PROGRAM DESIGN
Designing Solutions for Ocean Protection
A Data-Driven Approach to Safeguard Monterey Bay’s Beneficial Uses

OUR WORK
The CCLEAN program is meticulously designed to protect the ocean’s beneficial uses around Monterey Bay. By analyzing potential water quality stressors identified in scientific research and reports, CCLEAN has crafted a program that determines the sources, loads, and effects of contaminants being discharged into the ocean.
Potential pollutant sources to Monterey Bay include rivers, streams, and municipal wastewater. CCLEAN measures loads of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and nutrients from these sources and monitors concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria and nutrients in coastal streams. The potential effects of these pollutants are assessed by sampling mussel tissues, ocean waters, and sediment and biological communities along the 80-meter contour, where fine sediment particles from land have accumulated over thousands of years.
CCLEAN PRIORITIES
Focused Efforts for a Sustainable Monterey Bay
At the heart of CCLEAN’s mission is a commitment to preserving the ecological integrity of Monterey Bay. Our priorities are guided by a deep understanding of the region’s environmental needs and a dedication to sustainable practices.
Protection of Aquatic Habitats & Natural Wildlife
Ensuring the health of Monterey Bay’s ecosystems.
Informed, Engaged & Responsible Community
Building awareness and fostering stewardship
Improve Ocean Waters and Sediments
Enhancing water quality and reducing pollution
CCLEAN Program Elements
Effluent sampling includes collection of 30-day flow proportioned samples twice per year (i.e., in the wet season and in the dry season) and once per year during the dry season in Watsonville influent for analysis of POPs. The collection of 30-day flow proportioned samples of effluent and Watsonville influent is accomplished by using programmable ISCO 3700 samplers. Dry-season influent and effluent samples are collected with the ISCO equipment during the months of July–November and wet-season effluent samples are collected during the months of February-March. Effluent and Watsonville influent grab samples are also collected and analyzed for various constituents including nutrients, fipronils, neonicotinoids, and pyrethroids. The objective of this sampling component is to estimate the loads of these constituents introduced to Monterey Bay.
Mussel sampling consists of collecting mussels once a year during the wet season for analysis of POPs, current-use pesticide, and bacteria. The objective of this program element is to determine the extent to which humans and sea otters might be exposed to POPs, CECs, and pathogens from consumed components of the food web.
Once per year during the dry season, sediment grabs are taken from 8 sites around Monterey Bay to analyze POPs, total organic carbon (TOC), and grain size. Benthic infauna are also analyzed in the Bay once every 5 years.
The objectives of this program component are to measure concentrations of POPs in sediments where the sediments are most likely to be deposited after washing off the land and out of rivers, and the effects of POPs on benthic infauna.
Ocean buoys are deployed twice per year for 30-day periods at a site in northern Monterey Bay and at a site in southern Monterey Bay. The buoys contain sampling equipment that collects time-integrated samples of POPs using the same particle filters and columns packed with XAD-2 resin as used in the wastewater sampling. Grab samples are also collected from each site at buoy deployment and buoy retrieval for analysis of bacteria, nutrients, and TSS. The objective of this program component is to determine the status and trends of contaminants in nearshore waters of Monterey Bay and whether ocean waters comply with the California Ocean Plan.
Rivers discharging into Monterey Bay have been found to contribute significant loads of pollutants to ocean waters. Grab samples at river sites are analyzed in the wet and dry seasons for nutrients, TSS, PFAS, fipronils, neonicotinoids, and pyrethroids. The objective of this program component is to quantify the concentrations of pollutants and the annual loads entering Monterey Bay from river discharges.
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Evolving to Meet New Challenges
CCLEAN is adaptively managed to make the best use of budgetary resources and address emerging environmental issues. The CCLEAN Steering Committee oversees this adaptive management process, ensuring that the program evolves to meet new management needs and tackle prominent issues affecting beneficial uses in the region.

River Monitoring
CCLEAN’s monitoring of contaminant loads from Salinas and Carmel rivers was ceased in 2007 so that program participants would not be required to fund sampling of constituents that they could not control. In 2021, all sampling in Carmel River was ceased due to the very small annual contaminant loads discharged to nearshore waters.

Expanded PCB Analysis
To better identify sources of high PCB concentrations in Monterey Bay, CCLEAN expanded its analysis from 71 to 209 PCB congeners in 2012, providing a more comprehensive understanding of PCB pollutant sources.

Sediment Sampling
Due to the longer time needed to detect trends in biological communities relative to pollutant concentrations, annual sediment sampling was reduced in 2009 to six of the eight historic stations, while benthic infauna sampling frequency was reduced to every five years.

Implementation of Modified EPA Assay
A modified EPA assay was implemented in 2009 to measure specific reproductive endocrine disrupting activity in effluent wastewater, providing more detailed insights into the effects of wastewater discharges.

Effluent Pollutant Data for Estimation of Annual Loads Pyrethroids, Fipronils, and Neonicotinoids added
CCLEAN’s effluent pollutant data are used to calculate annual loads of pollutants discharged to Monterey Bay. In 2014, new analytes were added to the program’s assessment to provide a more complete inventory of pollutants entering the Bay.

Reduced Mussel Sampling
In 2007, mussel tissue sampling was reduced from twice per year to annual wet-season
index period, optimizing resources while maintaining data quality.