Heal the Bay’s CEO, Tracy Quinn, co-chaired on the Commission’s Water Working Group, leading the effort to design critical water protection and reliability measures that will curb climate-related water impacts and pollution and increase fire resilience in high risk communities. This includes solutions focusing on the protection of waterways and infrastructure from climate pollution, the implementation of robust water safety testing plans, the creation of climate-resilient water infrastructure, and the ways to ensure firefighters have the water they need.
The next step will be working with decision-makers at the local, state, and federal levels to implement these solutions. Details below.
The independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery released a final report today outlining ways to ensure a resilient and sustainable recovery from the devastating 2025 LA wildfires and make the region better prepared for future climate disasters. The report assesses a range of recovery and preparation issues, providing important recommendations for efficient and climate-smart rebuilding, equitable recovery, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Water safety and resilience is also a key focus of the report. Heal the BayCEO, Tracy Quinn, served as a co-chair on the Commission’s Water Working Group, driving forward the development of critical water protection and reliability measures in the face of increased climate-related water impacts and pollution.
“Like so many, these fires forced me to learn firsthand about the recovery, remediation, and preparedness steps we, as individuals, need to take to better protect our homes and families from the impact of climate change,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO of Heal the Bay. “This report provides a broader community-wide lens, seeking to improve our building standards, address our infrastructure needs, and provide equitable funding approaches for recovery and resilience.”
“It also takes a look at how to preserve our most precious resource: water,” Quinn continued. “We need our water resources to be readily available during any crisis and we need the ability to deliver it. We need our waterways and water reserves to be protected against disaster-related toxic contamination. We need to have the tools in place to comprehensively test water safety before we drink or recreate in it after a disaster strikes. And we need to ensure our wastewater systems are built to withstand disaster – and not become part of the problem. This report outlines essential steps we need to take to keep our most precious resource abundant and safe from climate harm.”
Some of the key water quality and safety recommendations found in the report include:
Protecting Waterways and Infrastructure from Climate-Related Pollution
Implement erosion control measures and nature-based solutions to safeguard watersheds and water infrastructure from post-disaster sedimentation, runoff, and debris flows.
Establish buffer zones to help protect communities, reducing potential for secondary harm to waterways.
Implementing Robust Water Safety Testing Plans
Update state legislation to require water systems to test for a broad array of contaminants before lifting health notices.
Improve and implement communication protocols for post-disaster water testing results.
Ensuring Water Infrastructure is Climate-Resilient
Conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of water and sewer infrastructure.
Site new systems outside of high-risk areas.
Ensure rebuilding along the Pacific Coast Highway properly assesses wastewater treatment and conveyance alternatives to avoid sewage overflow and leakage into the ocean.
Ensuring Water Infrastructure Maintains Pressure for Firefighting
Utilize low impact development (LID) stormwater capture strategies to increase water supply redundancy
Upgrade systems to meet modern fire flow requirements.
Test flow rates and system capacity under peak demand and emergency conditions.
Detailed Water Recommendations can be found in the Chapter entitled WATER SYSTEM RESILIENCE AND SAFETY on page 60 of the report.
The Commission was created on February 13, 2025, in the wake of the LA fires, to develop a set of policy recommendations to promote a safe, resilient recovery for Los Angeles. The Commission includes a broad cross-section of volunteer technical experts and professionals from governmental, academic, public interest, and other civic institutions. Implementation is critical to the impact of these recommendations and will require engagement with decision-makers at the local, state, and Federal levels.
Discover how Heal the Bay and partners are rescuing endangered tidewater gobies and restoring habitats devastated by the Palisades fire.
UPDATE 6/18/2025
On June 17, 2025, after five months of expert care at Heal the Bay Aquarium and the Aquarium of the Pacific, a group of federally endangered northern tidewater gobies were released back into their natural habitat—Topanga Lagoon. These tiny, often-overlooked fish were originally rescued in January after the Palisades Fire devastated their home.
Thanks to a collaborative effort between local aquariums, scientists, and government agencies, these resilient gobies not only survived—they’re now back in the wild, where they play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of coastal ecosystems.
Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at their release, the community partnerships that made it possible, and what this means for the future of endangered species conservation in Southern California.
In the aftermath of the fires, our Aquarium Animal Care Team took in 160 federally endangered Tidewater Gobies that were rescued from contaminated waters in Topanga Creek. We’re just one of two facilities to house them in response to the fires, authorized by US Fish and Wildlife Services. While we await confirmation that they can safely be released back into the wild, our experienced team is providing daily care and supporting any natural breeding that may occur, as spring is their peak spawning season. These efforts will continue to support the survival of this vital species.
On March 6, 2025, the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains found a number of healthy adult gobies in the Topanga Lagoon, generating hope for the revival of this important ecosystem. However, a recent survey of the Topanga Lagoon indicates that the Goby habitat has not yet been sufficiently restored to safely release the gobies. We are optimistic about returning the rescued fish to their natural habitat sometime in May. Even after the return of the gobies, Heal the Bay hopes to continue working with USFW initiatives in supporting this essential endangered species work.
UPDATE 2/10/2025
Humans aren’t the only ones who lost their homes in the horrific Palisades fire. The blazes destroyed acres of habitat for local wildlife. They also created polluted runoff that is now fouling the creeks and ponds where many species live.
