At the center of the management structure was the Steering Committee, composed of scientist/managers from each of the participating agencies. The Steering Committee was responsible for the overall planning of regional monitoring activities, focusing largely on program design. During the design process, the Steering Committee identified the questions to be addressed in the survey, selected sample sites to achieve these objectives and identified the indicators to be measured.

The Steering Committee was also responsible for project coordination among the different organizations involved. To achieve this, selected members of the Steering Committee were appointed as Quality Assurance (QA) Officer (who directed the QA components of the project), Field Coordinator (who directed the administrative and technical components of field operations), Laboratory Coordinator (who directed the administrative and technical components of laboratory analyses), and Information Management Officer (who coordinated data reporting and management).

The Steering Committee was supported by five technical subcommittees, which were responsible for addressing the technical details associated with each indicator group. These groups prepared sections of the methods and QA manuals specific to their areas of expertise. They also conducted data analysis of their indicators, with their reports subject to Steering Committee review.

The Steering Committee reported to the SCCWRP Commission, which is composed of the highest level of management from each of the largest municipal dischargers to Southern California Bight and from each of the agencies responsible for regulating discharge to the Bight. The Commission, which meets on a quarterly basis, ensured that the questions we were addressing stayed relevant to current management issues. Reporting to the Commission also ensured that the results would be used for management action.