A Scientific Briefing for the California Legislature

 
By Lauren Linsmayer
March 17, 2025
 

Sponsored by State Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, this expert briefing will discuss the impacts of wildfires on ocean and coastal health and explore how wildfire smoke, ash, and debris make their way to the ocean and current methods for measuring impacts, including the value of rapid response and comprehensive water quality monitoring for building long-term understanding.

Featured speakers include:

Dr. Douglas Hamilton, Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University
Dr. Erin Hestir, Associate Professor, University of California Merced
Dr. Sasha Kramer, Postdoctoral Fellow, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Dr. Julie Dinasquet, Project Lead Scientist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Moderator:

Dr. Lauren Linsmayer, Senior Science Officer, California Ocean Science Trust

Sponsored by

State Senator Ben Allen
Seal of the California State Senate
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Seal of the California State Assembly

About this Briefing

As wildfires become more severe and frequent, as evidenced by the recent devastating wildfires in LA County, there is an urgent need to understand potential consequences to water quality and marine ecosystems. Research on the impacts of wildfires to the ocean and coast from the transport of smoke, ash, and debris, is a relatively nascent but growing field. This briefing will be an opportunity to learn from scientific experts about our current understanding of how wildfires have impacted California’s ocean resources in the past, key knowledge gaps, and emerging findings from the recent LA wildfires. We will also provide updates on the state’s actions to establish a region wide monitoring network.

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