That’s why the Heal the Bay Aquarium has taken in around 160 tidewater gobies, a local endangered species of fish living in Topanga’s brackish waters. Now that they have been collected from impacted waterways, these small creatures will receive special care from our highly experienced animal care staff for the next several months.
Heal the Bay is supporting the rescue in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Dr. Brenton Spies, a researcher from the University of the Channel Islands and former aquarist at Heal the Bay. Spies has a long history with these unique little fish. This collaborative effort is not just about saving a species — it’s a hopeful step in preserving the entire ecosystem after the devastating fires.
Gobies are endangered but amazing
The tidewater goby, Eucyclogobius newberryi, is a federally endangered species. It is a tiny bottom-dwelling fish that lives in the marshes, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries of California. It feeds mainly on super tiny animals, like mysid shrimp, amphipods, and aquatic insect larvae. Gobies serve as an important food source for many shore birds, the southern steelhead trout and the all-important California halibut.
These endangered fish are definitely cute (only about two inches long), but they’re also pretty tough. Tidewater gobies can endure extreme water salinities ranging from 0-42 ppt. They can also survive massive temperature changes, sometimes enduring jumps from 46 to 87 degrees. They even thrive in natural pools with super-low oxygen levels.
As resilient as these tiny fish are, they’ve been severely impacted by coastal development, the degradation of habitat, and the alteration of naturally occurring water flows. Few other fish species can survive the variable conditions of lagoons, so tidewater gobies have few native predators or competitors but have suffered significant losses from invasive species introduced to their regions.
Caring for gobies at Heal the Bay
The endangered gobies are currently housed in two isolated systems at the Aquarium. We have separated them by size and supplied them each with PVC pipe so they can create their own dwellings and live comfortably during their time with us. They consume live plankton, known as brine shrimp. They’ve been eating readily, which indicates they are adjusting well to a new environment.
The gobies aren’t on public display yet, but we’re working on a dedicated exhibit to showcase them. In the meantime, we’re giving them the space to settle in and adjust to our presence. We can’t wait to share them with visitors once they’re ready.
As part of our partnership with Santa Monica College, we aim to introduce students in the Sustainable Aquaculture Certification Program to the gobies. The goal of this initiative is to show how conservation aquaculture can help support endangered species. Stay tuned for the public unveiling!
More Resources:
From the LA Times, how Heal the Bay and other conservation groups responded with fish rescue efforts following the Palisades fire.
Become a member of Heal the Bay Aquarium and be the first to know about new exhibits and all the happenings down by the Bay.
In the aftermath of the Los Angeles megafires, there is an increased risk of dangerous debris and pollutants reaching the Santa Monica Bay and its shoreline. Heal the Bay has been monitoring all incoming water quality data from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to determine any potential impact on human health.
UPDATE – NEW DATA COLLECTED ON MAY 1, 2025 – Results are consistent with previous sampling efforts (i.e. no exceedances of risk screening levels). Get the full update below.
What You Need to Know:
There are no existing guidelines to determine human health risk from swimming or surfing in the ocean after an urban fire. This makes it challenging to determine risk to public health from contaminants entering the bay from the burn areas. Heal the Bay used the EPA Risk Screening Tool to evaluate risks to public health.
Recent water testing does not reveal any urgent, lethal threats. Data appears to be below the calculated risk-thresholds for human health.
Acquiring missing data is key to ensuring safety. Previous data did not include testing for specific — and particularly concerning — types of arsenic and chromium: Inorganic Arsenic or Hexavalent Chromium (also known at Chromium-6), both of which can be harmful in lower concentrations.
UPDATE: Hexavalent Chromium was included in the more recent testing, but Inorganic Arsenic was not. More details below.
Key Findings:
Arsenic: All samples were analyzed for Total Arsenic, which is a combination of Organic Arsenic and Inorganic Arsenic.
Inorganic Arsenic is highly toxic but health impacts are most common with exposure from drinking water or contaminated foods.
Total Arsenic levels exceed the median background (i.e. pre-existing) concentration (1.490 µg/L), suggesting elevated levels potentially resulting from the fire.
UPDATE: Inorganic Arsenic was not included in the latest round of sampling by the LA Regional Water Board. Since our last post, we have been meeting with a group of toxicologists and public health experts. These toxicology experts do not believe testing for inorganic arsenic is warranted because inorganic arsenic is primarily hazardous when ingested; dermal contact is not considered a significant route of exposure under typical environmental conditions.
Heal the Bay continues to advocate for testing of inorganic arsenic. It will provide a more in-depth understanding of risk, and can also provide peace of mind for beach visitors.
Chromium: The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board analyzed for Total Chromium, which includes Trivalent Chromium (an essential nutrient with no known health risks) and Hexavalent Chromium. While there is no human health risk threshold for Total Chromium, the risk threshold for Hexavalent Chromium is 0.1 µg/L.
Hexavalent Chromium, also known as Chromium 6, is usually produced by an industrial process, such as hardening alloy steel, and is known to cause cancer and can target the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin, and eyes.
Until now, water samples have only been tested for Total Chromium. Although Hexavalent Chromium was not specifically analyzed during that time, results consistently showed Not Detected (ND) for Total Chromium. However, the detection limit for Total Chromium was approximately 16 µg/L, while the median background concentration was only 0.37 µg/L. Thus, even if Hexavalent Chromium were present at harmful levels, it would go undetected.
