Clean Estuary Partnership

In December of 2002 Applied Marine Sciences was selected to coordinate the Clean Estuary Partnership (CEP). The CEP has been formed pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, and the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association. The Memorandum of Understanding reflects the belief of these agencies that a collaborative approach for developing TMDLs will be the most effective method for achieving sustainable water quality benefits for the Bay. The development of TMDLs for certain pollutants in San Francisco Bay is required because the Bay and its tributaries have been designated as impaired water bodies under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act [303(d) list].

The mission of the CEP is to use sound science, adaptive management, and public collaboration to develop and implement technically valid and cost-effective strategies including Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) that result in identifiable, sustainable water quality improvements for San Francisco Bay. Dr. Andrew Gunther, Vice-President of Applied Marine Sciences, is serving as Program Coordinator for the CEP. More information about the CEP is available at www.cleanestuary.org.