CWC works with agencies on water quality and monitoring issues, offers services to groups and the public, including technical assistance, reference documents and protocols, provides specialized trainings in stream monitoring, and facilitates and supports goals and activities of watershed groups.

Advocacy efforts of CWC include involvement in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Conservation Working Group and contact with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program. CWC also keeps abreast of state and federal watershed conservation efforts and policy reforms and works with existing conservation organizations to develop educational and outreach materials on local watersheds.

Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network

THE MONTEREY BAY MARINE SANCTUARY CITIZEN WATERSHED MONITORING NETWORK represents active monitoring groups who regularly test the health of Sanctuary waters and watersheds. The Center for Marine Conservation and the Coastal Watershed Council coordinate the Network, which helps facilitate the work of community monitoring groups. Specific objectives of the Network include the following:

• increase public participation in monitoring the health of local waters;
• provide guidance, training and other assistance to citizen monitoring groups;
• provide a forum for monitoring groups to meet;
• increase the amount and quality of citizen monitoring data;
• increase access to citizen monitoring data;
• develop standardized protocols for collecting, storing and analyzing data;
• increase public stewardship of local waters;
• educate the general public about the state of their local coastal waterways; and
• link citizen monitors with government agencies who may use citizen data.

ACTIVE MEMBERS of the Citizen Watershed Monitoring Network include volunteers from local conservation organizations, schools, universities and agencies. These groups monitor waterways throughout the Central Coast , addressing both fresh waters and estuarine and marine waters.