Newport Beach City Manager Update:
Harbor Dept. Deploys State-of-the-Art, Real-Time Water Quality Monitors
By Guest Contributor Grace Leung, Newport Beach City Manager – Sept 01, 2023
Source: Newport Beach Independent – Newport Beach City Manager Update: Lifeguard 100th Anniversary, Labor Day
Grace Leung, Newport Beach City Manager
Newport Beach, known for its pristine beaches and picturesque harbors, has long been committed to preserving its natural resources. To further increase the City’s ability to monitor and maintain water quality in Newport Harbor, the City’s Harbor Department recently deployed two state-of-the-art water quality sensing buoys, or DataPods, in the harbor.
The water quality sensing buoys, developed by Clean Earth Rovers, are equipped with cutting-edge technology that allows for real-time monitoring of water quality data essential for maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem.
The DataPod buoys are equipped with advanced sensors that can detect and report changes in water quality in real-time, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection. The gathered data is transmitted via cellular signal to a central computer system monitored by the Harbor Department.
With the ability to continuously monitor and collect data on key water quality metrics such as temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH levels, City staff can address any issues more quickly and effectively.
Water quality in Newport Harbor is of paramount importance, both for recreation and the health of marine life. This data-driven approach will significantly enhance the City’s ability to maintain and improve Newport Harbor’s water quality.
Source: Newport Beach Independent – Newport Beach City Manager Update: Lifeguard 100th Anniversary, Labor Day
“Since I assumed my role as Harbormaster, the City has taken decisive action to remove numerous abandoned or voluntarily surrendered vessels from Newport Harbor. These removals are vital for safety, navigation, and environmental protection. However, the process to secure legal authority for the removal and destruction of a privately owned vessel is necessarily lengthy and complex. To protect the City’s interests, we strictly adhere to all established legal procedures. In one recent example, the process required over two years, the formal arrest of a vessel, the engagement of outside maritime legal counsel, and two Federal Court actions.” – Harbormaster Paul Blank
A heartfelt letter of thanks from Harbormaster Paul Blank. We proudly share this with our supporters and audience.
Newport Beach International Boat Show is proud to announce that it has been named the #1 Boat Show in the United States by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025. Full official announcement from USA Today 10 BEST was released on May 7th, 2025.
If you’re wondering how the innovative Newport Bay Trash Interceptor operates, this video is for you! See how the device collects trash and debris from the San Diego Creek before it can pollute the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, harbor and beaches.
The primary audience for the video is people renting small and manually powered vessels on the harbor, although it has information valuable to anyone operating a vessel on the harbor.
Share this entry