In the May 1st samples, Hexavalent Chromium was tested for the first time, and results were reported as “Not Detected (ND)”. However, these results areinconclusive because the detection limit was not provided and the Reporting Limits were higher than the human health risk threshold for Hexavalent Chromium which is 0.1 µg/L. Without knowing how low the analytical method can detect, we cannot determine whether Hexavalent Chromium is below the risk threshold.
While we don’t have any information that would point to the likelihood of chromium in our coastal waters, Heal the Bay urges caution and recommends retesting all locations for Hexavalent Chromium using methods with detection limits below the risk threshold of 0.1 µg/L. Future testing should ensure methods are sensitive enough to detect concentrations below the human health risk threshold.
Heal the Bay is planning to collect sand and water samples from three beaches with stormdrain outfalls, including Rustic Creek Outfall. We are reaching out to labs and will plan to include inorganic arsenic and hexavalent chromium.
What’s Next?
More Water Testing. Heal the Bay plans to conduct additional water quality testing and will provide updates when that data is available. Stay tuned.
Recommendations for new public health risk-thresholds for water contamination from climate disasters. Heal the Bay is part of the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Task Force, which is developing new guidelines for fire-related water quality monitoring efforts.
Keeping Yourself and Your Families Safe
Health risk appears to be low for people swimming and surfing in Santa Monica Bay, based on comparisons to risk-thresholds calculated using EPA’s risk-screening level calculator, and the currently available data.
Because we don’t have data on Inorganic Arsenic and debris removal is actively occurring along PCH, which can impact air quality and send debris into the water, we are advising the following precautions for the time being:
Avoid swimming and surfing within 250-yards of active debris removal. While the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) completed their debris removal in May, some properties opted out of this program and active debris removal by private contractors may still be occurring on properties between Carbon Beach and Topanga Creek.
Don’t enter the water for at least 72-hours after a rain event.
Keep an eye out for debris in the water.
Risk tolerance is a very personal decision, we are providing data to help inform your decisions.
Bacteria, unrelated to the fires, can still make people sick. Please check our Beach Report Card (or download our app on your iPhone or Android) for the latest bacteria data at your favorite West Coast beach.
If you care about science-based research that protects our water, shores, and wildlife, please consider donating to Heal the Bay. Your support powers critical water quality investigations, strengthens community connections, and drives policy solutions for a more resilient Los Angeles.
In the aftermath of the Los Angeles megafires, there is an increased risk of dangerous debris and pollutants reaching the Santa Monica Bay and its shoreline. Heal the Bay has been monitoring all incoming data on beach sand – specifically from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Coastal Alliance – to determine any potential impact on human health.
UPDATE – NEW DATA COLLECTED ON APRIL 29 and 30, 2025. Results are consistent with previous sampling efforts (i.e. no exceedances of risk screening levels) and this round includes new tests for Hexavalent Chromium. Get the full update below!
What you need to know:
We lack established guidelines for health risks from contaminated sand. There are no existing human health limits to determine risk from recreating on sand, making it challenging to assess the risk that a day on the beach may have on your health. However, using EPA analytical tools, Heal the Bay has evaluated the most recent sand data from across Santa Monica Bay to provide the public with the best assessment available of current health risk.
Testing of sand does not reveal any urgent, lethal threats. All available data, which includes testing from a variety of heavy metals, including mercury, barium, chromium, arsenic, and lead, appears to be below the risk-thresholds for human health.
Acquiring missing data is key to ensuring safety. Previous data did not include testing for specific — and particularly concerning — types of arsenic and chromium: Inorganic Arsenic or Hexavalent Chromium (also known at Chromium-6), both of which can be harmful in lower concentrations.
UPDATE – sampling conducted on April 29 and April 30 included Hexavalent Chromium. Results discussed below. The Regional Board did not test for Inorganic Arsenic, also discussed below.
Chromium: The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board samples were analyzed for Total Chromium, which is a combination of Trivalent Chromium (an essential nutrient and not a health risk) and Hexavalent Chromium.
Hexavalent Chromium, also known as Chromium 6, is usually produced by an industrial process, such as hardening alloy steel, and is known to cause cancer and can target the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin, and eyes.
While there is no existing human health risk-threshold for Total Chromium concentrations, the levels for Total Chromium were found to be significantly above the human health limit for Hexavalent Chromium of0.1 ug/L, which is the reason we recommended additional testing for Hexavalent Chromium.
In the April 29/30 samples, all test results for Hexavalent Chromium were Not Detected (ND), which is great news. Heal the Bay is recommending that two locations, Surfrider in Malibu and Rustic Creek Outfall, be tested again because the method detection limits applied to samples from those locations exceeded the risk screening level, so the “Not Detected” result does not definitively show that Hexavalent Chromium concentrations are below the risk screening level. Out of an abundance of caution, additional samples should be analyzed for these two locations.
Arsenic: The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board samples were analyzed for Total Arsenic, which is a combination of Organic Arsenic and Inorganic Arsenic.
Inorganic Arsenic is highly toxic but health impacts are most common with exposure from drinking water or contaminated foods. We are investigating the potential health impacts from being exposed while playing in sand.
Total Arsenic concentrations were generally within background levels, meaning levels previously found in the environment before a potential new contamination. We suspect that is because organic arsenic naturally occurs in local soils. However, these levels were above the risk threshold for Inorganic Arsenic. We therefore need to understand the specific levels of Inorganic Arsenic to ensure safety.
