WHEREAS:

1. The Elkhorn Slough (Slough) is an ecological critical estuarine complex on the central California Coast, which borders the Monterey Marine National Sanctuary and over 1400 acres of which are in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System; and

2. The watershed of the Slough is over 44,900 acres, containing an area of intense agricultural production, yielding 20% of the nation's strawberry crop, with much of the growing area being on steep slopes; and

3. Erosion and agricultural runoff from the irrigated farmland containing pesticides and fertilizers are filling wetlands, and have been building up in the food chain within the Slough for decades; and

4. During 1994 the Regional Board requested funding from the Account to help support non-point source pollution control efforts in the Slough; and

5. The State Water Resources Control Board approved the Regional Board's request and allocated $110,000 to establish the Project over two years; and

6. Since 1996 $59,800 from the Account has been expended to fund the efforts of the Elkhorn Slough Watershed Coordinator to work with the Elkhorn Slough Watershed Project Team (Team) to provide a new socio-economic outreach approach for extension work in the region; and

7. Farmers use of technical and cost-sharing programs has increased dramatically and many growers have made use of Team services; and

8. Regional Board has requested $227,637 from the Account to fund the Project over the next three years; and

9. Although the Account has an uncommitted balance of only $153,200 it has been determined that an additional commitment of $227,637 over the next three years will not jeopardize the security of the Account.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board approves the Regional Board's request of $227,637 over the next three years at $75,879 per year, from the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account to continue funding for the Elkhorn Slough Agricultural Education Project.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on July 23, 1998.

/s/

Maureen Marchè

Administrative Assistant to the Board