Press Release

Media Advisory	For Immediate Release
Contact:Steve Palmisano	April 13, 2000
(831) 728-6124

Watsonsville and NOAA Celebrate Earth Day

Citizens Participate in River Bank Clean-Up: City and NOAA Unveil New Partnership to Reduce Urban Stormwater Pollution

What:	Members of the media are invited to join officials from NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the City of Watsonville and local high school students at a press conference to kick-off the city's Earth Day Celebration, which will involve a clean-up of the Pajaro River levee and the unveiling of a new bilingual stormwater pollution education campaign.
When:	Wednesday, April 19, 2000 Press Conference at 2:00 PM River Bank Clean-up from 2:15 - 4:00 PM
Where:	River Park, located on Front Street between Union and Merchant Streets in Watsonville, CA.
Who:	Oscar Rios, Mayor, City of Watsonville David Festa, Acting Director of Policy, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of CommerceElgie Holstein, Senior Advisor, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bill Douros, Superintendent, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Watsonville High School Students

Watsonville's new stormwater pollution prevention program will include a series of bilingual radio and newspaper announcements that inform local residents about the different ways household, yard, and automotive products can contribute to stormwater pollution, and simple steps they can take to prevent pollution. Specially trained outreach workers will also begin a door-to-door education campaign and provide information about stormwater pollution, recycling, and water conservation to the community. The City expects to reach about 4,000 households and 500 businesses through this program.

Stormwater pollution comes from washing materials such as oil, detergents, sediment, fertilizers and trash into storm drains from city streets and residences. Unlike household sewage, stormwater is not cleansed by treatment plans, and is a hidden source of pollution to local creeks, wetlands, and the adjacent Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Non-point source pollution is now recognized as the largest source of pollution to the oceans.

Watsonville is working in partnership with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the California Coastal Commission to carry out this new initiative. The program is funded by a grant from the Resources Agency of California as part of its Coastal Resources Grant Program.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of 12 marine sanctuaries administered by the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Sanctuary extends from Marin to Cambria, encompassing 300 miles of shoreline and 5,322 square miles of ocean. It is home to numerous mammals, seabirds, fish, invertebrates, plants, and other life forms in a remarkably productive coastal environment. Information on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary may be found at http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov