Mailbag: Learn how to protect estuaries, ocean

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Many ask, "What is an estuary?" The simplest answer is, "A place where fresh water and salt water meet." The tidal mouth of any river is an estuary. Local residents are lucky to have in their midst the largest remaining natural estuary in Southern California, the Back Bay, which stretches from Pacific Coast Highway to Jamboree Road near the Corona del Mar (73) Freeway. Many people come to enjoy the beautiful scenery, but few realize its ecological importance and the threats posed to it by human activities in the watershed.

The Back Bay is an important rest stop and/or winter home for birds migrating from Canada and Alaska, and a nesting area for summer migrants and year-round residents. The bay is also a spawning ground and nursery for many commercial and sports fish, including halibut and bass. The Back Bay, or Upper Bay, additionally plays a huge part in protecting the recreational boating infrastructure of the Lower Bay and the beaches of Newport Beach.

An area of 150 square miles of urban Orange County drains through the Upper Bay to the Lower Bay and then out to the ocean. Surface water runoff from this watershed brings with it trash and toxic chemicals and other less-obvious pollutants, including fertilizers, bacteria and other pathogens, and sediment. Excess fertilizer can cause algae blooms — proliferations of both large seaweed mats and microscopic plant plankton — which can eventually lead to oxygen depletion in the water causing marine life to die. High levels of bacteria in the water lead to health warnings and beach closures within the Upper and Lower Bays and along the coast impacting tourism and local recreational use. The Back Bay provides a natural treatment system for these pollutants, but it can easily be overwhelmed.

The mission of the Newport Bay Conservancy is to protect and preserve Upper Newport Bay. We conduct restoration and education programs in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game, OC Parks, the city of Newport Beach and other organizations. A key message we all give to those living many miles inland is that the ocean really does begin at their front door.

Estuary Awareness Day, held every year at the Back Bay Science Center, is a great opportunity for people to learn what they can do at home to protect estuaries, the ocean and the environment. Come join us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. This is a chance to tour the facility, which is normally only open to those taking part in scheduled programs.

This year, we are pleased to showcase roughly 30 poster and multimedia exhibits presented by over 150 students from Costa Mesa High School, Santa Ana High School, Century High School and El Rancho High School. These impassioned students have been participating in a yearlong environmental stewardship program organized by the Newport Bay Conservancy and funded by the Sempra Energy Foundation Environmental Champions Initiative.

The students will be sharing many solutions they have devised to reduce the amount of trash and other pollutants associated with urban runoff and promote natural resource conservation in their neighborhoods. Some students have created public service announcements, others have working models showing how trash dumped inland arrives at the ocean. Still others have native plant displays that they use to promote more sustainable landscaping that uses less water, less fertilizer and less pesticides.

During the event you can:

• See sharks, rays and other fish found in the bay.

• Touch sea stars and other marine critters.

• Take a guided tour of the Back Bay on the Newport Sea Base's pontoon boat.

• Find out how the OC Health Care Agency examines water samples to check for bacteria.

Parking, admission and activities are free. Refreshments are available. For directions and more information, go to http://www.newportbay.org.

Roger Mallett

Newport Bay Conservancy

Newport Beach