One of the country's most prestigious names in golf is set to embark on a project to help improve and sustain water quality in one of California's most sensitive bodies of water.
The Pebble Beach Co., is teaming with the California Coastkeeper Alliance, The Otter Project and Monterey Waterkeeper in an effort to enhance the protection of water quality in the Carmel Bay, which is designated as an Area of Special Biological Significance.
South of Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast, Carmel Bay is bounded by the Monterey Peninsula to the north, the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the east, the Carmel Highlands to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
The Pebble Beach Co. is owned by a consortium that operates Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay, Del Monte Golf Course and the Hay nine-hole golf course on Monterey Peninsula.
As part of the project, the company will get a special Clean Water Act permit for discharges from Pebble Beach Golf Links into the Carmel Bay, increase water-quality monitoring and developing updated best management practices related to discharges into the bay. The Pebble Beach Co. also will donate $50,000 to the Big Sur Land Trust to support environmental projects related to water quality in the bay and programs to facilitate access to it.
"Pebble Beach Company has long been a leader in ensuring environmental sustainability and water quality," said David Stivers, president and chief executive officer of the Pebble Beach Co. "We are proud to collaborate with these organizations to further our longstanding environmental commitments through this landmark initiative."
The Carmel Bay ASBS is one of California’s 34 Areas of Special Biological Significance, designated by the State Water Resources Control Board to safeguard distinctive biological species and communities.
"This collaboration represents a significant advancement in our mission to protect California's coastal waters," stated Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance. "Pebble Beach Company's commitment to our environment is second to none, and its actions here are a model for other companies to follow. We are committed to working with Pebble Beach Company to ensure the long-term health of Carmel Bay through this innovative permitting, monitoring, and reporting framework."