Rustic Creek Outfall – Total Arsenic here was at least three times higher than at other burned-area beaches, but still within the upper background limit (12 mg/kg). Therefore, this location requires specific caution and should be avoided until further testing confirms its safety.
UPDATE: Inorganic Arsenic was not included in the latest round of sampling by the LA Regional Water Board. Since our last post, we have been meeting with a group of toxicologists and public health experts. These toxicology experts do not believe testing for inorganic arsenic is warranted because total arsenic levels are within background levels and inorganic arsenic is primarily hazardous when ingested; dermal contact is not considered a significant route of exposure under typical environmental conditions.
Heal the Bay continues to advocate for testing of inorganic arsenic. It will provide a more in depth understanding of risk, and can also provide peace of mind for beach visitors. Heal the Bay is looking into adding inorganic arsenic into our summer sampling events
What’s Next?
Additional Specific Testing for Inorganic Arsenic and Hexavalent Chromium. These findings do not necessarily suggest an immediate public health threat. But they do make clear that we need more testing of the sand, including dedicated testing for Inorganic Arsenic and Hexavalent Chromium to ensure the public has an accurate assessment of risk.
Heal the Bay is planning to collect sand and water samples from three beaches with stormdrain outfalls, including Rustic Creek Outfall. We are reaching out to labs and will plan to include inorganic arsenic and hexavalent chromium.
Recommendations for new public health risk-thresholds for sand contamination from climate disasters. Heal the Bay is part of the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Task Force, which is developing new guidelines for fire-related water quality and sand monitoring efforts. We expect these new guidelines will be released by the end of June.
Keeping Yourself and Your Families Safe
Based on the assessment of currently available data, it appears that the health risk from recreational contact with sand was low at the time of sampling across beaches along Santa Monica Bay. It’s unlikely that contaminant levels have increased since sampling was conducted, but additional testing will help to confirm and provide assurances to beachgoers.
Given that we do not have specific data on Inorganic Arsenic and Hexavalent Chromium, and physical debris hazards have been observed near burned properties along PCH and near stormdrain outfalls that drain areas within the burn area, we are advising the following precautions for the time being:
Avoid beaches within the burn area and within 100-yards of Rustic Canyon Outfall at Will Rogers Beach (near Chautauqua Blvd.) in Santa Monica.
Parents and pet-owners should take extra precautions and ensure children and pets aren’t consuming sand.
Consider wearing shoes if walking in the wet sand or near a stormdrain outfall.
If you see debris that clearly came from a burned structure, do not touch it with your bare hands.
You may also consider rinsing off after returning home from the beach.
Risk tolerance is a very personal decision, we are providing data to help inform your decisions.
We evaluated sand quality data from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board collected between February 25th and 27th. The data is available here.
The LA Regional Board samples were collected from sand/sediment areas that appeared to be the most polluted, including darker “char” in the wet sand and stormwater outfalls.
An example of the sand conditions during February testing. Via Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The LA Regional Board tested for contaminants they determined could potentially be present after an urban fire.
The LA Regional Board will be collecting a second round of samples in May 2025.
We also evaluated sand quality data collected by the CA Coastal Alliance from after the fires through February 14, 2025, which was consistent with the LA Regional Board’s data.
If you care about science-based research that protects our water, shores, and wildlife, please consider donating to Heal the Bay. Your support powers critical water quality investigations, strengthens community connections, and drives policy solutions for a more resilient Los Angeles.
Getting a water-smart recreation area built in marginalized South L.A. was no walk in the park. But Heal the Bay persevered.
Seventeen years ago, residents of South L.A. began working toward a vision: to transform a long-overlooked lot into a vibrant community space. Heal the Bay’s Meredith McCarthy joined that effort as a committed partner, supporting the neighborhood’s leadership and helping to navigate the challenges of funding, permitting, and environmental planning. Together, they turned a neglected space into a thriving public park rooted in community vision and care.This June, Inell Woods Park officially opens—named in honor of a beloved local activist. The quarter-acre, multi-benefit park is designed to improve the quality of life for historically marginalized residents while enhancing the health of the surrounding watershed. Meredith’s persistence, creativity, and patience made this park a reality, despite major hurdles with funding, permitting, construction, and a global pandemic.
Read the full breakdown from Meredith on the story behind her, Heal the Bay, and the community’s shared labor of love, and how this space can serve as a model of hope and smart environmental planning across greater L.A.
So, how did Heal the Bay get involved in building a park in inland L.A.?
In 2008, Heal the Bay was working deep inside Compton Creek watershed, the last major tributary to enter the Los Angeles River before it enters the Pacific Ocean. We understood that the health of our rivers and coastal ocean cannot be separated from the health of our inland neighborhoods. We were committed to showing the interconnection of communities, green space, and public health, particularly in under-resourced neighborhoods. Our goal was to invest in areas where parks were most needed – in historically marginalized areas lacking green space, shade, and clean waterways. Through our community work, we identified a site in South L.A. that could potentially serve as a pilot for our Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Environments Initiative. The idea was fairly simple: build a small multi-benefit park that could achieve two goals simultaneously: make life better for residents while improving water quality in the watershed. Getting it done would prove to be much more complex. But we did it.
Tell us about the site before it was a park?
The park sits on what once was a vacant half-acre parcel of land at 87th Street and McKinley Place, owned by CalTrans. The site was riddled with broken concrete and asphalt, with only a few spindly trees. On any given day you could find abandoned desks, sofas, appliances and worn-out clothes littering the site. It was basically a trash dump. Not only a safety hazard, the eyesore became a magnet for crime and a symbol of civic neglect.
And what challenges does the surrounding community face?
The lot is surrounded by residential homes and apartments, including a large public housing complex to the southwest called Avalon Gardens. Almost 40% of residents live at or below the poverty level. In the State’s CalEnviroScreen, the neighborhood scored in the highest-impacted ranking of 91-100%. Recognizing the environmental and social challenges the community faces, we partnered with local residents to reimagine and revitalize the long-neglected lot into a space that serves their needs.
What are some of the features of this park? What makes it special for this community and the region as a whole?
The park serves as a green space, fitness area, a meeting spot, an environmental education site, and a water quality improvement project, bringing lasting benefits to a resilient and historically underserved neighborhood in Greater L.A. With exercise stations, a tot lot, shaded seating, biodiverse gardens, and a system that captures and reuses stormwater, the park is a prime example of smart water design—using green infrastructure to support both community well-being and cleaner waterways. It’s a valuable space for play, learning, and connection for kids, teens, and seniors alike. The project creates multiple benefits and distinct open spaces designed for active and passive recreation. Equally important, it serves as a beacon of hope for the hard-working families that live in a neighborhood that hasn’t received a lot of infrastructure love or funding.
Why is this project important to Heal the Bay from an overall water quality perspective?
It’s pretty simple: Creating more green space in individual neighborhoods improves water quality throughout all of Los Angeles County’s interconnected watersheds. In addition to providing recreation areas and wildlife habitat, green spaces can function as essential stormwater solutions by capturing and naturally cleansing polluted runoff. These multi-benefit parks improve local water quality, increase water reuse and supply, reduce carbon, and mitigate the heat island effect.
For all the “stormwater wonks” out there, can you explain how the park has been engineered?
The park is designed to capture water when it rains. This prevents polluted runoff from reaching Compton Creek and the Los Angeles River. The stormwater treatment component is the Permavoid system and has been used in several other City of L.A. parks. Permavoid is a multi-functional stormwater management system engineered to create functional and appealing stormwater capture. This system treats stormwater as a resource, rather than a waste product. The captured water will be filtered and used to irrigate the native plants and trees at the park.
How much water can the park capture and reuse?
For LID (low impact development) compliance, the requirement is to capture the 85th percentile storm, which is approximately 1 inch in 24 hours. Based on the design calculations, each storm event of 0.98 inches or more will yield approximately 20,800 gallons of captured runoff for storage in the Permavoid Planter for eventual use. We assume that five or six rain events will meet or exceed the 85th percentile storm in an average year. This would result in approximately 104,000 to 124,000 gallons of rainwater captured for reuse over the rainy season between October and April.
How did the project come together in the beginning?
In 2012 Heal the Bay won an initial $1.3 million grant to design and build the park. But the logistics of remediating an abandoned lot became far more complicated than we had ever imagined. Leasing the land from CalTrans and getting the necessary permits became almost insurmountable, but we stuck to it. Construction costs began to mount, and then the pandemic stalled the park for two years. Councilmember Curren Price Jr., who represents the neighborhood, kept the park on track though. His office helped us secure additional funds from a federal Community Block Grant. Through the efforts of L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Accelerate Resilience LA, the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Bonneville Environmental Fund, we finally secured the $3.1 million to get the park built. After years of delays, we started construction on Feb. 12, 2024.
Meredith, what was the hardest part about getting this park built?
The city bureaucracy can be mind-numbing. There isn’t a rule book or an air traffic controller to help navigate the permitting process. If it weren’t for our amazing project manager, Erin Jones, at Griffin Structures, and engineer Barbara Hall, we wouldn’t be here today.
What’s next? Can these types of projects be replicated at scale?
Inell Woods Park is a good example of how the County’s Safe Clean Water Program aims to increase local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health by focusing efforts on multi-benefit projects in marginalized communities. Multi-benefit projects are the most efficient and effective use of our taxpayer dollars because they are cost-conscious solutions that serve both community and environmental needs. Heal the Bay has spent decades working on smart infrastructure policies and funding measures like Measure A and W to create community-centered improvements. With commitment, we can build more parks like this throughout our region. It’s critical as climate impacts intensify and imported water supplies become more unreliable and expensive.
Why is this project important to you personally?
Inell Woods is proof that multi-benefit projects work. We can use infrastructure dollars to improve the quality of life and clean up stormwater. We aren’t going to support the environment without involving the people, too.
Who motivated you? Who did you meet along the way?
Over the 10 years it took this project to come together, we watched the neighborhood kids grow up. So many amazing families came out to support and share their hopes and dreams about this space. Jimmie Gray, Inell Woods’ daughter, was a tremendous force of love and action. She became our greatest cheerleader.
There were a couple of people that really stuck with us that made the park possible. Darryl Ford at Parks & Rec, who I really believe is the smartest man in the city, never let us down. Sherilyn Correa and Xavier Clark from CD9 sat through hours of meetings and were always willing to go the extra mile and fight to make this happen. Michael Scaduto from LA Sanitation came in later in the process but was keen on streamlining and finding solutions to our permitting and construction frustrations. The vision of this park, however, really belongs to Kendra Okonkwa at the Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists. She made us believe that change could happen in her neighborhood. Finally, I have to honor my partner through most of this, ex HTB-staffer Delaney Alamillo. Her deep love of community and commitment to “listening first” is tattooed on my heart.
Make Your Impact
Your donation to Heal the Bay helps keep our watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for all.
Summer is officially here – the peak season for swimming outdoors. Heal the Bay releases its annual scientific report on bacterial-pollution rankings for hundreds of beaches in California.
For more than 30 years, Heal the Bay has assigned annual “A-to-F” letter grades for 700 beaches from Washington State to Tijuana, Mexico, including 500 California beaches in the 2024-2025 report, based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean measured by County health agencies. The public can check out the updated water quality of their local ocean beaches at beachreportcard.org or by downloading the app on their smartphone.
BEACH BUMMER LIST
Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List ranks the most polluted beaches in California based on levels of harmful bacteria in the ocean.
BEACH HONOR ROLL LIST
This year, 62 out of over 500 monitored beaches in California earned a spot on the Honor Roll, a significant improvement from just 12 beaches last year and only two in 2022–2023. This return to a higher Honor Roll count reflects levels more consistent with the reporting five years ago. The increase in beaches on the Honor Roll this year is likely attributed to less overall rainfall during the 2024–2025 winter season, leading to substantially improved overall coastal water quality.
Avoid shallow, enclosed beaches with poor water circulation.
Swim at least 100 yards away from flowing storm drains, creeks, and piers.
Stay out of the water for at least 72-hours after a rain event.
Follow all local health and safety regulations, including all local pandemic-related regulations.
Check in with the lifeguard or ranger on duty for more information about the best places to swim.
Stay in the know! This year, the annual reports received state and national coverage – appearing in the New York Times, LA Times, and Associated Press.
ACCESS TO WATER RECREATION
The COVID-19 pandemic, record-setting wildfire seasons, and extreme heat have compounded the already dire need for equity in our recreational waters, and exposed major systemic failures; open spaces, including beaches and rivers, are not equally accessible to all people. Low-income communities of color tend to be the most burdened communities, bearing the brunt of environmental pollution, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to safe, healthy, and clean water recreation. Heal the Bay is committed to expanding the user base of our Beach Report Card and River Report Card. We have started by working with local community-based organizations that are taking down barriers to water recreation for communities of color. Through this work, we will amplify what “safe, healthy, and clean access to water recreation” means in the communities where it is needed the most.
About Heal the Bay: Heal the Bay is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985. They use science, education, community action, and advocacy to fulfill their mission to protect coastal waters and watersheds in Southern California with a particular focus on public health, climate change, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Heal the Bay Aquarium, located at the Santa Monica Pier, welcomes 100,000 guests annually and hosts a variety of public programs and events that highlight local environmental issues and solutions. Learn more at healthebay.org and follow @healthebay on social media or watch this short video.
The Beach Report Card Heal with NowCast, in partnership with SIMA Environmental Fund, and SONY Pictures Entertainment, is Heal the Bay’s flagship scientific water quality monitoring program that started in the 1990s. For more than thirty years, the Beach Report Card has influenced the improvement of water quality by increasing monitoring efforts and helping to enact strong environmental and public health policies. Learn more at beachreportcard.org and download the free app on Apple and Android devices. The Beach Report Card is made possible through generous support from SIMA Environmental Fund and SONY Pictures Entertainment.
About River Report Card: Currently, there is no statewide water quality monitoring mandate for rivers and streams in California, like exists for the ocean as a result of the Beach Report Card. Heal the Bay started the River Report Card in 2017 to push for new public health protections for freshwater areas in addition to serving the immediate need for increased public awareness about the risks at popular freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County. Learn more at healthebay.org/riverreportcard. The River Report Card is supported by Environment Now.
As of April 21, harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring by SCCOOS has detected elevated levels of saxitoxin-producing dinoflagellate (Alexandrium) in the waters off Santa Monica. Meanwhile, the algae responsible for producing domoic acid (Pseudo-nitzschia) are still being detected off our coast and show significant spikes in March and April. This dual bloom event may intensify the impacts on marine wildlife, contributing to the recent surge in animal distress and mortality along our coast.
If you see a distressed or deceased marine mammal, it’s important to stay safe and protect the animal by working with local authorities, including lifeguards. Never approach, touch, or attempt to move an impacted animal. Read on to learn more about this algal bloom, how to report marine mammals in need, and how to stay safe.
Southern California is currently experiencing a significant harmful algal bloom (HAB) that poses serious threats to marine life and public health.
You may have recently seen disturbing reports of disoriented sea lions or deceased dolphins along the California coast. These marine mammals are experiencing the effects of harmful neurotoxins due to a toxic algal bloom. As the number of beached and injured animal cases rises, so does the spread of misinformation about their cause, their impact on marine life, and whether it’s connected to recent wildfires. Heal the Bay’s science team is here to break down the facts about this bloom and share what beachgoers, anglers, and coastal communities need to know to stay informed and safe.
The Bloom Below the Surface
Current Status of the Algal Bloom
The recent bloom was first detected in San Diego in December 2024, but the toxic algal bloom intensified in mid-February as it moved into Los Angeles County. It has now spread along the entire Southern California coastline and into Baja, affecting all Southern California counties from San Diego to Santa Barbara, and is now being detected along Central California waters as well.
