As part of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit Regional Monitoring requirements, the City is required to participate in the Region Nine Kelp Survey Consortium (RNKSC). Kelp canopy monitoring has been conducted on behalf of the RNKSC by MBC Aquatic Sciences (Costa Mesa, CA) since 1983, and for the Central Region Kelp Survey Consortium (CRKSC) since 2003. These joint surveys cover all coastal kelp beds from Ventura River to the USA/Mexico border, representing 81% of the southern California mainland coast (220 of 270 miles). The aerial extent of surface canopy of each kelp bed is determined on a quarterly basis, and results are summarized in annual reports (see links below).