WRA Eelgrass Expert Contributes to New Coastal Habitat White Paper

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC), a cabinet-level council within the California Natural Resources Agency, recently published a new white paper on coastal habitat mapping in California. The report, Tracking Coastal Habitat Change Over Time: Considerations for a Statewide Mapping Program, prepared by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI, Publication No. 1246) and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP, Publication No. 1438). The report was developed with support from expert panels crafted by OPC, SFEI, and SCCWRP for each of the coastal habitat types assessed: coastal wetlands, beaches and dunes, eelgrass, and rocky intertidal.

WRA, Inc. Senior Marine Biologist and eelgrass survey lead, Liz Allen, was one of the experts tapped to contribute to the white paper’s chapter on Statewide eelgrass mapping strategies. The panel worked together to contribute habitat definition, current mapping best practices, and practical considerations for future mapping efforts.

The goal of this new report is to establish consistent habitat monitoring methods to support the development of Statewide coastal habitat inventories. These inventories, once developed, will help OPC track progress towards achieving goals identified in OPC’s new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.  The new plan, which was just approved by OPC in December 2025, includes ambitious goals to expand coastal habitats within California such as:

• Restore at least 7,000 acres of coastal wetlands by 2030;
• Restore at least 100 acres of native oyster beds by 2030;
• Restore at least 200 acres of eelgrass meadows by 2030; and
• Restore at least 2,000 acres of kelp forest by 2030.

This new white paper will also help support other State agencies in their mandates to track habitat acreages, such as those identified in 2022 State Assembly Bill 1757. 

WRA is honored to contribute to this important State initiative that will will help track habitat change, support climate targets, and guide resource managers in protecting our coast.

Contact Us

Learn more about WRA’s eelgrass services here. Contact Liz Allen to see how we can support your next project!