The Estuary Program depends on the efforts of many partners including non-profits, businesses, volunteers, municipalities and agencies, to accomplish our shared goals of protecting and restoring the estuary and the watershed.
This unusual collaboration relies on a small full-time staff and a network of committees to move the program forward. The Executive Committee provides the general policy direction for the program, monitors activities, assesses progress, and approves grant requests. The Executive Committee is advised by the Implementation Committee, which includes representatives of dozens of agencies and community organizations.
Implementation Committee and community members also serve on three working groups that focus on science and technical issues, financial planning and funding, and education and outreach projects. Anyone interested in these topics and willing to devote the time may participate on a working group.
The fiscal sponsor for the Estuary Program is the Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation is an all-volunteer board of trustees, providing the administrative framework for the Estuary Program. The Bay Foundation applies for grants, manages the program's funding, and employs the staff.
Quarterly meetings of the Implementation Committee and Executive Committee, as well as the Bay Foundation's monthly meetings, are open to the public. In addition, the Estuary Program holds occasional public meetings on topics of interest to the community.
Executive Committee Members
Marshall Ochylski
Los Osos CSD Director
Los Osos Community Service District
Noah Smukler
Morro Bay City Council
City of Morro Bay
Mike Bush
San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Implementation Committee Chair
Bruce Gibson
Board of Supervisors
San Luis Obispo County
Suzanne Marr
US Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Government
Gary Ruggerone
Bay Foundation President
Bay Foundation of Morro Bay
Holly Slettland
Morro Coast Audubon Society
Environmental Interests
Dominic Roques
Central Coast RWQCB
State Government
Sam Schuchat
State Coastal Conservancy
At Large Government
Dave Alford
Local Rancher
Agricultural Interests
Dean Sullivan
Small Business Owner
Tourism/Recreation Interests
Sharon Rowley
Central Coast Women for Fisheries
Fishing Interests
Dean Wendt
Cal Poly State University/SLOSEA
Science and Research
Bay Foundation Boardmembers
Gary Ruggerone, President
Shaunna Sullivan, Vice-President
Bill Henry, Secretary
Bob Semonsen, Treasurer
Rick Algert
Gary Karner
Joel Neel
Greg Smith
Implementation Committee
The Implementation Committee consists of multiple partner organizations
and interested citizens. Groups represented include:
Ca. Conservation Corps
Cal Poly
State Parks
Camp SLO
SLO Botanical Garden
NOAA
County of SLO
Land Conservancy of SLO
Morro Bay Harbor Dept.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
CAPE (Coastal Alliance on Plant Expansion)
Department of Fish & Game
Bay Foundation
Morro Coast Audubon Society
Sierra Club
Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (CSLRCD) State Parks Cal Poly
MB Yacht Club
The San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA)
Interested citizens and more...
For several decades, the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District (RCD) has assisted land users and local government officials to achieve soil and water resource management objectives in the Morro Bay watershed. The RCD is involved in a variety of programs to provide technical expertise to farmers and ranchers, educational programs for the general public and coordination of local government and agencies. The RCD was a strong supporter and proponent for designating Morro Bay as a state estuary and the eventual inclusion into the federal National Estuary Program. The watershed is a dynamic system that requires a constant vigilance. The presence of the Estuary Program has broadened and expanded the scope of work to protect and/or rehabilitate natural resources so vital to a healthy environment. Over the years, our close working partnership with the Estuary Program in projects and programs has meant a valuable and substantial increase in the ability to provide services that strive to improve water quality and soil stabilization through Best Management Practices installation.
Linda Chipping,
President of the Board
Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District