Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – October
What’s Happening
September Ocean Protection Council Meeting Summary
The September 30, 2025, Ocean Protection Council (OPC) meeting advanced key climate resilience, equity, and biodiversity priorities statewide. The Council unanimously approved more than $25 million in investments… Read the summary.
Call for Tribal Representatives on the Marine Protected Area Statewide Leadership Team – Nominations close January 13, 2026
The Marine Protected Area Statewide Leadership Team (MSLT) is seeking nominations for tribal representatives to serve on this important advisory body that supports the management of California’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. Learn more about MSLT nominations.
Tracking Impacts of Federally-Funded Programs on California’s Coast and Ocean
A survey is available to understand impacts to federally-funded coast and ocean programs in California. Importantly, this survey will be used to identify critical environmental data and information gaps. Complete the survey
Funding Opportunities
Tribal and Environmental Justice Small Grants: 2025-2026 WHALE TAIL® Grant Program
At the September meeting, the Ocean Protection Council approved up to $2,000,000 in funding to the California Coastal Commission for tribal and environmental justice small grants through the 2025-26 WHALE TAIL® Competitive Grants Program. The application deadline is Monday, December 15, 2025. Learn more about the Tribal and Environmental Justice Small Grants.
SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program
The next submission deadline for sea level rise adaptation planning projects is Friday, December 19, 2025. Learn more about the SB 1 Grant Program.
OPC’s SB 1 Sea Level Rise Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Program’s next proposal deadline is Monday, January 5, 2026. This new funding opportunity will support California Native American tribes in assessing and planning for sea level rise impacts on cultural resources and ancestral lands.
Dive In
Cathedral Thinking: Finding Inspiration at the IUCN World Conservation Congress
By Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager & Tribal Liaison
In mid-October 2025, OPC Executive Director Jenn Eckerle and I had the privilege of attending the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The World Conservation Congress is the largest environmental convening on the planet. It only happens once every four years, and this year, it drew conservation leaders from across the globe to Abu Dhabi, where IUCN members spent several days engaged in discussion and negotiation that would ultimately set the global conservation agenda for the next decade and beyond… Read the full article.
Project Highlight
Building Resilience Together: OPC’s New SB 1 Interactive Map
Sea level rise is one of California’s most urgent climate challenges. Rising seas threaten homes, roads, and infrastructure along our 1,100-mile coastline and the communities that depend on them. As tides reach higher and storms grow stronger, the need for coordinated, science-based planning has never been greater.
The Ocean Protection Council’s SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program helps local, regional, and tribal governments prepare for these changes. The program provides funding to develop plans and projects that strengthen community resilience to sea level rise. The goal is to ensure every coastal community—from Crescent City to Imperial Beach, and throughout the San Francisco Bay—has the tools and strategies needed to adapt.
To date, OPC has approved more than $29.75 million in SB 1 funding across six rounds of grants, supporting dozens of communities statewide, with the latest round approved by the Council at the September meeting. These efforts help ensure that local and regional plans align with statewide climate goals, creating a more resilient California coast for everyone.
To document this progress, OPC is launching a new interactive map that shows where SB 1-funded projects are taking place across the state. The map illustrates how OPC’s investments in sea level rise planning are distributed along the outer coast and San Francisco Bay, and identifies where additional funding is needed to achieve statewide resilience and meet the 2034 sea level rise planning requirement under SB 272.
Together, these investments are helping California plan ahead and ensure that coastal communities remain safe, resilient, and sustainable in the face of sea level rise.
The SB 1 Grant Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that directs billions of Cap-and-Invest dollars toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Staff Spotlight
Sarah Stangle, Administration and Finance Manager
Sarah joined OPC in February 2022. After two years as a Finance and Administrative Analyst at OPC, she advanced to the role of Administration and Finance Manager. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay. Outside of her professional life, she is a passionate traveler who enjoys exploring diverse cultures, as well as spending time outdoors and with her family.
“As the Administration and Finance Manager at OPC, I find the most meaning in being a reliable point of contact for our grantees and helping them navigate the administrative side of the grant and contract process. I really enjoy building those relationships and supporting our partners so they can focus on the important work they’re doing. It’s rewarding to know that even behind the scenes, I’m contributing to projects that make a real difference across the state.”
Photo of the Month
Have a stunning shot of California’s coast or ocean? Submit a photo to be featured as the Photo of the Month! Whether it’s a serene shoreline, vibrant marine life, or a captivating coastal sunset, share the beauty of our state’s coastline through your lens! Submit your photo.
Photo of the Month: Taylor Steigerwalt / California brown pelican at Crystal Cove State Park
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