Click on a category below or scroll down to browse all publications.
Recreation and Visitor Guides
Annual Reports and Program Publications
Resident Resources and Bay-Friendly Living
State of the Bay Conferences and Reports
Print-only publications are available at the Estuary Program offices in addition to a limited number of historical reference materials. Please contact the office at (805)772-3834 for additional information.
Recreation and Visitor Guides
Common Birds of the Morro Bay Estuary (424k)
Birding is easy and fun for all. This simple guide helps identify the most commonly seen birds within the bay.
Morro Bay Estuary Visitor's Map
An estuary and watershed map including public access locations, public lands and an overview of estuary ecology, threats and solutions.
Historic Walking Tour
Walking tour brochure highlighting downtown historical buildings and sites of interest.
Resident Resources and Bay-Friendly Living
Bayside Living Guide (entire document 18MB)
A great guide for bayside residents with dozen of ways to help keep the estuary clean and healthy!
Download by section: Table of Contents and Credits (2mb)
Estuary and Watershed Introduction (1mb)
Bay-Friendly Home (5mb)
Septic System Care (1.5mb)
Bay-Friendly Garden (4mb)
Bay-Friendly Vehicle (1.5mb)
Bay-Friendly Pets (1.5mb)
Protecting Bayside Habitats (1mb)
Reference Websites and Phone Numbers (.5mb)
Take a quiz to assess how bay-friendly you are!
San Luis Obispo Guide to the Use of Graywater
A resource for installing home-based graywater systems. Created by SLO Green Build with the help of a MBNEP mini-grant.
Download the complete guide (2.6MB)
Errata
Perc Test Worksheet
System Operation Manual Form
San Luis Obispo County Homeowner's Guide to Rainwater Management for Low Impact Development (3.2 MB)
Useful guide to assist homeowners to evaluate, test and design systems to retain rainwater on their property, avoiding runoff pollution issues. Includes 'recipe cards' for swales, rain gardens, green roofs and more. Created by SLO Green Build with help of a MBNEP mini-grant.
Estuary and Watershed Ecology
Atlas of Sensitive Species of the Morro Bay Area
This exhaustive guide includes photos and a written description of species of special concern found in and around the Morro Bay Estuary. Created by Morro Bay State Park staff with the help of a MBNEP mini-grant. Copies can also be purchased at www.lulu.com
Atlas of Sensitive Species (28 mb)
Flora and Fauna Guides for the Morro Bay Area
Each guide includes both photos and a written description of species found in and around the Morro Bay Estuary. Created by Morro Bay State Park staff with the help of a MBNEP mini-grant. Copies of the plant and butterfly guides can also be purchased at www.lulu.com.
Amphibians and Reptiles (2.7 mb)
Mammals (less than 1mb)
Birds (1 mb)
Butterflies (2.8 mb)
Fish (less than 1mb)
Flora (11.5 mb)
State of the Bay Conferences and reports
Estuary Tidings: A Report on the Health of the Morro Bay Estuary
Estuary Tidings 2010(full document)Download the document by section:
Introdution/Why is the of the Morro Bay Estuary Important?
Is the bay clean enough to support commercial shellfish farming?
Is Morro Bay safe for swimming? Are creeks safe for recreational contact?
Does water quality in creek and bay support fish and aquatic life?
Does Morro Bay support healthy eelgrass beds?
Are important habitats being protected, enhanced and restored?
Is the bay filling in at an unnatural rate?
Are the bird populations that depend on bay habitat stable?
Does the estuary and watershed support a healthy population of steelhead trout?
Pavement and Pollution: Impervious Surface in the Watershed
Conclusion
Estuary Tidings 2006 (full document 5 MB)
Download the document by section:
Introdution/Why is the Health of the Morro Bay Estuary Important?
Is the bay clean enough to support commercial shellfish farming?
Are the creeks and bay safe for swimming?
Does creek and bay water quality support aquatic life?
Does the bay support healthy eelgrass beds?
Is the bay filling in at an unnatural rate?
Are important habitats being protected and restored?
Are bay bird populations stable?
Do the estuary and watershed support a healthy population of steelhead trout?
Conclusion/Summary
5 Best Places to Enjoy the Estuary/5 Best Ways to Learn about the Estuary
2010 State of the Bay Video Link
2003 State of the Bay Proceedings (313k)
Annual Reports and Program Publications
2012 Annual Report (1.43 MB)
Pennington Creek Monitoring Story
2011 Annual Report
Print resolution (12.1 MB)
Screen resolution (1.85 MB)
Making a Difference (10 MB)
A full-color outreach piece that highlights Estuary Program partnership and accomplishments.2003-4
2003-04 Annual Report (1mb)