A public agency applying next-generation science to aquatic ecosystems management - Since 1969 - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project

Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia

Researchers are documenting how corrosive coastal ocean conditions and low dissolved oxygen levels threaten the health of marine food webs.

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Bioanalytical Cell Screening Assays

Researchers are investigating how to adapt cell bioassays as a cost-effective screening tool to improve monitoring of bioactive chemical contaminants in aquatic systems.

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Harmful Algal Blooms

SCCWRP and its research partners are examining how to mitigate the proliferation of ecologically disruptive blooms in aquatic systems that threaten the health of wildlife and humans.

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The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) is an aquatic sciences research institute that works to improve management of aquatic systems in Southern California and beyond. Since its founding as an intergovernmental public agency in 1969, SCCWRP has been developing strategies, tools and technologies that the region’s water-quality management community relies on to more effectively protect and enhance the ecological health of Southern California’s coastal ocean and the watersheds that drain to it. As an R&D agency, SCCWRP’s reputation is built on conducting research and translating this science into actionable guidance and recommendations that inform management decision-making and policy development.
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Seminar: "Investigating the role of cell viability in genetic markers for microbial source tracking of fecal contamination in a southern California watershed" -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -

Harvey, M.E., S.N. Giddings, E.D. Stein, J.A. Crooks, C. Whitcraft, T. Gallien, J.L. Largier, L.L. Tiefenthaler, H. Meltzer, G. Pawlak, K. Thorne, K. Johnston, R. Ambrose, S.C. Schroeter, H.M. Page, H. Elwany. 2020. Effects of Elevated Sea Levels and Waves on Southern California Estuaries During the 2015–2016 El Niño. Estuaries and Coasts 10.1007/s12237-019-00676-1.

Sultana, R., M. Mroczek, A. Sengupta, S. Dallman, E.D. Stein. 2020. Improving Effective Impervious Estimates to Inform Stormwater Management. Water Resources Management 10.1007/s11269-019-02474-7.

Yarnell, S.M., E.D. Stein, J.A. Webb, T. Grantham, R.A. Lusardi, J. Zimmerman, R.A. Peek, B.A. Lane, J. Howard, S. Sandoval-Solis. 2020. A Functional Flows Approach to Selecting Ecologically Relevant Flow Metrics for Environmental Flow Applications. River Research and Applications 10.1002/rra.3575.

Stein, E.D., C.L. Doughty, J. Lowe, M. Cooper, E. Sloane, D. Bram. 2020. Establishing Targets for Regional Coastal Wetland Restoration Planning Using Historical Ecology and Future Scenario Analysis: The Past, Present, Future Approach. Estuaries and Coasts 10.1007/s12237-019-00681-4.