Tuesday October 8, 2024
Public News Service —
California has set a goal to protect 30% of its land and waters by the year 2030, so the Ocean Protection Council is working on which waters should count as protected and is identifying new conservation measures.
A public comment period on its draft framework just ended.
Drew Talley, professor of environmental and ocean sciences at the University of San Diego, said the proposal is on the right track but needs a little more work when it comes to estuaries, where the rivers meet the sea.
“It doesn’t look at some of the main threats those systems are facing,” Talley explained. “Including sea level rise, degraded water quality and ongoing effects of historical alterations like dams and diking and urban runoff.”
The Ocean Protection Council is expected to release its final proposal Dec. 9. Estuaries are crucial habitat for many species. They also buffer communities from floods during a storm, reduce ocean acidification and help fight climate change, since marine plants store a great deal of carbon.