Top

Heal the Bay Blog

Category: News

How Fires Impact Ocean Water Quality

01.17.2025 |

Malibu / Pacific PalisadesNewsWater Quality

The latest news about the Palisades fire and its impact on ocean-water quality and beach access in L.A. County.

During natural disasters, residents seek three things: community support, goodwill, and up-to-date information. To that end, Los Angeles County leaders invited Heal the Bay science and outreach staff to attend an emergency meeting Thursday morning at the Palisades Fire incident command center at Zuma Beach.

Department officials from L.A. County Fire and Beaches & Harbors asked Heal the Bay to help disseminate accurate updates to the public about how the catastrophic fires affect beach access and ocean water quality.

Here’s what we learned:

Stay away from burn zones and evacuated areas in the Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu areas.

Residents and those who love these areas are naturally curious about the status of homes, commercial structures, and favorite natural places. Command officials understand that people want to return to the areas as soon as possible. However, public safety dictates that fire and evacuation zones remain off-limits until emergency crews clear neighborhoods of downed power lines, roadway debris, lingering hot spots, and other hazards. Officials were unable to give a timetable for when residents may return or when PCH will reopen, but a brief tour by Heal the Bay staff indicates it will be weeks until residents can go back.

There is no public access to any L.A. County beaches in the fire or evacuation zones, roughly north of the Santa Monica Pier to County Line.

If you are a surfer looking to score empty waves, don’t even think about it. Multiple National Guard checkpoints are in place, ensuring that only emergency responders, utility workers, media, and essential workers are allowed on PCH. If you think you might be able to talk your way past checkpoints to tour impacted areas, you are mistaken. All beach parking lots from Will Rogers to Zuma are unavailable to the public, as they are being used as staging areas for emergency crews. All other beaches in L.A. County remain open to the public. But caution is urged, given compromised air quality along County shorelines.

Avoid water contact at any beaches from Malibu’s Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler State Beach near LAX.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean advisory that warns residents to avoid any water contact at these beaches. The firestorms and efforts to beat them down have created massive amounts of runoff, which may contain toxic chemicals and dangerous debris. All that polluted water eventually sloughs off to the Bay. The advisory will remain in effect until three days after fire-fighting operations end.

As of Thursday morning, the Palisades Fire was only 22% contained. Heal the Bay has not determined yet if the County’s Public Health unit will be posting warning signs at impacted beaches. To view a map of impacted locations and get more information, click here. We advise the public to visit Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card to get updated information on beaches, as well as the Department of Public Health to learn about the latest water-quality details.

Water quality testing of local beaches will continue at sites that are still accessible to sampling agencies.

Water quality samples for fecal indicator bacteria are collected and tested by three government agencies every week at 85 sites in Los Angeles County. Once the results have been processed (after 24 hours), the public is notified when a beach exceeds pollution standards by warnings, advisories, or closures of the affected beaches. These weekly samples form the basis of Heal the Bay’s weekly A-to-F Beach Report Card.

Due to the fires, access to some beaches has been restricted, and some water-quality sampling has been interrupted until further notice. However, local departments will continue their testing to the best of their ability, including many of the 41 beaches where the Department of Public Health has advised beach users to avoid water contact—assuming these sites remain accessible in the weeks to come.

Water quality testing needs to expand beyond monitoring fecal bacteria to include testing for heavy metals, PCBs, nitrates, and other harmful compounds.

Water quality degradation following a fire varies greatly depending on the intensity and duration of the fire and the characteristics of the affected ecosystem. One of the primary effects is the alteration of vegetation coverage, which reduces the natural barriers that slow water runoff after a storm event. This leads to increased soil erosion and sediment transportation into nearby water bodies.

Rainfall can exacerbate these effects by compacting the soil and increasing overland flow, amplifying erosion and pollutant transport. With many homes, businesses, cars, and other manufactured items burning so close to the coast, we are particularly concerned about sediment, trash, and debris washing into the ocean.

During our tour, Heal the Bay staff saw hundreds of burned-out structures on the ocean side of PCH, with high tide waves surging within feet of the twisted, charred wreckage. Sediment can contain high levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that, in excess, are harmful to marine ecosystems and can create algal blooms. They may also contain chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances that burned in the fires. Recent reports indicate that the presence of so much plastic in modern homes has significantly contributed to more toxic infernos.

Heal the Bay does not have the capacity to conduct any water quality testing aside from compiling bacterial data and informing the public when it is safe to enter the water. We strongly urge the County of L.A. and any other municipalities to test for the presence of additional contaminants, such as heavy metals, PCBs, nitrates, and other unhealthy compounds. These pollutants can be harmful to humans and aquatic species, and given the extensive firefighting that has occurred directly adjacent to the coastline, these pollutants will be present for months to come.

