Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	Lower Newport Bay Harbor Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Region	Southwest
State	CA
Location	Newport Bay
Date of this update	November 23, 1999

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

Due to watershed and local environmental impacts, less than 3 acres of eelgrass are thought to currently occur in lower Newport Bay and none in Upper Bay. If adverse conditions occur, the overall health of eelgrass and the associated community may be in jeopardy. The purpose of this project is to increase eelgrass habitat in Lower Newport Bay. As such, the local sponsor has recommended 14 sites to be investigated for restoration opportunities. To determine the overall suitability for an eelgrass restoration transplant, dive reconnaissance surveys will be conducted to inventory and evaluate existing biological, physical and chemical conditions. Based on these findings, potential transplant sites will be ranked for feasibility. Those sites determined suitable and feasible for restoration efforts will be planted with eelgrass. Post construction monitoring will be conducted to assess project success.

It is thought that a modest expansion of eelgrass habitat will increase fish and invertebrate abundance and diversity, provide nursery habitat for important species, increase the productivity of the ecosystem, increase the food base for fish eating birds and reduce sediment erosion.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

Shallow water, soft-bottom habitats that are devoid of eelgrass beds are far less productive than eelgrass meadows. As a primary producer, eelgrass fixes carbon at rates that are equivalent to or exceed the rates of the most intensively farmed agriculture crops, thus reducing excess nutrient loads in the water. Eelgrass beds also stabilize sediments and reduce shoreline erosion.

If eelgrass habitat in Lower Newport Bay is restored, the overall productivity of the ecosystem is expected to increase. Fishes such as pipefish, kelpfish, shiner surfperch, and barred sand bass will increase in abundance. Other species such as topsmelt and surfperch will concentrate in these areas because of the foraging opportunities provided by the high productivity. The juvenile stages of species such as California spiny lobster, barred sand bass, and California halibut will find shelter in the eelgrass meadows. It is possible that the nursery opportunities provided by these eelgrass beds will help in the recovery of California spiny lobster and California halibut, two commercially important species whose populations have decreased dramatically in the last 20 years. Fish eating birds such as terns, gulls and California brown pelicans will find an increase forage base in the eelgrass meadows. An increase in the forage base for these birds may increase the success of this colony. The increase in eelgrass habitat in Lower Newport Bay will decrease the chances of eliminating the habitat from the system, especially during exceptionally wet winters such as 1969 and 1997/98. Total estimated cost to date: $260,000

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

	  Cash	Federal - $10,000
			Non Federal 	State government
					Local government
					Private industry
					Public interest groups
			Total


	  In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar 	value)
	
	  Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:Dec. 1998
• Completion date: June 2005
• Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C) U

10.Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments