Invasive Caulerpa spp. can grow in any substrate and form dense mats, smothering other benthic species. This alga is capable of extremely rapid growth and spreads via sexual reproduction, frond fragmentation, and sending out runners in the substrate. Caulerpa spp. are well documented as having rapidly displaced native habitat and species in the Mediterranean Sea, New Zealand, and California. Caulerpa spp. pose a threat to native eelgrass populations and have been shown to displace existing eelgrass beds. The District’s Environmental Conservation Department is seeking environmental consulting services to provide qualified biological monitoring and treatment of invasive Caulerpa spp. and eelgrass mitigation and monitoring services, including reporting in conformance with the California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy (CEMP) in San Diego Bay. The activities to be provided are broken down into two items, Item A: Caulerpa Monitoring and Management Services and Item B: Eelgrass Mitigation Monitoring Services, as shown below (Task Authorizations are needed for ALL work under the agreement).
