Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

California's aquatic ecosystems face mounting pressure from a range of sources, including development, agricultural water use, and climate change, threatening the native species that depend on them. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provides a critical mechanism for environmental transparency and public participation in project review. Yet consistent engagement with the law remains difficult for conservation organizations and the public, given the volume of listings, technical language, and limited tracking infrastructure. This project, developed in partnership with California Trout, sought to reduce those barriers by creating a statewide CEQA monitoring framework across the organization's seven regional programs. Deliverables include seven regional databases, an interactive GIS map, and a publicly accessible StoryMap designed to educate and encourage public participation in the CEQA process. Ultimately, this project was built on the belief that CEQA is strongest when more voices are included.

See media created for this project: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/461d1af966ab4b8a9612dc1ec18cedca