State, Ocean Protection Council and Conservancy propose updates to once‑through‑cooling mitigation MOU; South Oxnard residents press for community engagement

The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday reviewed proposed revisions to the interim mitigation memorandum of understanding that governs how payments from once‑through cooling power plants are allocated to habitat and marine protection projects.

The changes would increase annual funding directed to the Ocean Protection Council from $5.4 million to $6.5 million, expand allowable uses of funds to include certain watershed restoration projects, and direct the State Coastal Conservancy to pursue using at least 50% of its cumulative OTC funding through 2030 for projects in the geographic region of the Diablo Canyon power plant, staff said.

Board staff said the revisions respond to public comments and to updated interim mitigation calculations adopted by the board in 2024. Jonathan (State Water Board environmental scientist) presented the proposed changes and said the updates aim to “ensure the continued effective allocation of interim mitigation funds and identify opportunities for the 3 agencies represented here to engage with and receive input from tribes, environmental justice groups, and other…