Monthly Newsletter - California Coast and Ocean News - January 2026

Monthly Newsletter – California Coast and Ocean News – January 2026

What’s Happening

Press Release: West Coast Governors United Against Trump’s Disastrous Offshore Drilling Plan

Sacramento, January 23, 2026 – Governor Newsom, along with Governors Tina Kotek of Oregon and Bob Ferguson of Washington, submitted formal opposition to the Trump administration’s plan to open the California coast to new offshore oil and gas drilling. The three governors submitted a joint comment letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing the inclusion of any new oil and gas lease sales off California’s coast. Learn more and read the press release.

Join the 30×30 Movement as an Ambassador – Application Deadline Extended to February 1, 2026

Do you want to get more involved with California’s ambitious conservation goals and help protect our state’s coast and ocean? The California Natural Resources Agency is inviting community leaders across the state to join the 30×30 movement and help accelerate the conservation of our lands and coastal waters. As a 30×30 Ambassador, you’ll have the opportunity to amplify OPC’s work to protect our treasured coastal and marine biodiversity, sharing our vision, progress, and opportunities to get involved with diverse audiences across the state. Learn more and apply to be an Ambassador.

Webinar: Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Research – February 11, 2026

A public webinar sharing findings from four OPC and California Sea Grant-funded research projects addressing ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) in coastal California will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Join us to learn how researchers are addressing OAH in coastal California to provide state resource management agencies and local jurisdictions with data necessary to protect marine biodiversity and water quality, advance coastal adaptation efforts, and support resilient fisheries. Register for the webinar.

Call for Tribal Representatives on the Marine Protected Area Statewide Leadership Team – Nominations extended through February 27, 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 and submit an MSLT nomination.

Ocean Protection Council Meeting – March 23, 2026 – Teleconference and Public Forum

The next Council Meeting will be Monday, March 23, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This meeting is a hybrid meeting via Zoom and at the California Natural Resources Agency Headquarters Auditorium in Sacramento. The agenda and meeting materials are anticipated to be available on March 13. Visit the Council Meeting webpage for updates.

Survey: Tracking Impacts of Federally Funded Programs on California’s Coast and Ocean

An ongoing 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

SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program

Funding is available for three separate tracks to support sea level rise planning and adaptation projects:

Track 1: Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Projects. The next proposal deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026. Learn more on the SB 1 Grant Program webpage.
Track 2: Sea Level Rise Implementation Projects is now open. Letters of Intent are due Friday, February 20, 2026. See the Track 2: Sea Level Rise Implementation Project Solicitation (PDF) for details on this funding opportunity.
SB 1 Sea Level Rise Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Program’s next proposal deadline is Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Ocean Acidification, Hypoxia, and Harmful Algal Bloom Solicitation Now Open – Letters of Intent due March 6, 2026

OPC is pleased to announce the release of a California Climate Investments solicitation: Monitoring, Research, and Modeling to Support Ocean Acidification, Hypoxia, and Marine Harmful Algal Bloom Management in California.

An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 and office hours on Thursday, February 12. Letters of intent (LOI) are due Friday, March 6. See the solicitation announcement for details.

We’re Hiring

OPC is Hiring – Join Our Team!

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring three (3) Environmental Scientists to advance strategic priorities related to OPC’s mission and the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians. Each role will also be responsible for supporting California Natural Resources Agency’s (CNRA) policy initiatives, which include embedding equity and environmental justice into programs and actions to support statewide efforts to enhance, protect, and restore biodiversity and increase coastal resilience. Learn more about all 3 positions and apply online.

Dive In

King Tides in California: What We Saw, What They Mean, and How They Help Us Prepare for the Future

In early January 2026, communities along California’s coast and around San Francisco Bay experienced exceptionally high tides known as king tides. Some of these tides were among the highest seen in decades, leading to flooding in streets, parks, and public spaces. While disruptive, these events offered a clear, real-world preview of the kinds of coastal flooding that could become more common as sea levels continue to rise.

Read the full article.

Project Highlight

Snapshot Cal Coast: Celebrating a Decade of Community Science on the California Coast

In 2025, Snapshot Cal Coast celebrated 10 years of community engagement and biodiversity monitoring, highlighting the lasting value of community science. Over the past decade, Snapshot Cal Coast has empowered tens of thousands of volunteers to build one of the most comprehensive databases of plants and animals along the state’s shoreline – turning everyday Californians into scientists and providing valuable data to resource managers.

The program, led by the California Academy of Sciences, invites people across the state to document coastal biodiversity using the iNaturalist app. Every summer, participants record observations in rocky intertidal areas, sandy beaches, wetlands, and other coastal habitats, creating a shared “snapshot” of life along California’s coast and filling important gaps between limited scientific surveys. These observations are then carefully reviewed by experts to ensure scientific accuracy.

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has supported Snapshot Cal Coast as part of its investment in the Dynamic Observatory of Biodiversity (DOB), an early-warning and forecasting system that combines community science observations, long-term monitoring, and ocean models to produce real-time indicators of biodiversity change along the California coast. By supporting this work, OPC is helping ensure California has access to timely, place-based information that can supplement scientific monitoring, inform management decisions, and ultimately strengthen the state’s ability to anticipate and respond to environmental change. This approach aligns with OPC’s goals to protect biodiversity, build climate resilience, and use the best available science to guide action.

Just as importantly, Snapshot Cal Coast connects people to the coast in a hands-on and accessible way, empowering Californians of all ages and backgrounds to contribute to real scientific knowledge while building stewardship.

Staff Spotlight

Jikara Anderson, Administration and Finance Analyst

Jikara joined OPC as an Administration and Finance Analyst in April 2025. Before OPC, she was the concierge of the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters building and a Staff Services Analyst in the Fiscal Policy and Analysis Bureau for the California Department of Social Services. Jikara holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Labor Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). In addition, she is a published article writer with the UCSB Law Journal, and she was a writing tutor for UCSB students during her time as an undergraduate. In her free time, she enjoys volunteer tutoring, making jewelry, and paddleboarding.

“As an Administration and Finance Analyst, I enjoy the rewarding experience of helping manage the vital operations of OPC’s projects. It is an honor to actively see the value and significance of the purposeful work funded by OPC. I enjoy ensuring our grantees receive the resources they need to execute the mission of protecting California’s coast, ocean, and people. Specifically, I admire OPC’s focus on equity, such as the Tribal Engagement program and highlighting environmental justice for all communities. I also would like to mention the Ocean Protection Council Meetings, where the public and leadership can come together to reflect and discuss pressing topics of the land and sea.”

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: Billy Davis / Harbor seal in the waters off Corona del Mar, Newport Beach

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