In the interview below with USA Today, Annelisa Moe, Associate Director of Science, Policy, and Water Quality, discusses some of the long-term risks to coastal ecosystems and water quality.

We will continue to provide water quality information each week on the BRC website, so beach users and freshwater recreational users can make informed decisions.

Note: We will continue to consult with County officials on a daily basis to update this post. We will send alerts on our social media platforms when we receive new information about water quality, public health and beach access.

Read More
Read Less


What is “aquaculture” and how can it save our oceans?

12.23.2024 | and

About UsCaliforniaCalifornia SharksClimate ChangeHeal the Bay AquariumLocationsNewsTake Action

Reimagining the Ocean and Protecting the Planet with Heal the Bay’s Aquaculture Program

Pollution, climate change, and over-fishing have all played a role in the dramatic decline of marine life in our oceans, contributing to food scarcity and poverty in coastal communities across the globe that rely on fishing for food and their local economy.

And while organizations like Heal the Bay work to address the causes of the decline, we also have another tool in our toolbelt. Aquaculture is the controlled growing of aquatic organisms and can be used for sustainable food production, habitat restoration, and species conservation.

At Heal the Bay, we are taking a groundbreaking step in reimagining the modern aquarium. We are working to become the nation’s first fully sustainable aquarium by exclusively exhibiting animals that have been produced through aquaculture.

By sourcing our exhibits through aquaculture, we reduce the environmental impact of traditional collection methods, support marine ecosystem restoration, and contribute to the conservation of endangered species—making our aquarium a model of sustainability in the field.

But we aren’t stopping there! We are also helping develop the so-called “blue economy” by mobilizing local students to steward this paradigm shift through our Aquaculture Training Program in partnership with Santa Monica College. Heal the Bay experts, in partnership with SMC, have developed a program to ensure the next generation of aquaculture professionals is equipped to responsibly, sustainably, and ethically grow aquatic species. Our aquarium serves as a hands-on training facility, providing students with real-world experience in sustainable aquaculture practices in our AQUA lab, and our Associate Director of Aquarium Operations, Laura Rink, serves as an instructor for the class.

And our moonshot for Heal the Bay’s aquaculture program is to raise and release local endangered species back into Santa Monica Bay to restore balance in our marine ecosystem.  One species we are focused on is the Sunflower Sea Star which plays a critical role in the health of our giant kelp forests, like the one off the coast of Palos Verdes. Sunflower Sea Stars eat urchins which eat kelp. A severe decline in sea star populations has led to a proliferation of urchins which are devastating kelp forests across the west coast of the U.S.  Currently, Heal the Bay’s aquaculture research also contributes to endangered species recovery through our role in the Sunflower Sea Star SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) initiative.

The sunflower sea star is critically endangered, but Heal the Bay Aquarium is licensed to care for one, allowing us to educate the public about this vital species and the importance of its conservation.

Looking ahead, Heal the Bay envisions expanding our impact by creating a dedicated aquaculture education and research facility. With increased funding, we aim to build a state-of-the-art space that supports both hands-on learning for students and innovative research in marine conservation and sustainability. This facility would help foster the next generation of aquaculture professionals while contributing to global efforts to restore marine ecosystems.

Help Heal the Bay reimagine the ocean and protect the planet when you support our work and DONATE!

SUPPORT HEAL THE BAY

Want to support our work for years to come? There is still time to make your big impact for Heal the Bay with Year End Giving. Give a gift for good to protect our precious watershed and help keep our coastal waters safe and clean all year round. Whether it be Corporate and Foundation Giving, Partnerships, Stock Donations, Donor Advised Funds, Estate Plans, Donations and Sponsorship Opportunities, you can make a lasting impact with your year-end contribution today. Contact Us.
Read More
Read Less


Big Wins! Making Waves of Change in 2024

12.20.2024 |

Angler Outreach ProgramBeach Report CardCaliforniaCalifornia Bag BanCalifornia DroughtClimate ChangeHeal the Bay AquariumNewsRiver Report CardTake ActionWater Quality

Reflecting on a Year of Progress

Heal the Bay achieved significant accomplishments in 2024 in safeguarding our waters, preserving biodiversity, and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.   Through our collective efforts and with your unwavering support, we worked tirelessly to create cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable coastal waters and watersheds for Los Angeles and beyond from summit to sea. As we reflect on the achievements of this past year, we are thrilled to carry this momentum into the coming year, always aiming to make a lasting difference. Celebrate them with us!  

2024 Highlights   

Our expertise was sought after, and our work was celebrated.  

In 2024, Heal the Bay was honored for decades of commitment to the environment. 

