Conservation Bonds Helping Clean California Beaches & Ocean Water

Coastal Cleanup Day a Reminder of How Important California's Coast is to
Residents

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Saturday marks the state's 25th
annual Coastal Cleanup Day and Californians will be flocking to the coast to
help remove garbage that is strewn along beaches from the North Coast to San
Diego. As focus turns to cleaning up our beaches, Conserving California is
reminding residents of the important investments they have made in our
beaches, ocean and coastline during the past decade. Californians have
approved $15.5 billion in water and conservation bonds since 2000, with a
significant portion of those funds dedicated to coastal projects.

"Coastal Cleanup Day is a visible demonstration of the love Californians have
for the state's natural resources and their commitment to protecting its
beaches, lakes and waterways. So too is Californians' continued support for
investing in the state's land, water and parks. This strong support has made
California the leading state in the nation in investments in beach water
quality improvements," said Kaitilin Gaffney, Pacific Ecosystem Program
Director, Ocean Conservancy.

Funds from past conservation measures are providing money for projects, such
as stormwater runoff treatment projects that prevent toxic contamination and
pollution of beaches and coastal waters. These programs are essential to
protect public health and make it possible for residents and visitors to
safely enjoy California's beaches and ocean waters.

Through the "Clean Beaches" Program alone, more than 100 coastal projects have
received funding. Here are just a few examples of how our investments in
conservation have improved beaches and ocean water quality:

-- Loma Alta Creek, Oceanside: Received $5 million from Proposition 40 to
construct an ultraviolet treatment facility to clean urban runoff
-- Poche Beach, Orange County: Received $1.5 million from Proposition 40
to
treat urban runoff
-- Surfrider Beach/Malibu Lagoon, Malibu: Received more than $2 million
from Proposition 13 to help treat urban runoff
-- New Brighton/Seacliff Beaches, Santa Cruz County: Received more than
$1.7 million from Proposition 40 to upgrade sewer system, protecting
beach water quality and public health

-- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Received $1.5 million from
Proposition 40 to divert urban runoff

To see a complete listing of grants from the Clean Beaches Program, please
visit
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/beaches/cbi_projects/index.shtml.

Conserving California is a public education program aimed at spreading
awareness of the great successes we've had in conservation and the great need
that still exists. Investments in conservation have increased and improved the
state's vital water quality and supply, created urban and state parks that
provide recreational opportunities to help families stay healthy and helped
clean up California's rivers, coastal waters and beaches. California's
investments have also helped combat climate change and save critical natural
habitats, wildlife corridors and working landscapes.

For more information on Conserving California and to read about conservation
successes throughout California, please visit our web site,
http://www.conservingcalifornia.org.

Conserving California is a public education program about our essential
investments in land, water and parks presented by Audubon California,
California Council of Land Trusts, Ocean Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy
and WiLDCOAST.

SOURCE Conserving California

Ann Newton, +1-818-760-2121, cell, +1-310-774-7639,
anewton@fionahuttonassoc.com, for Conserving California