What type of algae is this?
This bloom is primarily caused by the algae species Pseudo-nitzschia, a type of phytoplankton that produces domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin that causes domoic acid poisoning, also referred to as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. However, this is a unique and somewhat unprecedented bloom as we are also seeing another plankton, a type of dinoflagellate, blooming and producing saxitoxin, a different and yet equally dangerous neurotoxin that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. Marine life has been severely impacted, with reports indicating that hundreds of sea lions, dolphins, whales, and seabirds have been affected. These toxins accumulate in shellfish and small finfish such as sardines and anchovies, which are common prey for these marine animals, leading to neurological symptoms such as disorientation, seizures, and death.
Red-hued algal bloom appearing in SoCal waters. Photo by Laura Rink, Associate Director of Operations for the Heal the Bay Aquarium.
Are these types of algae blooms natural or unnatural?
While harmful algal blooms are natural occurrences in California’s marine ecosystems, their frequency and intensity are exacerbated by climate change and pollution. Warmer waters, increased nutrient runoff, and increased winds leading to increased upwelling (a natural occurrence that brings nutrient-rich water up to the surface from deeper water) create an ideal environment for algae to bloom. This is the fourth consecutive year that Southern California has experienced a severe, harmful algal bloom.
Did the January 2025 Wildfires cause this event?
We cannot definitively link this bloom to the wildfires, considering that high algal levels were detected before the fires began, and impacts from domoic acid have been observed for the last four years. However, it is possible that the post-fire conditions contributed to the algal bloom’s intensity this year.
The same high winds that intensified the firestorm also may have increased nutrient upwelling. After the fire, heavy rains washed nutrients such as sulfates, nitrates, and phosphorus found in ash and fire retardants onto the coastline. This influx of nutrients into coastal waters can stimulate the growth of algae, including harmful species. Additionally, wildfire ash can introduce iron into marine ecosystems, further promoting algal proliferation, but we do not yet have sufficient scientific evidence to see a definitive correlation between this year’s megafires and this year’s harmful algal bloom.
Wildlife Encounters & Seafood Warnings
What do I do if I encounter sick or injured marine life on the beach?
Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP / Getty Images
While we have experienced serious, harmful algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks for the past few years, this particular bloom affects even more animals than we have seen recently, including sea lions, seals, and dolphins. If you are visiting the beach, you may come across wildlife that is affected by domoic acid poisoning. The public is urged to exercise caution when encountering marine animals that appear sick, injured, or deceased. DO NOT APPROACH ANY ANIMALS.
Domoic acid poisoning can cause marine mammals to exhibit unusual or aggressive behavior, posing potential risks to human safety. As many Angelenos have probably heard, there have been recent incidents of sea lions exhibiting aggressive behavior towards humans, likely due to domoic acid exposure. These animals are also very sick and need space to avoid harming them further. While it is always illegal to approach a marine mammal due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is critical to exercise caution now. If you come across such animals:
Do Not Approach: Maintain a safe distance to avoid potential injury to you or the animal. Do NOT touch the animal.
Contact Authorities: Report the sighting to local marine mammal rescue organizations or wildlife authorities.
To report a live marine mammal in need, call the Marine Mammal Care Center’s hotline at 1-800-399-4253
To report a deceased marine mammal from the Southern Border of LA County to the City of Malibu line, call the OARRA hotline at 949-276-2237
To report a stranded marine mammal in Malibu, call NOAA’s Malibu hotline at 866-767-6114
Follow Instructions: Provide accurate information about the animal’s location and condition, and follow any guidance provided by authorities.
Is it safe to swim in the algae-abundant waters?
When the “red tide” comes in, some surfers won’t hesitate to risk the pungent waters for the perfect break. But is it safe to be in the water during a visible algae bloom? While domoic acid and saxitoxin are generally only dangerous to humans when consumed in affected seafood like shellfish, they don’t pose a significant risk to swimmers. That said, the marine life impacted by this outbreak may behave erratically, which can pose a risk to recreators. Risk is a personal choice, however we at Heal the Bay don’t recommend swimming in affected waters out of an abundance of caution.
Can I eat locally caught shellfish?
Humans can get very sick from eating shellfish that have been contaminated with domoic acid and/or saxitoxin. In response to the elevated levels of these toxins in samples, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued multiple shellfish advisories in the past month.
The advisories warn against the consumption of recreationally harvested mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties due to the risk of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).
Symptoms of ASP can range from gastrointestinal distress to severe neurological issues, including memory loss. Symptoms of PSP begin with tingling around the mouth and fingertips, followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings from either ASP or PSP, death can occur.
What does this mean for seafood lovers? Stay away from locally caught shellfish for now to stay safe until this bloom dissipates – cooking does NOT eliminate these toxins from food.
Should I stay away from commercial shellfish products?
Commercial shellfish products remain safe for consumption, as they are subject to rigorous testing before reaching the market.
Heal the Bay’s Initiatives and Resources
Heal the Bay remains deeply committed to safeguarding the health of our coastal waters and marine life and the public health of all Angelenos. In light of recent wildfires and their potential impact on ocean health, we have launched the “Ash to Action” initiative, focusing on monitoring and mitigating wildfire-related pollutants in our waterways. Our dedicated water quality scientists have worked around the clock to collect, test, and analyze water samples from in and around the burn zone and we recently published those results to keep the public informed. We will continue to work with local County and City officials and other scientists to gather and disseminate information about post-fire water quality. To stay up to date, follow us on social media @healthebay, subscribe to our newsletters, and bookmark the Ash to Action splash page.
