Morro Bay National Estuary Program

10/10/2026

Ever wonder how boats dispose of sewage on board?🛥️🌊

Fiona, our Monitoring Coordinator, shows how we make sure local pumpout stations are working properly, so we can all practice clean boating in the estuary and beyond!

Find your nearest pumpout station with the Pumpout Nav App

10/06/2026

Views across the Morro Estuary Natural Preserve, with Black Hill and Cerro Cabrillo in the background

The Preserve protects the wetland and marine habitat where Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek meet the estuary. As freshwater from the creeks flows out and ocean tides roll in, the two work together to carve the channels that wind across the landscape 🌊

This unique area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, and the trails in the surrounding hills offer plenty of ways to explore it.

10/02/2026

Ever wonder what Morro Bay was like before modern development (such as roads, houses, and ranches) and how those changes still shape the watershed and inform restoration efforts today?

Our newest blog shares an in-depth look at how the Morro Bay Estuary and surrounding valleys existed under full Indigenous stewardship prior to major Euro-American modification to the landscape.

Ever wonder what Morro Bay was like before modern development (such as roads, houses, and ranches) and how those changes still shape the watershed and inform restoration efforts today? This blog shares an in-depth look at how the Morro Bay Estuary and surrounding valleys existed under full Indigenou...

10/02/2026

The long-billed curlew!!

And what a fitting name. Their exceptionally long bills can grow up to 8 inches long, account for roughly a third of the bird's total body length, wow!

We've been seeing these birds sticking those long bills deep into the sand and mud, grabbing shrimp, crabs, and worms. 🦐🦀🪱

How lucky are we to be a stop on the Pacific Flyway!

09/21/2026

Come watch some movies and support programming at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum! This double feature will play Of Marshes and Morros, a short documentary about the history of environmental protection in Morro Bay, followed by Speara, a documentary about a champion spearfisher. Estuary Program staff will also be at this event to answer questions about the Morro Bay estuary. Tickets available at the Maritime Museum or online at morrobaymaritime.org.

09/18/2026

New blog! 🌱 This week's blog is by our partners at One Cool Earth, a local nonprofit focused on developing lifelong wellness and environmental stewardship for families and youth through school garden programs.

Learn about how One Cool Earth is using the school garden at Monarch Grove Elementary to teach students about marine debris, waste reduction, sustainable composting, and more!

Read the full blog by clicking the link in our bio or visiting MBNEP.org/blog.

09/18/2026

Partner Spotlight: One Cool Earth. Every Child Deserves a Place to Grow

This blog was written by One Cool Earth, a local nonprofit focused on developing lifelong wellness and environmental stewardship for families and youth through school garden programs. Anyone who attended public school in the last 40 years probably remembers some of the landmarks: the library, the gym and sports fields, the computer lab. But did your school have a garden? The mission of One Cool Earth, founded and operating in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties, is to make gardens as commonplace on campus as libraries and computer labs....

This partner spotlight highlights how One Cool Earth uses school gardens to teach local students about sustainable gardening, waste reduction, and watershed stewardship.

09/15/2026

Have you seen our new eelgrass exhibit yet? 🌱🌊

Our Nature Center’s newest exhibit takes you beneath the surface of Morro Bay to explore the eelgrass meadows that provide food and shelter for wildlife, improve water quality, stabilize sediment, and store carbon. The bilingual, interactive exhibit is designed for visitors of all ages to learn more about eelgrass and its important role in a healthy estuary.

The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Kendra Chan, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist who dedicated her career to conservation and connecting people with science.

Come check it out! The Nature Center is free to visit and open daily from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on the second floor at 601 Embarcadero in Morro Bay.

Photos by © Bart Hays, Exhibitsdept.com

09/11/2026

Join us for the 21st Annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup next Saturday 🌊💙

We're excited to be the site captain for the Embarcadero location, and we’re looking for volunteers to join us!

Head on over to ecoslo.com/creeks-to-coast and sign up for the Morro Bay Embarcadero site to help keep trash out of our local waterways and keep Morro Bay clean and healthy.

We hope to see you on Saturday! 🦦♻️

09/10/2026

The Estuary Program is seeking an Environmental Communications & Outreach Projects Manager. Visit mbnep.org/join-our-team/ to learn more and apply!