Briefly

Newport Beach officials are praising a $295,000 grant from the

California Coastal Conservancy for increased monitoring and education at

tide pools.

A portion of the money, approved by the conservancy Thursday, is

expected to go toward stepping up efforts at the Newport Beach Marine

Life Protected Area, one of seven preserves in Orange County to receive

funding.

“It might give us some additional funding to develop a decent

program,” said Tony Melum, director of the city’s Harbor Resources

Division. “One of the things we don’t have is enough people down there to

educate the public.”

The marine preserve stretches almost one mile from Poppy Avenue to the

city’s southern boundary just north of Crystal Cove.

The grant will be given to Orange County to be dispersed among the

seven marine areas. Also receiving a chunk of the funding are Dana Point,

Doheny Beach, Heisler Park Ecological Reserve, Irvine Coast, Laguna Beach

and Laguna Niguel.

The conservancy awarded the grant money from funds available through

Proposition 12, a park bond initiative passed by voters last year.