Coastkeeper, in partnership with the Back Bay Science Center and the California Department of Fish and Game, have worked since 2008 to protect critical eelgrass habitat in Newport Bay by combining public education with research with the opportunity for long-term restoration.

The First Step: Eelgrass Education

Purpose: To incorporate an aquatic plant and wetland ecology and restoration component to the Back Bay Science Center Education Program, offering hands-on activities for local schools and the community at large.

• Coastkeeper has developed a curriculum based on California Content Standards and Environmental Principles and Concepts targeted for junior and high school Life Science and Biology classes
• Students and teachers at the college, high school and junior high school levels regularly participate in the collection and cultivation of eelgrass at the BBSC, recording of observations of eelgrass growth and survival, identification of species associated with our eelgrass, and monitoring of water quality within the eelgrass trough and tanks.

Eelgrass Field Trips During the 2010-2011 School Year:

• Estancia High School – Mark Cygan (Teacher), 173 Marine Science students
• Santa Ana High School – Sue Grasse and Darryl Killion, 90 Earth Science Students
• Rancho Alamitos HS – Janet Ewell, 40 English as a Second Language (ESL) students
• Rancho Alamitos HS – Michael Loftis, 20 ESL students and Kathleen Andrews, 8 Special Education students
• May 24: Godinez HS, Lisa Morgan’s Anatomy students
• May 26: Godinez HS
• May 31: Stacey Middle School, Tina Dandridge and Dana Faulkner’s 6^th grade students
• June 1: Stacey MS
• June 2: Stacey MS

The Second Step: Eelgrass Cultivation & Research

UCI Interns with our eelgrass tank!

Purpose: The research component adds a unique benefit to our education program, as our students will participate in an ongoing environmental science project. It will also attempt to answer critical questions in the future conservation, management, and restoration of eelgrass in Newport Bay.

Goals of Education and Research

• Increased interest and academic achievement in science for Orange County students
• Increase in community awareness of the importance of eelgrass in Newport Bay
• Long-term protection and restoration of eelgrass habitat in Newport Bay

What Have We Learned?

• Eelgrass cultivation is challenging, but possible in UNB
• Students have significantly benefitted from hands-on environmental science experience
• In order to make a larger impact on the community and increase public awareness and concern we need to:
  • Expand our existing eelgrass cultivation and research project
  • Host educational Newport Bay community events
  • Use what we have learned to restore eelgrass habitat in Upper Newport Bay

What’s Next?

The Upper Newport Bay Eelgrass Restoration Project

• City of Newport Beach
• Coastal Resources Management, Inc.
• California Department of Fish and Game
• Back Bay Science Center

Long Term Restoration Goals:

1. Establish sustainable eelgrass habitat in Upper Newport Bay
2. Evaluate success of multiple restoration methods
3. Develop site-selection and success criteria for future restoration projects
4. Develop a sustainable community eelgrass restoration education and outreach program at the Back Bay Science Center

Generous funding support for Eelgrass Education by:

Next Page: What Is Eelgrass?