PROGRAM FUNDING

The Southern California Caulerpa taxifolia Eradication Program has received funds from many sources since it began in 2000. Funding covered program research and development, mapping and treatment of Caulerpa taxifolia, extensive program testing, surveillance in other California bays and harbors, an outreach and education program, scientific reviews, and research on eradication response techniques on the open coast. The total of all grants and allocations for response to the discovery of Caulerpa taxifolia infestations in California will be approximately $8,300,000 upon work completion in 2008.

This funding was provided by the State Water Resources Control Board (through Cleanup and Abatement Account funds, a Proposition 13 grant, and two EPA Clean Water Act Section 319h grants), California Coastal Conservancy (Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project grant), California Department of Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service, Cabrillo Power LLC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,California Department of Parks and Recreation, the FishAmerica Foundation, the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program, and the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.

In acknowledging the participation and fiscal contributions to the Caulerpa taxifolia eradication efforts, it is important to note that the obligation to respond to an invasive marine species does not fall squarely on any one entity. The willingness and cooperation of numerous public agencies and private organizations was essential and not always obligatory. This fact alone makes it relatively remarkable that so much support was garnered so widely from agencies, environmental groups, industry, elected officials, and affected municipalities and communities.

Additional costs of eradication not accounted for above include the tremendous contributions of time and knowledge from all active and historical SCCAT participants, including the California Department of Fish and Game, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service, the San Diego and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Boards, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, UC Davis, University of California Cooperative Extension, the City of Carlsbad, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Cabrillo Power I LLC, Hofman Planning, and Merkel & Associates.

Finally, the generous and willing contribution of the collective knowledge, experience, and encouragement of our colleagues battling Caulerpa taxifolia in Australia, France and Croatia is gratefully acknowledged and much appreciated.

Funding Agencies: