Newport Mooring Association

The Newport Mooring Association (NMA) is a voluntary association of Newport Harbor tidelands permit holders in Newport Beach, California. A tidelands permit is the instrument by which a person owns a dock, pier, mooring, or other structure or fixture over public tidelands.

The NMA mission statement, from its web site:

The Newport Mooring Association is responsible for promoting the business and personal interests of mooring permittees and persons holding property, real or personal, adjacent or attached to, residing on, or anchored to tidelands or public property in, upon, or adjacent to Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, CA, as those interests relate to the use of the bay area.

The California State Lands Commission (CSLC) site describes that "the California Legislature statutorily transferred tide and submerged lands in trust to cities and counties, which were then required to develop harbors to further state and national commerce." . The City and County seek stakeholder input on issues related to managing the harbor, so the NMA represents tidelands permit holders by interfacing with City and County agencies on projects affecting permit holders. Its volunteers collaborate and partner with City officials and other volunteers to accomplish shared goals.

Mooring Association Board members have worked with the City of Newport Beach City Council-appointed Harbor Commission's Mooring Master Plan Subcommittee, City staff, and other citizen volunteers, on projects such as a harbor-wide mooring field boundary realignment project; onshore- and offshore-mooring administration policy overhaul; vessel black water pumpout facility redevelopment, promotion of the City's sea lion (Zalophus californianus) deterrent laws and policies to tidelands permit holders and to the general boating public who choose to visit Newport Harbor; study of dinghy tie-up limits at public piers; and dinghy dock extensions to accommodate more dinghies in orderly fashion.

The Orange County Grand Jury (OCGJ) investigated management of moorings in Newport Harbor, Newport Beach. The report of its investigation includes background on how the City of Newport Beach became empowered to issue permits for moorings, piers, docks, and structures on California state tidelands in Newport Beach. Replies to the Orange County Grand Jury's investigation and report may also be viewed on the OCGJ site. Specifically, the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's response to the OCGJ investigation documents NMA assistance on mooring administration policy overhaul.

The Orange County Department of Public Works has information on applying for a tidelands permit. The City of Newport Beach Harbor Resources Department manages Newport Harbor for the City. It coordinates with the Newport Harbor-headquartered Harbor Patrol, which provides on-the-water law enforcement and mooring administration.

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