  • Heal the Bay was selected as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of District 42 in recognition of nearly four decades of accomplishments and “outstanding contributions to the communities and environment” we serve.     
  • The 4th Annual Heal the Bay One Water symposium was convened at Lewis Macadams Riverfront Park, establishing Heal the Bay as a thought leader among civil engineers, water conservation experts, and local, county, and state legislators.  


The First Line of  Defense in Environmental Policy

Heal the Bay played a pivotal role in successfully advancing policies and legislation to improve water quality, affordability, and coastal ecosystems and ensure a more sustainable Los Angeles region and climate-resilient California.

  • In response to advocacy from Heal the Bay, the LA Regional Board recently approved more stringent regulation of surface water runoff from the highly contaminated Boeing Santa Susana Field Lab site. Boeing immediately filed a legal petition opposing the new regulations. Heal the Bay is engaging in this lawsuit as an interested party in support of the Regional Board.
  • Heal the Bay co-authored the Vision 2045 Report with NRDC and Los Angeles Waterkeeper and shared it with LA County decisionmakers tasked with overseeing the ambitious Safe, Clean, Water Program (SCWP). This collaborative “vision” laid out a roadmap of bolder goals, and recommendations to more quickly and definitively reach 2045 SCWP targets and is now being used as a resource by LA County for the SCWP Watershed Planning Efforts. 

 

Big trouble for Big Plastic

Recognizing the urgent need to combat plastic pollution, Heal the Bay continues impactful environmental policy work and campaigns to amplify sustainable practices.  For several years, staff has worked with LA City and County to help create legislation to break the harmful plastic cycle. We took significant steps toward a plastic-free future by advocating for reducing single-use plastics and promoting responsible waste management.

  • We sued Big Plastic! Heal the Bay took historic legal action and joined a coalition of leading environmental groups to file a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, the world’s largest producer of single-use plastic polymers. California’s Attorney General also filed a similar lawsuit today.
  • Heal the Bay advocacy supported major wins for state and local plastics regulation this year, including the passage of SB 1053, which removes ALL plastic film bags from checkout counters at convenience stores and grocery stores across the state by 2026 and increases the minimum recycled content requirements for paper bags to 50%.
  • In 2024, Heal the Bay made big waves for the environment by advocating for the unanimous approval of the Environmental Impact Report for the City of LA’s Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program. This means that in the next 6 months, we could have powerful new legislation in the City of LA to really reduce plastics, and Heal the Bay will be right there alongside key decision-makers to ensure success. 

 

It Takes a Very Large Village    

This year Heal the Bay volunteers made massive waves of change. 

  • In 2024, more than 24,900 Heal the Bay volunteers collected over 24,000 pounds of trash and contributed 71,048 hours to protecting our precious watershed and coastal waters!   
  • In September, Heal the Bay mobilized 6,600 volunteers on Coastal Cleanup Day, removing 18,269 pounds of trash (including 429 pounds of recyclables) from greater Los Angeles coastlines and waterways.
  • This year Heal the Bay Aquarium welcomed 59 new volunteers, and a total of 128 volunteers completed and served 5,494 hours at the Aquarium.

  

Environmental Health IS Public Health 

In 2024, Heal the Bay continued its relentless commitment to ocean water and freshwater quality from summit to sea.   

  • Our annual Beach Report Card remains the gold standard for water quality reporting, providing access to the latest water quality information based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean at over 700 beaches. For more than 30 years, our annual report has assigned “A-to-F” letter grades and ranked the “Best and Bummer” lists across beaches from Washington State to Tijuana, Mexico. 
  • The annual River Report Card was also released, ranking freshwater quality and providing grades for 35 freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County tested during the summer of 2023.  This summer 14 students from colleges across Southern California joined Heal the Bay the Stream Team internship program – our biggest cohort yet!  These two programs are at the forefront of our efforts to keep LA’s waters safe and enjoyable for all.  

 

Conservation and Marine Protection Are Key to Our Mission

Heal the Bay reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity through both volunteer activations and the tireless efforts of our husbandry, operations, and education Aquarium teams. 

  • Heal the Bay Aquarium plays a pivotal role in species conservation through research, breeding programs, and public awareness campaigns. In 2024, four Swell sharks, dozens of Pacific Sandollars, Giant Spine Sea Stars, Bay Pipefish, and hundreds of Moon jellies were born at the aquarium. Our animal care team released seven protected and rehabilitated marine animals, including keystone species like Swell sharks and Leopard sharks, into Santa Monica Bay. By releasing these animals back into the wild, Heal the Bay continues its mission to protect and support the biodiversity of wild fish populations. 
  • As part of our commitment to successful conservation efforts, Heal the Bay Aquarium continued its work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Wildlife Trafficking Alliance.  As an official member of the US Fish & Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Confiscation Network pilot program, the aquarium is certified to care for the well-being of wildlife confiscated from illegal trade.   
     
  • Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Team successfully lead public meetings to educate Californian’s on the impacts of DDT on public health and biodiversity.
  •  They were also featured as experts in the Los Angeles Times documentary “Out of Plain Sight.”.
  • As a watchdog for Marine Protected Areas, Heal the Bay’s MPA Team is actively contributing and analyzing critical data on California’s first decade-long review that began in 2023. One of the biggest conclusions of the review highlighted the fact that protecting these precious estuaries for the past decade has worked, allowing for flourishing biodiversity, larger populations, and bigger individual animals in these safeguarded areas. 


Environmental Equity and Inclusion are pillars of Environmental Health   

This year, Heal the Bay continued to advocate for communities that experience the worst systemic and often immediate impacts of environmental injustice and climate change.  

  • After 10 years of effort by Heal the Bay Outreach, Inell Woods Park, a first-of-its-kind stormwater park, is complete in the Compton Creek watershed. This pocket park will provide green space to an underserved community. The ribbon cutting is estimated for early 2025, highlighting the connection between communities, green space, and health.

 

Environmental Education, Outreach and Sharing our Passion to Protect What We Love  

Education remained a cornerstone of our mission.  In 2024, Heal the Bay expanded our outreach program, teaching schools and communities to understand the importance of environmental conservation and the role each individual can play.  

  • Educational efforts continued to inspire and inform diverse audiences through innovative approaches and interactive science-based programs. The Heal the Bay Aquarium Education Team sponsored 247 field trips and welcomed 11,668 enthusiastic students from 22 school districts in LA County, including 85 students from Title 1 schools.
  • This year, “Coastal Cleanup Education Day” at the Aquarium hosted more than 118 3rd-6th grade students from across Los Angeles County for a day of beach exploration, scientific excursions, education, and hands-on learning while having fun in the sun.  
  • In 2024, Heal the Bay built a blue economy, providing professional training on sustainable aquaculture practices in partnership with Santa Monica College. This program not only empowers future environmentalists with hands-on job training, but it has also allowed Heal the Bay Aquarium to lead a program that has put them on track to achieve 90% sustainability through aquaculture and animal donation within the next five years.
  • Speakers Bureau and Beach Programs (through the Adopt a Beach Program) gave 195 talks this year to educate the public on all Heal the Bay’s amazing and impactful work. 

 

Cheers to 2024 

As we look back on 2024, Heal the Bay celebrates a year of accomplishments, resilience, and collaboration. These achievements underscore the collective efforts of our dedicated team, volunteers, and supporters who positively impact the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems.   

Here’s to a future with even more significant strides toward a sustainable and thriving planet!      

Looking to the Future with 2025 in our sights 

In 2025, Heal the Bay will celebrate its 40th Anniversary, marking four decades of dedicated environmental work. Since its founding, the organization has been a powerful advocate for clean water, coastal protection, and environmental justice across California. Through education, outreach, and policy efforts, Heal the Bay has significantly improved local ecosystems, making beaches, rivers, and communities safer and healthier. The organization remains committed to addressing climate change, promoting sustainability, and protecting the region’s natural beauty for future generations.
Thank you to all our supporters, both past and present.

Thank you for all our supporters both past and present.

SUPPORT HEAL THE BAY

Want to support our work for years to come? There is still time to make your big impact for Heal the Bay with Year End Giving. Give a gift for good to protect our precious watershed and help keep our coastal waters safe and clean all year round. Whether it be Corporate and Foundation Giving, Partnerships, Stock Donations, Donor Advised Funds, Estate Plans, Donations and Sponsorship Opportunities, you can make a lasting impact with your year-end contribution today. Contact Us.
Read More
Read Less


The 2024 Heal the Bay Holiday Guide

12.10.2024 |

News

Bamboo Utensil Set

Limited Edition Coastal Cleanup Day Cotton Canvas Tote Bag

Limited Edition Heal the Bay Coastal Cleanup Bandana

Turkish Towel

The Heal the Bay holiday gift guide.

Become a Heal the Bay Aquarium member

Aquadopt an Aquarium Member

 

Spread ocean-friendly cheer with more guides from Heal the Bay:

Read Part ONE of our Green Holiday Tips Guide: Sustainable Shipping Holiday Myths

Read Part TWO of our Green Holiday Tips Guide: Wrapping Paper vs. Recycling

Read Part THREE of our Green Holiday Tips Guide: Throwing a Party Sustainably

Read More
Read Less


Heal the Bay wins a California Nonprofit of the Year Award

11.14.2024 |

News

 (Los Angeles) – Heal the Bay is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of District 42.

Heal the Bay is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve. 

“Nonprofit organizations touch the lives of millions of Californians in ways that can often go unrecognized. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter – nonprofits improve the lives of all Californians and make our communities stronger,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a partner for this initiative. “Nonprofits are also a key economic driver in our state, accounting for 1 in 14 jobs. It’s important to recognize all they do.”

According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year

Now in its ninth year, the Californian Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year is June 5. 

The program is sponsored by the CalNonprofits in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, the leading policy voice for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.

-A note in partnership with the The California Association of Nonprofits

###

Read More
Read Less


Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 – Wrap Up

09.30.2024 |

California CoastCoastal Cleanup DayLos AngelesNews

Check out the full 2024 Coastal Wrap-Up Book:

DOWNLOAD THE 2024 WRAP-UP BOOK

Check out our Coastal Cleanup Day Highlight Stats! 

Updated September 27, 2024, 3:00 PM

Los Angeles County Numbers (Heal the Bay Sites)

  • 6,983 Volunteers cleaned
  • 62 Sites,
  • Removing 19,209.47 Pounds of trash from our coastline and waterways!

According to the California Coastal Commission as of 5PM 9/24 with 50% reporting (including Heal the Bay)

  • According to the California Coastal Commission, more than 250,000 pounds of trash was removed on the 2024 California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event took place on September 21, 2024, and nearly 29,000 volunteers participated. 

Thank you to all who joined Heal the Bay in Los Angeles County on Coastal Cleanup Day 2024, and a special thank you to our 2024 Coastal Cleanup Day Sponsors:

Read More
Read Less


HEAL THE BAY SUES BIG PLASTIC

09.23.2024 |

NewsPlastic PollutionPress Release

Heal the Bay Sues Big Plastic

Heal the Bay today took historic legal action to put an end to one of the existential threats facing our local beaches and ocean – plastic pollution.

We have joined a coalition of leading environmental groups in filing a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, the world’s largest producer of single-use plastic polymers. California’s Attorney General also filed a similar lawsuit today.

For the past 40 years, we’ve hosted tens of thousands of beach cleanups in L.A. County. Our volunteers have removed over 2 million pounds of plastic-strewn trash from our shorelines and inland waterways.

Today, we say “No more!”

Instead of cleaning up the wreckage created by Big Plastic, we are moving aggressively to stop the harm at its source.

The coalition complaint, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges violations of California’s nuisance law and unfair competition law. In the suit, the plaintiffs argue there must be corporate accountability for a decades-long campaign to bury the truth about the known environmental, economic and human health impacts caused by plastics.

The bold action harkens back to Heal the Bay’s first victory in 1990, when it successfully secured a legal settlement with the City of Los Angeles to stop dumping partially treated sewage into the Bay from its Hyperion wastewater treatment facility.

Who else is backing the lawsuits against ExxonMobil? 

For months, Heal the Bay’s policy staff has been quietly meeting with our peers at Surfrider Foundation, the Sierra Club and San Francisco Baykeeper. Today’s action marks the first step in a coordinated campaign to legally hold Big Oil accountable for the production of wasteful and harmful single-use plastics.

In April 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into ExxonMobil (and other fossil fuel industry giants) for their role in the plastic pollution problem. Based on those findings, Bonta’s office today filed a concurrent lawsuit against Big Plastic. This marks a more aggressive approach to stop plastic pollution at its source rather than merely remediating it.

What are the environmental harms created by ExxonMobil? 

As alleged in the complaint, ExxonMobil-produced polymer resins are responsible for over 6 million metric tons of plastic waste annually — equivalent to the weight of 300,000 garbage trucks. Polymers are used to produce so-called “nurdles.” These BB-sized plastic pellets are the building blocks of such wasteful and harmful single-use items as plastic bags, water bottles and snack packaging. This debris winds up contaminating our environment and our bodies, at every stage of its product lifecycle. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish, according to some studies.

Why can’t we just do a better job of recycling single-use plastics?

Even with recycling programs in place for decades, less than 5% of domestic plastic is recycled into another plastic product, despite being labeled as “recyclable.” The vast majority of plastics end up littering our public places, winding up in overtaxed landfills, or floating in garbage vortexes in our oceans.

What are the ties between single-use plastics and the worsening climate crisis? 

Given falling demand for gasoline as electric cars proliferate, plastics will be the greatest growth market for Big Oil in the next decade.

Plastic production and disposal are also a significant contributor to ever-worsening climate change, responsible for roughly 3% of all carbon emissions worldwide. The doubling of plastics production in the next two decades will contribute to the wildfires, famine and heat stroke that jeopardize the lives of millions.

How has plastic harmed our bodies? 

Plastic pollution never biodegrades. Instead, plastic pollution breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces — sometimes referred to as microplastics. Avoiding microplastics in our daily lives is virtually impossible. It is in our drinking water, it is in the food we eat, and it is even in the air we breathe.

Over the course of a lifetime, the average person will unknowingly consume more than 40 pounds of plastic.  Microplastics have been found in human blood, heart tissue, placentas, and even breast milk.

A Heal the Bay volunteer sorts through plastic pollution on a Southern California beach.

How can our supporters help? 

Today’s filing is just the first step in what could be a years-long legal fight. Just as with our victory at Hyperion, a steady application of grassroots pressure will be required to force deep-pocketed Big Oil to change its harmful practices.

We will be calling on all our supporters in the coming months to add their voices to the chorus of everyday people fed up with single-use plastics. We will also need the financial assistance of donors to help defray costs associated with the lawsuit.

 

What are the next steps?  

In the next few months, Heal the Bay’s science and policy team will continue to gather data to hold Big Oil’s feet to the fire.

DONATE TO SUPPORT THIS LEGAL ACTION

Today is just the first day in a long fight.

To receive regular updates on how you can make your voice heard, please click here. 

Read More
Read Less


LA Commits $20 Million For 2021 Hyperion Sewage Spill

08.21.2024 |

NewsWater Quality

Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant near El Segundo. Photo by Brittany Murray via LA Waterkeeper

Heal the Bay is encouraged that the City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $20.8 million to make much-needed improvements at its Hyperion Water Reclamation Facility, the site of the 2021 sewage spill that saw 12.5 million gallons of untreated wastewater discharged to Santa Monica Bay.

Three years have passed since the significant spill at the Hyperion Treatment Plant, Los Angeles’ oldest and largest wastewater facility. Since the incident, Heal the Bay has been dedicated to collaborating with LA City Public Works and Sanitation, along with various agencies and organizations, to ensure that any issues within the plant’s system are swiftly addressed. Our ongoing efforts aim to safeguard the health and safety of Hyperion’s workers, the general public, and the environment. For details on Heal the Bay’s initial findings and subsequent recommendations, click here.

Approximately $20 million will be used to rectify ongoing operational issues recently identified by a Technical Advisory Group to ensure that the facility can safely treat wastewater even during large rain events. Those challenges will be exacerbated in the decades to come as climate impacts worsen and we see more frequent and more intense storms. Tracy Quinn, Heal the Bay’s CEO, served on the Technical Advisory Group.

The City of Los Angeles is still negotiating a settlement with the state’s Regional Water Quality Control Board over the massive 2021 spill. We are urging the Regional Board to impose meaningful fines that can be directed toward environmental projects to address the harm caused by discharge. Any fines should also be used to invest in technology that moves the City closer to producing potable recycled water instead of dumping treated wastewater uselessly into the sea. Stay tuned for further updates.

Support Our Work

Read More
Read Less


Exploring LA’s Water Legacy in the Owens Valley

07.05.2024 |

News

When you turn on the tap, do you know where your drinking water comes from?

The typical Angeleno has no idea that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power imports nearly a third of its water from the distant Owens Valley, known by the indigenous Paiute people as Payahuunadü, “The Land of the Flowing Water.”

This water (paya) comes through the LA Aqueduct, which diverts Eastern Sierra snowmelt from the Owens River and Owens Lake. Payahuunadü once served as an oasis with plentiful water supplies. The Paiute people (Nüümü) lived off the land, aided by irrigation channels that spread water throughout the valley.

Within a short time period, the City of Los Angeles drastically reshaped the area with a gravity fed water conveyance system hailed as an engineering miracle when it launched in 1913.

But that 233-mile network of channels and conduits had devastating repercussions for the people and the environment that continue to this day. It essentially eliminated the once-thriving Owens Valley ecosystem and any viable farming.

Photo by Teena Pugliese, walking-water.org

This stark reality was brought into sharp focus for Heal the Bay’s science, policy, and outreach team during a recent trip to the Owens Valley. To better understand L.A.’s checkered relationship with water, seven staff members attended a two-day Walk of Resilience and Accountability hosted by Walking Water, a nonprofit aiming to restore our relationships with water, lands, and people.

In the coming weeks, we will share more details of our journey and staff reflections on how to better secure L.A.’s water future while repairing the harm done to the Owens Valley and its people.

The LA Aqueduct brought water to greater LA in response to continued urbanization and growth of the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s. William Mulholland and the city agency he led, which would become LADWP, looked to the north for new sources of water for thirsty LA.

At opening ceremonies for the Aqueduct, Mulholland famously (and problematically) said of the diverted water: “There it is, take it.” LADWP had bought up property in the Owens Valley, parcel by parcel, posing as ranchers and farmers, to acquire water rights. The movie Chinatown is loosely based on this true story.

Within approximately 10 years, the Aqueduct had completely drained Owens Lake (Patsiata), resulting in the loss of navigable waters, habitat, and an important local food source. The dry lakebed became a major source of dust pollution. Owens Lake has been named as the largest source of dust (specifically PM10) in the U.S., according to the USEPA.

The diversions had and continue to have major detrimental impacts to the environment, people, and wildlife of the Owens Valley. Harmful metals left in the dry lakebed blow across the Valley, causing a slew of breathing problems and other harms to many local residents. Without abundant water, the Paiute people lost their economic livelihood and way of life.

Lawsuits and regulations led to required mitigation for the dust by LADWP, which began the largest dust control project in the nation in the early 2000s. Dust mitigation involves physical alteration of the drained lakebed, irrigation with sprinklers, and planting to keep the dust in place.

During our tour, Heal the Bay connected with staff from the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, local tribes, and allies. We walked, learned, reflected, and connected with water and each other.

We trekked down into and around Patsiata and visited the Three Creeks Collective — land that has been given back to indigenous tribes through the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission and the Collective.

The trip was humbling and transformational for those who attended. We felt incredible gratitude for the experience and to the local indigenous elders and community members and allies for welcoming us so openly.

We heard numerous requests and demands of local agencies, the main one being to the return of local water rights to Payahuunadü.

The City of Los Angeles has grown because of the decisions of the past to divert water from Owens Valley. Nearly 4 million people and a robust economy depend on that water.

Untangling from that water supply will require significantly reduced water demand, innovative planning, and billions of dollars for new water supply and storage infrastructure.

Heal the Bay, and others are actively pushing greater LA to become more water-independent through increased stormwater capture and wastewater recycling. And that will require both higher rates on local water bills and increased infrastructure investment by government agencies. All of these factors affect civic and individual pocketbooks.

Without low-income rate assistance, burdens for these investments will be placed on communities already struggling to pay for their basic needs. Balancing all these competing interests will require great care, diplomacy, and collaboration. Heal the Bay is committed to leading these policy discussions with respect for all interested parties and with science-based recommendations.

We must prioritize truly local water. We can no longer justify diversions from Owens Valley. The ecosystem and environmental justice harms created by the Los Angeles Aqueduct should be rectified by leaving more or all of the water in Payahuunadü and mitigating for past and current impacts.

Here are some great resources to help you get involved in this issue:

Learn More

Websites: The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, The Three Creeks Collective 

Visit: Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Cultural Center 

Watch: Paya – The Water Story of the Paiute (only available on DVD), The Aqueduct Between Us 

Provide Financial Support

Donate financially to the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission

Walk the Land

Attend Walking Water events

The next Walks of Resilience and Accountability will be in Los Angeles Oct. 24-26. Register here.

Register for the ongoing virtual Water Learning Series.

Stay tuned: In our next installment, Heal the Bay staffers will share eyewitness accounts of their walking journey.

Read More
Read Less


Making Waves at the Capitol

07.01.2024 |

NewsTake Action

Heal the Bay’s policy team recently joined hundreds of advocates from across the state in Sacramento for California Ocean Day. Come along with us to learn more about how our team shapes legislation and how supporters like you can help Heal the Bay protect shorelines up and down the coast.

What is California Ocean Day?

California Ocean Day is an annual event where ocean advocates convene in Sacramento to lobby state leaders in support of legislation that safeguards our coast, ocean, and communities. It’s also a great chance to connect with fellow ocean lovers, activists, and decision makers. This year marked the 19th annual California Ocean Day. The event is open to all and is organized by Surfrider Foundation, Environment California, CALPIRG Students, Azul, and CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology.

 

What are the top issues we raised with policymakers in the Capitol? What is our goal?

The Heal the Bay lobby team at the state capitol.

We lobbied for bills that would fight plastic pollution, protect coastal access, improve water quality, protect threatened species, and build ocean resilience in the face of climate change. We also spoke to legislators and their staff about supporting California’s network of 124 marine protected areas (MPAs), restoring the state’s coastal resilience budget, and supporting an equitable climate bond on the ballot this November.

When we visit with elected officials, our goals are to ask for support or opposition on specific state bills, to answer questions, to educate on state bills and ocean issues, to develop relationships, and to let decision makers know what issues are important to Heal the Bay.

 

What are some bills we have on our radar?

We are now over halfway through the 2024 legislative season, and the bills below are still making their way through the lengthy process to become law. We advocated for these bills at Ocean Day and they have now passed their house of origin (the house where they were first introduced i.e. Senate or Assembly), They are now moving through the opposite house, and are still in need of support.

