California Ocean Protection Council September 2026 Meeting

OPC Meeting Agenda Friday, September 18, 2026 Hybrid Meeting 1. Welcome, Introductions, and Council Member Updates Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Council Chair Note: The Chair's opening remarks were not recorded due to technical difficulties. 2. Update from the Executive Director Jenn Eckerle, Executive Director 3. Update from the Science Advisor Liz Whiteman, Ph.D., Executive Director, Ocean Science Trust 4. Informational Item: 2026 OPC Summer Internship 2026 Internship Cohort: Emma Kim, Dorian Marquez, Alysse Reyes, Connor Overton, Barron Nguyen (Stanford EPIC Fellow) Advancing Strategic Plan Goal 1: Build Resilience to Climate Change 5. Action Items Related to Sea Level Rise Adaptation (Strategic Plan Objective 1.1: Protect communities and ecosystems from the impacts of sea level rise, coastal storms, erosion, and flooding) 5a. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds for the Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program: Track 1 Planning Projects Nate Buchanan, California Sea Grant Fellow 5b. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds for the SB 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program: Track 2 Implementation Projects Sreeja Gopal, Ph.D., Coastal Habitats Program Manager 5c. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds for the SB 1 Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Program Justine Kimball, Ph.D., Senior Climate Change Program Manager (Supervisor) 6. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds to Advance Research and Management of Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH) and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) (Strategic Plan Objective 1.2: Limit causes and impacts of ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms) Kyla Kelly, Ph.D., Water Quality Program Manager Advancing Strategic Plan Goal 3: Safeguard Coastal and Marine Biodiversity 7. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds for Rapid Response to Protect Coastal and Marine Ecosystems During a Marine Heat Wave and Upcoming El Niño (Strategic Plan Objective 3.3: Restore vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems) Katie Cieri, Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture Program Manager 8. Action Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds to Develop a Statewide Wildfire Monitoring Strategy (Strategic Plan Objective 3.4: Protect and improve coastal and marine water quality) Michael Esgro, Senior Biodiversity Program Manager & Tribal Liaison (Supervisor) Consent 9. Consent Item: Consideration and Approval of Disbursement of Funds to Better World Group to Support Implementation of the OPC Equity Plan (Strategic Plan Goal 2: Maximize Community Benefits and Stewardship) Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items & Meeting Close 10. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items 11. Arrangements for Next Meeting and Adjournment Tuesday, December 8, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. CNRA Auditorium and Zoom participation available. For meeting materials and summary visit: https://opc.ca.gov/2026/08/ocean-prot... *** Visit our website: http://www.opc.ca.gov Follow us on social media! http://www.bit.ly/OPC_Instagram http://www.bit.ly/OPC_Twitter http://www.bit.ly/OPC_LinkedIn http://www.bit.ly/OPC_YouTube http://www.bit.ly/OPC_Facebook https://bit.ly/OPC_BlueSky Subscribe to our email newsletter to stay updated on Council meetings, events, job opportunities, and other ways to get involved and stay informed: http://www.bit.ly/OPC-EMAIL