A public agency applying next-generation science to aquatic ecosystems management - Since 1969 - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project

Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia

Researchers are documenting how corrosive coastal ocean conditions and low dissolved oxygen levels threaten the health of marine food webs.

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Bioanalytical Cell Screening Assays

Researchers are investigating how to adapt cell bioassays as a cost-effective screening tool to improve monitoring of bioactive chemical contaminants in aquatic systems.

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Harmful Algal Blooms

SCCWRP and its research partners are examining how to mitigate the proliferation of ecologically disruptive blooms in aquatic systems that threaten the health of wildlife and humans.

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The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) is an aquatic sciences research institute that works to improve management of aquatic systems in Southern California and beyond. Since its founding as an intergovernmental public agency in 1969, SCCWRP has been developing strategies, tools and technologies that the region’s water-quality management community relies on to more effectively protect and enhance the ecological health of Southern California’s coastal ocean and watersheds that drain to it. As an R&D agency, SCCWRP’s reputation is built on conducting research and translating this science into actionable guidance and recommendations that inform management decision-making and policy development.

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SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -
SCCWRP Commission meeting -

Stein, E.D., B. Bledsoe, E. Fassman-Beck, J. Hathaway, S. Struck. 2025. Application of Nature-Based Solutions for Temperature Management Santa Clara River Case Study: Summary of Expert Panel Workshop May 5-8, 2024. Technical Report 1418. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA.

W Lao. 2025. Postprocessing methods based on minimum detectable amount and method blank for data reporting of particle count and refining estimation of matrix spike recovery in environmental microplastics analysis. Chemosphere

Lao, W., X. Shang, S. Yu, H. Xiao, Y. Lou, C. Song, J. You. 2025. Evaluation of multilayer co-extrusion film and other three plastic membranes as passive samplers for determination of polyhalogenated carbazoles in water. Water Research DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123266.

Vasselon, V., S.F. Rivera, E. Acs, S.F.P. Almeida, K.B. Andree, L. Apotheloz-Perret-Gentil, B. Bailet, A. Baricevic, K.K. Beentjes, J. Bettig, A. Bouchez, C. Capelli, C. Chardon, M. Duleba, T. Elersek, C. Genthon, M. Jablonska, L. Jacas, M. Kahlert, M.G. Kelly, J.N. Macher, F. Mauri, M. Moletta-Denat, A. Mortagua, J. Pawlowski, J. Perez-Burillo, M. Pfannkuchen, E. Pilgrim, P. Pissaridou, F. Rimet, K. Stanic, K. Tapolczai, S. Theroux, R. Trobajo, B. Van der Hoorn, M.I. Vasquez, M. Vidal, D. Wanless, J. Warren, J. Zimmermann, B. Paix. 2025. Proficiency testing and cross-laboratory method comparison to support standardisation of diatom DNA metabarcoding for freshwater biomonitoring. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics