Ensuring that California coastal waters are safe for people and marine life has consistently been a priority for the state and for USC Sea Grant. Over the decades, the nature of USC Sea Grant’s research investment in coastal water quality has shifted from a focus on sewage and associated bacteria to a focus on stormwater runoff and viruses. The focus will continue to shift as climate change has become a major driver of emerging issues of drought, water conservation, and low-impact development and as legacy pollutants and chemicals of emerging concern increasingly affect coastal waters in our region.
For publications related to water quality, please see our recent research within the subtopics below or search “water quality” in our publications database.
