Background

The comprehensive plan of action for Bay protection and management, known as the Bay Restoration Plan was approved by Governor Pete Wilson in December 1994 and by US EPA Administrator Carol Browner in 1995. The Plan identifies almost 250 actions, including 74 priority actions, that address critical problems such as storm water and urban runoff pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and public health risks associated with seafood consumption and swimming near storm drain outlets. The Plan outlines specific programs to address the environmental problems facing the Bay and identifies implementers, timelines, and funding needs.

Implementation of the Plan is the focus of our current efforts. Securing and leveraging funding to put solutions into action, building public-private partnerships, promoting cutting-edge research and technology, facilitating a stakeholder-driven consensus process, and raising public awareness in order to restore and preserve the Bay's many beneficial uses are key objectives of the SMBRC.

Already, restoration actions have resulted in improvements in the quality of the Bay's environment, but full recovery is far from certain. Steady and long-term effort along with consistent funding for action implementation is necessary to ensure that we realize the Plan's goal of a healthy and restored Santa Monica Bay.

The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission is currently revising the Bay Restoration Plan.

Click to download: