Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program

SMBNEP is one of 28 National Estuary Programs created by Congress in 1987 under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act to restore and protect these coastal waters. Each locally based National Estuary Program consists of diverse stakeholders and develops yearly work plans, building consensus around local, state, and federal actions to improve the health of our estuaries. SMBNEP is comprised of and implemented by two distinct entities: Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (non-regulatory Management Conference) and The Bay Foundation (non-profit Host Entity).

Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission is a non-regulatory, locally based state entity established by an act of the California Legislature in 2002 to monitor, assess, coordinate, and advise the activities of state programs and oversee funding that affects the beneficial uses, restoration and enhancement of Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds. Serving as the Management Conference for SMBNEP, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission is comprised of the Governing Board, Executive Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Santa Monica Bay Stakeholders, and staff. For more information, visit www.smbrc.ca.gov.

The Bay Foundation (TBF) is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1990. The mission of TBF is to restore and enhance Santa Monica Bay through actions and partnerships that improve water quality, conserve and rehabilitate natural resources, and protect the Bay’s benefits and values (https://www.santamonicabay.org/). Serving as Host Entity for SMBNEP, TBF receives an annual federal grant from U.S. EPA pursuant to section 320 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1330) to implement the CCMP. TBF also receives important grants and donations from other entities to support TBF and its implementation of the CCMP.