ABOUT SCCAT

The Southern California Caulerpa Action Team (SCCAT)

The Southern California Caulerpa Action Team is a committee that was established to respond quickly and effectively to the discovery of Caulerpa taxifolia in southern California. Made up of representatives from local, state and federal governmental entities, researchers and environmental groups, SCCAT’s goal is to identify and eradicate Caulerpa infestations and to prevent and detect new infestations through education and outreach.

 

Successful eradication was made possible by countless time and resource commitments by all SCCAT participants and their agencies, and through other concurrent legislative and research projects conducted as part of the overall response to the discovery of Caulerpa taxifolia in southern California.

 

Work undertaken by SCCAT has included:

  • Eradication of Caulerpa taxifolia from two known locations in California
  • Research on the efficacy of the tarping technique used in the eradication
  • Implementation of the Caulerpa Outreach and Education Program
  • Research to develop techniques to respond to Caulerpa infestations discovered on the open coast
  • Two surveys for Caulerpa of all bays and harbors in southern California (2001 and 2006/7)

 

Funding information for these programs can be found here.

 

SCCAT Steering Committee Agencies

 

Eradication Contractor

Merkel & Associates

 

Environmental Stewardship and Funding Liaison

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation