As part of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit Regional Monitoring requirements, the City is required to participate in the Region Nine Kelp Survey Consortium (RNKSC). Kelp canopy monitoring has been conducted on behalf of the RNKSC by MBC Aquatic Sciences (Costa Mesa, CA) since 1983, and for the Central Region Kelp Survey Consortium (CRKSC) since 2003. These joint surveys cover all coastal kelp beds from Ventura River to the USA/Mexico border, representing 81% of the southern California mainland coast (220 of 270 miles). The aerial extent of surface canopy of each kelp bed is determined on a quarterly basis, and results are summarized in annual reports (see links below).

Available Reports

• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2021 and 2022
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2021
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2020
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2019
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2018
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2017
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2016
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2015
• Status of the Kelp Beds in 2014

For additional reports, meeting recordings, maps, etc, please check out MBC’s SoCal Kelp Consortium website.