biodiversity. The Environmental Scientist will support efforts to conserve 30 percent of California’s coastal waters by 2030 (30×30), adaptively manage California’s marine protected area network, improve coordinated monitoring and data management, and strengthen conservation at the land-sea interface. Overall, the Environmental Scientist will help advance OPC’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians.

Applicants should have a strong scientific background, working knowledge of coastal and ocean issues and stakeholders in California, and experience working on projects and/or research related to coastal, marine, and estuarine biodiversity in California or elsewhere. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to become proficient in new and emerging topics, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks are a must.

The application deadline is Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Details and apply online: opc.ca.gov/2026/09/hiring-environmental-scientist

09/23/2026

At the September 18, 2026, OPC meeting, the Council unanimously approved more than $23.8 million in investments to prepare tribal and local communities for sea level rise; better understand and respond to ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms along the coast; enable rapid response to protect coastal and marine ecosystems during an ongoing marine heat wave and strengthening “Super El Niño”; and develop a statewide post-wildfire water quality monitoring strategy to protect public health and wildlife. The Council also approved continued support for OPC’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board for California’s Coast and Ocean.

Read the full summary and watch the recording: opc.ca.gov/2026/09/september-18-2026-council-meeting-summary

📷 Sreeja Gopal, Ph.D., Coastal Habitats Program Manager discussing the SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program's Track 2 Implementation Projects

📷 Stanford Woods Institute Environment and Policy Internships (EPIC) Fellow Barron Nguyen with OPC Mentor Staci Lewis, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager (Specialist)

📷 Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager (Supervisor) & Tribal Liaison discussing development of a Statewide Wildfire Monitoring Strategy

09/22/2026

As our Summer Interns wrap up their time with OPC, we’re taking a look back at some of the experiences that made their summer memorable - including getting out in the field for California Biodiversity Week.

This summer, OPC interns Dorian and Alysse had the opportunity to explore two different estuaries and connect with educators, researchers, and community organizations working to protect California’s incredible biodiversity. Dorian visited the Tijuana River Estuarine Reserve for its Latinos in Conservation event, while Alysse attended Nature Fiesta at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

From bird watching and community science to learning about native plants and seed collection, both interns got a firsthand look at the many ways people are engaging with and protecting California’s biodiversity. Here’s what they had to say about their experiences:

"I attended the Tijuana River Estuarine Reserve's Latinos in Conservation Week for their biodiversity event. There was a bird watching event with the San Diego Bird Alliance and I got to interact with a lot of different organizations and met a lot of great people. A key takeaway from the event was that I got to hear from educators and researchers from Ensenada! It was extremely fun and I'm glad I was able to attend!!" - Dorian

"The event was full of resources from community organizations tabling along with educational resources and science student showcases. I really enjoyed the table that was utilizing public attendance to teach about the Gumplant and how to harvest the seeds. My friend and I collected seeds for only about 10 minutes and when we went to put it into the goal tracking container that they had empitied right before us because they reached 100,000 seeds. When we put our seeds, just the two of us reached 10,000 seeds!" - Alysse

09/14/2026

You don't have to be on the beach to make a difference on Coastal Cleanup Day. OPC Summer Intern Alysse shows us why. Trash doesn't stay where it lands. It moves through rivers, streams, streets, and storm drains before reaching the ocean, and most ocean trash actually starts on land. That means a cleanup in your own neighborhood counts just as much as one on the sand.

This year's Coastal Cleanup Day is September 19, 2026. Find a site near you and sign up at coastalcleanupday.org.

Where will you be cleaning up? Let us know in the comments.

09/09/2026

Funded by the California Ocean Protection Council, California Sea Grant will administer more than $6 million to nine research and restoration projects to inform the state’s goal of conserving thirty percent of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.

To date, California has already conserved 21.9% of its coastal waters — more than two-thirds of the way to the target. But reaching 30% by 2030 will require protecting an additional 275,000 acres, and doing so calls for both targeted scientific research and restoration projects to help the state identify additional areas to protect.

"As California strives to conserve 30% of our coastal waters by 2030, ambition needs to be backed by specifics. These groundbreaking projects will drive action on the state’s 30x30 initiative by helping us understand what to protect, what to restore, and how to ensure that conservation gains are durable," says Michael Esgro, senior biodiversity program manager at the California Ocean Protection Council.

Learn more about the projects at https://bit.ly/4x9knNX

09/08/2026

The meeting materials for the September 18 Council Meeting are available!

Join us virtually or in-person for the next Council meeting on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.!

On the agenda:

🎓 Update on the 2026 OPC Summer Internship Cohort
🌊 Funding for SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program: Planning, Implementation, and Tribal Cultural Resources projects
🧪 Funding to advance research and management of ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms
🔥 Rapid response funding to protect coastal and marine ecosystems during a marine heat wave and upcoming El Niño
🌲 Funding to develop a Statewide Wildfire Monitoring Strategy to protect coastal and marine water quality
🤝 Consent item: Support for implementation of the OPC Equity Plan

For details and the full agenda, visit bit.ly/OPC-SEP2026