 

Assembly Bill 2236 (Bauer-Kahn) and Senate Bill 1053 (Blakespear): Fix the California Bag Ban

A decade ago, California passed the nation’s first plastic bag ban, helping to reduce pollution from single-use plastic bags at grocery stores. But, due to a loophole in the bill, stores are still distributing thicker plastic bags, claiming them to be reusable. This pair of bills would close this major loophole to ensure consumers are given actual reusable bags or single-use paper bags. The legislation tightens standards for reusable bags and requires stores to provide paper bags made from a required minimum of recycled content.

 

Assembly Bill 2761 (Hart & Lowenthal): Reducing Toxics in Packaging Act

Amid growing concerns over toxic chemicals found in everyday products, AB 2761 is a crucial measure to protect both the environment and public health by targeting hazardous substances in plastic packaging. This bill would ban poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) from all plastic packaging. These substances, often found in packaging, are known to pose serious health risks, including cancer, hormone disruption, and liver damage.

 

Assembly Bill 2214 (Bauer-Kahan): Implementing the Statewide Microplastics Strategy

Growing concerns over microplastics, which account for at least 85% of marine waste and can cause health issues like reproductive difficulties and endocrine disruption, prompted the introduction of this measure. This bill mandates the California Ocean Protection Council to establish an interagency coordination group to tackle microplastics pollution by implementing the already existing Statewide Microplastics Strategy. This legislation is crucial for protecting both ocean and public health and tackling microplastic pollution from the source.

The Heal the Bay lobby team with Assemblymember Gregg Hart (center).

With so much competition from other pressing issues, what is our strategy for raising our issues on lawmakers’ agendas?

When we meet with decision-makers, we prioritize speaking to what is important to that lawmaker. For example, some representatives are really focused on a healthy economy, so we focus on laws that help to build a blue economy, while also conserving our ocean and coast. For others, bills that focus on environmental justice goals, such as climate bills and coastal access bills, truly resonate. Effective advocacy is all about connecting with our audience. By learning as much as we can about the legislators we are speaking with, we can drive our message home and get the focus these issues need to implement real change.

 

How do we work with other allies to get things done?

When we go to Sacramento, we join other organizations interested in the same collective goal. We split into inter-organizational teams and attend scheduled meetings with elected officials or their staff. Typically, Heal the Bay is part of three or four teams, so our message regarding the health and safety of Los Angeles’ watersheds and coastal region is heard by a wider audience of legislative offices.

During California Ocean Day, Heal the Bay joined numerous other organizations including Surfrider, Black Surfers Collective, California Coast Keeper Alliance, AZUL, Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples, CAL PIRG, 5 Gyres, Environment California, and many others. Our voices are most powerful when we come together, which makes lobby days like Ocean Day so effective.

 

How do we remain optimistic when bureaucracy moves slowly and bills sometimes die before coming to a vote?

This is perhaps the hardest part of our jobs as advocates. Just this year, Heal the Bay began the legislative season co-sponsoring Senate Bill 1167 (Blakespear) which would have required reusable cups for dining in at chain restaurants across the state. While we put a great deal of effort into pushing this bill forward, it sadly did not pass out of its first committee. It can be a gutting moment, but our team has honed the skill of learning from these experiences and going back to the drawing board with an even better law. Good laws don’t pass overnight, and with time, we often end up with an even better piece of legislation than we would have on our first attempt. That is the real silver lining in temporary defeat. We are already excited to focus on passing reuse laws locally here in Los Angeles to help boost our next attempt at a state law.

 

How can the general public support our policy and legislative work?

Make your voice heard. The best way to get bills passed is for decision-makers to hear from their constituents – that means YOU! It may sound trite, but your voice really does matter. A phone call to your representative can mean the difference between a bill becoming law or not. Head to https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ to find out who your state representatives are. Call them and ask them to vote YES on the bills we listed above.

 

Use this handy script to make your phone call extra easy:

“Hi, my name is __________ and I am a resident of __________ and a constituent of representative__________. As an active member of my community with concerns about our oceans and public health, I urge you to vote YES on SB 1053, AB 2236, AB 2761, and AB 2214. These bills will protect our oceans and the health of my community by reducing plastic pollution and removing dangerous chemicals from products I use. Thank you for your time.”

The Heal the Bay science team.

Beyond taking action, you can follow along on our work! Through our channels, like social media, newsletters, and blogs like this one, Heal the Bay shares updates on the laws we are working on and action alerts to get the community involved. Attend an advocacy training, follow us on Instagram, become a volunteer, clean up a beach, or donate to our cause – all these actions greatly help support our work and our broader goal of healthy, safe, clean water for all Angelenos.

Read More
Read Less