The Estuary Program hosted a variety of fun summer events, and there are more to come in the fall. Continue reading to learn more what we were up to over the summer and what’s in the works for this fall.
End of Summer Events
This summer, the Estuary Program hosted and attended several community events. In July, we partnered with Art Center Morro Bay to host a “gyotaku” art event. Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese method of using real fish to make prints. We had 35 people of all ages in attendance, and each participant got to make at least one print to take home with them.
In August, the Estuary Program partnered with Morro Bay in Bloom for one of their weekly town beautification events. Volunteers removed large amounts of invasive English ivy from planted areas around Tidelands Park. Check out our Instagram to see more before and after photos!
In September, we hosted an iNaturalist training event in preparation for California Biodiversity Week. This annual statewide event encourages community members to document biodiversity using the iNaturalist app. This year, participants were encouraged to document at least 30 species throughout the week to help inform California’s 30×30 initiative. Attendees at our training learned the basics of using iNaturalist and tips for increasing the impact of their participation in Biodiversity Week.
Finally, the Estuary Program hosted a cleanup at Morro Rock for the Creeks to Coast cleanup. This annual cleanup is hosted by ECOSLO as part of California’s Coastal Cleanup Day. 31 volunteers joined us at Morro Rock and picked up nearly 50 pounds of trash, including 223 cigarette butts and 73 food wrappers. Altogether across San Luis Obispo County, more than 760 volunteers removed 6,807 pounds of trash and 172 pounds of recycling.
Upcoming Events
The Estuary Program is attending and hosting several community events this fall. Visit our booth at the Maritime Museum Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We will also be tabling at the Woods Wiggle Waggle Fall Festival on Saturday, October 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. At both of these events, we will be handing out brochures with information about our program, coloring books for kids, treats for dogs, and more!
Join us on Monday, November 3 for our next Science on Tap event! This program will take place at Oak & Otter Brewing from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to highlight our education work and partnerships. Staff from Creek Lands Conservation, One Cool Earth, Camp Ocean Pines, and the Estuary Program will each give a short presentation on the programming offered by their organizations. Camp Ocean Pines will also be bringing their portable touch tank to the event! Attendees will have the opportunity to handle tidepool creatures such as crabs, anemones, and sea stars. Keep an eye on our Eventbrite and social media pages (Instagram/Facebook) to learn more and register.
State of the Bay 2026
Every three years, the Estuary Program releases an environmental report card on the health of our estuary and watershed. This State of the Bay report is one of the primary ways that we share the latest monitoring and research results with the public. In addition to printing and distributing the report, we also host a series of public events to share the results. Our next State of the Bay report will be released in early 2026, and we will have a variety of events to go along with it. Make sure to follow us on social media (Instagram/Facebook) and Eventbrite, or subscribe to our newsletter, to stay in the loop about exciting upcoming events.
Help us protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary!
- Donate to the Estuary Program today and support our work in the field, the lab, and beyond.
The Estuary Program is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. We depend on funding from grants and generous donors to continue our work. - Support us by purchasing estuary-themed gear from ESTERO. This locally owned and operated company donates 20% of proceeds from its Estuary clothing line and 100% of Estuary decal proceeds to the Estuary Program. Thank you, ESTERO!
- Purchase items from the Estuary Program’s store on Zazzle. Zazzle prints and ships your items, and the Estuary Program receives 10% of the proceeds.
- Subscribe to our seasonal newsletter: Between the Tides!
- We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey about what type of events you’d like to see from the Estuary Program. We appreciate your input!