Areas of Special Biological Significance

Protecting Critical Marine Ecosystems

In an effort to preserve biologically unique and sensitive marine ecosystems for future generations, California designated thirty-four regions along the coast in the 1970s as "Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)."

Since 1983, the State Water Board's Ocean Plan has officially prohibited all waste discharges, both point and nonpoint, into ASBSs. However, in 2003 the State Water Board found that despite this prohibition, discharges into ASBS were pervasive. This finding prompted a statewide survey that in 2003 found 1,654 potential violations, the majority of which were storm drains emptying directly into an ASBS. Read the 2006 ASBS Status Report for more information.  The State Water Board is now reviewing applications by many dischargers for exceptions to the Ocean Plan to allow continued pollution releases into ASBSs.  Download the State Water Board's draft proposed exceptions to the ASBS pollution discharge ban, and the most recent comments submitted by CCKA and NRDC in response to the proposed SWRCB effort to allow continued pollution into these sensitive areas. 

CCKA developed the interactive map below to highlight the known pollutants threatening these important marine habitats.  Explore the links below to learn more about each unique ASBS; also, download a fact sheet (at right) or visit the State Water Board ASBS page.  Click to turn on the boundaries of marine protected areas (MPAs) designated through the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, to see how these areas overlap - including in the newly-designated South Coast Study Region of MPAs.  To see the watersheds that closely impact ASBSs, click on the Critical Coastal Areas (CCAs) link.  Spearheaded by the California Coastal Commission (CCC), the CCA Program identifies and protects 101 key state coastal watersheds from polluted runoff; these include watersheds that closely impact ASBSs, as indicated in the maps below.  Identification of these areas will help CCKA and partners to control land-based pollution discharges in to sensitive ASBS waters.

CCKA Is Taking Action

In June 2006, the State Water Board released its initial draft Special Protections document to address storm water and nonpoint discharge into ASBSs. The intent of these protections is to ensure that: 1) natural water quality in the ASBSs is not altered, and 2) marine life in ASBSs is protected. CCKA works to ensure that the health of the ASBSs is fully protected, consistent with the Ocean Plan.   CCKA is working to ensure the completion of this guidance as soon as possible.

CCKA was appointed by the State Water Board to the ASBS Task Force and charged with reviewing and recommending projects for $35 million of Proposition 84 funds, to assist local public agencies in complying with the discharge prohibition into ASBSs. Because many of the ASBSs overlap with MPAs designated through the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, this work is an important opportunity to fully protect the health of designated MPAs.

On a regional level, Waterkeepers work to protect local ASBSs, such as Orange County Coastkeeper at Crystal Cove. San Diego Coastkeeper works closely with researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Coastal Observing Research and Development Center to monitor impacts on ASBS locations in the San Diego metropolitan region. The project will help eliminate water pollution impacts on ASBSs from polluted runoff and stormwater throughout the state.