| California Sea Grant

New extension helps prep Humboldt County for the growth of offshore wind power

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In late 2022, the federal government held an auction in which dozens of companies competed to snap up leases on offshore waters. They were seeking rights to develop floating offshore wind farms, considered a crucial component of California’s ambitious plans to reduce its carbon emissions. The auction included two sites spanning 206 square miles that lie twenty miles off Humboldt Bay — a mostly quiet, rural region that, within a few years, may become home to floating wind farms that produce enough power to 600,000 homes each year.

How tidal wetlands support pelagic food webs: using metagenomics and field flow fractionation to evaluate the role of particulate wetland organic matter

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) is an important ecosystem but fish populations are declining. One way to improve the Delta is to restore wetlands, which are areas of marshland. This study investigated how restoring wetlands can improve the food chain for fish.

Restoring wetlands can impact the tiny food particles that float in the water. These particles are like food for even tinier creatures like zooplankton, which are then eaten by fish. The study wanted to see if restored wetlands would release more of these good food particles.

Read more about How tidal wetlands support pelagic food webs: using metagenomics and field flow fractionation to evaluate the role of particulate wetland organic matter

By the numbers 2023

This handout provides a quick overview of the impact of the California Sea Grant Program, as reported to the National Sea Grant Office in June 2023. All figures are for the time period of February 2022 to January 2023.