The purpose of the National Ocean Economics Project (NOEP) is to create a web-based, public database reflecting all economic activities and natural resource assets related to the coast and coastal oceans. The objective is to provide the first comprehensive economic information system that reflects the value that the ocean and coastal zone adds to the US economy.
The Los Angeles Coastal Monitoring Network ~ Michael Bateman
The County of Los Angeles Fire Department, Lifeguard Division, in partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors and USC Sea Grant, has created a network of web cameras and meteorological instruments at beach sites. PDF
Situ Identification of Aquatic Microorganisms ~ David Caron
Recent advances in immunological and genetic approaches to identifying microorganisms in nature are now capable of providing accurate identification of many microbial entities of societal and ecological significance (e.g. harmful/toxic algal species; parasitic protozoa; pathogenic bacteria and viruses). PDF
Viruses in the Coastal Waters of Los Angeles ~ Jed Fuhrman
Waterborne viruses are a potential health hazard to bathers, surfers, divers and others, especially in Southern California, an urban area with numerous potential sources of inputs into coastal waters. PDF
Global Heartbeat: An Environmental Education Program ~ Tina Bishop, Peter Tuddenham, Michael Depledge
The College of Exploration (TCOE), in partnership with USC Sea Grant, has established the Global Heartbeat Program. The Global Heartbeat Program utilizes a special monitoring device in which the heart rate of crabs and mussels can be recorded under different environmental conditions to assess the ability of the animals to adapt to the environmental stress. PDF
Hydrological Budgets and Mixing in the Coastal Zone of Los Angeles and Orange Counties ~ Doug Hammond, Shangde Luo
Surface waters along the Southern California coast receive considerable inputs of contaminants and nutrients from terrestrial runoff, and possibly additional inputs from ground water flow. Predicting the impact and fate of these substances requires knowledge of the rates of mixing and transport in the coastal zone. PDF
An Ocean Sensing System for Storm Drains in Coastal Oceans ~ Rodolfo Iturriaga, Darek Bogucki
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that nonpoint source pollution is one of the major causes of the nation’s water quality problems. Runoff from streets and surfaces transports untreated contaminants directly into the ocean, constituting a major source of contamination and a health hazard in highly urbanized regions. PDF
Runoff and Storm Water Plumes in an Urban Coastal Region ~ Burt Jones
Both dry weather and storm water runoff from urban areas contribute to the contamination of the coastal ocean. Runoff contributes to frequent beach closures, acute toxicity during rainstorms, nutrient inputs (contributing to eutrophication) and accumulation of contaminants in the sediments. Determining the origin and fate of urban runoff and storm water is essential for creating management regimes that effectively protect the public and coastal ecosystems. PDF
The Los Angeles Virtual Ocean ~ Dale Kiefer, Simeon Ogle
Santa Monica Bay is a diverse environment covering 306 square miles of water and 414 square miles of watershed. It is home to over 9 million people, numerous habitats and over 5,000 species, some endangered. Its 72 miles of shoreline and 22 public beaches provide a vast recreational resource and major attraction to over 45 million visitors per year. There are enormous pressures on the health of Santa Monica Bay and its ecosystems. PDF
National Ocean Economics Project ~ Judith Kildow, Charles Colgan
Work over the past twenty years has demonstrated that it is possible to construct a framework of estimated economic valuation for the ocean. The National Ocean Economics Project (NOEP) is a very large-scale effort focused on producing a set of national income accounts for the ocean components of each of the coastal states and the overall U.S. economy. PDF
Tracing Organic Contaminants from the White's Point Outfall Effluent - Radioisotope Studies ~ Richard Ku, Eddy Zeng
Ocean sewage outfalls are major sources of contaminants to coastal ocean ecosystems. The sewage outfall method of dispersal has advantages in terms of economy and relative societal impact, but it also raises important concerns about seafood safety, public health, and ecosystem health and preservation. PDF
The Influence of Urban Coastal Development on the Movement Patterns and Abundance of Stingrays along Seal Beach California ~ Chris Lowe
The round stingray, Urobatis halleri, is the most common stingray found in Southern California waters. It typically inhabits sand or mud substratum off coastal beaches, bays and sloughs. The stingray gains its name from the poisonous serrated spine located towards the end of its tail, which it uses to defend itself, such as when it is stepped on by an unsuspecting human. PDF
National Geographic Magazine, December 2007 (PDF)
Changes in Species Abundances, Productivity, and Food Web Structures in Southern California Rocky Intertidal Communities Over a Period of Shifts in Oceanographic Climate and Increasing Urbanization ~ Steven Murray
As the human population residing in the coastal zone of the U.S. keeps growing, the coastal zone attracts scores of tourists, contributing significantly to coastal economies. The consequence of intense human utilization is that natural coastal habitats throughout the country are exposed to pressures resulting from human activity. PDF
Impacts of Rising Sea Level on Coastal Populations ~ Don Van Arsdol
Coastal areas now contain one half of the Earth’s population, and are vulnerable to sea level rise and to storm surges. Global warming estimates have recently been revised upwards; the links between human activities and global warming are now more certain, and are an increasing policy concern. PDF
