Plankton tows were taken off Newport Beach, California, along with temperature, salinity, and transparency measurements. Nearshore conditions and foraminiferal populations are modified by upwelling in Newport Submarine Canyon and domestic effluent waste discharge from the Orange County Sewer outfall.Foraminifera range in size from 50 to 250 µ; therefore, use of a 62‐µ mesh net is necessary. Globigerina bulloides and G. quinqueloba compose 90% or more of the samples. Right‐coiling specimens of G. pachyderma, characteristic of deep‐water tows, and Bolivina vaughani, usually considered benthic, were also found.