For more information, watch our recent webinar with the Marine Mammal Care Center where we answer questions about this harmful algal bloom. Click here to watch. Password: WELOVE0URBAY! (the “O” in “OUR” is a Zero)
Note: This information is based on the latest available data as of April 24, 2025. For real-time updates and advisories, please refer to official sources such as the California Department of Public Health, SCCOOS HAB Bulletin, and local wildlife authorities.
In late January, Heal the Bay’s staff scientists began collecting ocean-water samples from 10 shoreline sites along the Bay to test for heavy metals, PCBs, asbestos, and other toxins. See our water quality testing timeline
The ocean water advisories along LA’s coast have been lifted, and based on recent data, Heal the Bay is cautiously optimistic that chemical contamination from the fires no longer poses a major risk for beachgoers. Post-fire debris is still a danger.
Is it finally safe to swim and surf? This week the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lifted the ocean water advisories along LA’s coast. Based on data collected in January and February, Heal the Bay is cautiously optimistic that the chemical contamination from the fires does not pose a significant risk for recreation at our local beaches or in our coastal waters. However, the burn area may still pose some risks to beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers. Here’s what we know:
Physical debris is still being observed in the water and along the shore, primarily off the coast of the burn area from Las Flores to Will Rogers Beach. The good news is that LA County Beaches and Harbors is reporting a decrease in the volume of debris washing onto our shores. But because debris can include sharp objects, everyone should continue to use extra caution to avoid anything that looks like wildfire reminants, whether on the sand or in our coastal waters.
Debris removal has begun on the 300 homes along PCH that were tragically lost in the fires. While this is great news for the bay, there may be a risk to human health within 250 yards of debris removal activity. The LA County Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory stating that it is not safe to reside within 250 yards of debris removal because the activity can disturb contaminants and send them into the air and water. Out of an abundance of caution, Heal the Bay would like to highlight that recreating within 250 yards of debris removal may also pose additional risk to beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers.
If you choose to visit our beaches or get in the water, HTB recommends the following safety precautions:
Avoid areas within 250 yards of active debris removal.
Wear closed-toe shoes if walking on wet sand, as debris such as broken glass and structural fragments may still wash ashore.
Never touch trash or debris with bare hands.
Keep children and pets away from debris, especially in wet sand or high tide areas, where contamination risk may be higher.
Do not approach injured or distressed wildlife. If you have concerns about a marine mammal, contact the Marine Mammal Care Center at (1-800-39-WHALE).
Heal the Bay continues to urge beachgoers to recreate south of Santa Monica at Montana Avenue or north of the fire boundary in Malibu, where impacts are significantly lower.
Avoid eating seafood caught in Santa Monica Bay. Contaminants in the ocean water exceed safe levels for fish consumption. Additionally, the SoCal coast is experiencing a harmful algal bloom, which may pose a risk when consuming locally caught shellfish.
Please use this information to make informed choices for your safety and the well-being of your family and pets. The LA Regional Water Quality Control Board has also published risk-based recreational thresholds and a tool to help beachgoers decide how often they can safely enjoy the coastal waters.
While the beaches are open to the public now, the long-term impacts of wildfire contamination continue to raise concerns. Our January data shows elevated levels of heavy metals in the bay, posing risks to marine life. Heal the Bay continues to investigate the effects of wildfire-related pollutants and bioaccumulation in our coastal ecosystems, but we can’t do it without you. Visit healthebay.org/donate to support our science, safety, and post-fire recovery work. Together, we can protect what we love.
UPDATE MARCH 27, 2025
**New data has become available since March 27. An update is coming soon.
According to water-quality testing results released today by Heal the Bay, local marine life faces significant and ongoing threats from heavy metals that leached into Santa Monica Bay after January’s Palisades wildfires.
PRESS RELEASE 3/27/2025 –Test results from 10 collection sites along the entire length of Santa Monica Bay show that immediately after the fires, water quality at LA’s beaches was much better than expected, diminishing fears about human health impacts from polluted runoff in fire-scarred areas. We cannot definitively say that the water is safe until we have additional data and information about risk-thresholds for recreational contact, but based on the data we have seen to date, we are cautiously optimistic.
However, our analysis indicates that marine mammals, multiple fish populations, and other species further down the food chain are at serious risk from elevated levels of beryllium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead, and other harmful heavy metals and nutrients.
Silver, arsenic and zinc were also detected above average marine-health limits. Aluminum, iron, and manganese also showed elevated levels, though no marine health limits exist for these metals. In all, Heal the Bay staff scientists and a regional water agency tested for 116 known pollutants at multiple sites in January and February. (Please click here for a detailed analysis of the results, our data spreadsheet, and raw data from the PHYSIS lab.
Following heavy seasonal rains, toxic pollutants washed into the intertidal zones from burned structures and scorched earth in the Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. Waves lapping onto fire-ravaged buildings along Pacific Coast Highway continue to sweep harmful metals into the sea.
Even at low concentrations, heavy metals can disrupt vital biological processes, damage cells, and impair reproductive and immune functions for marine life. Metals can also be transferred and magnified through the food chain. This impacts the entire food web, which inevitably impacts humans. In short, when animals get sick, humans can get sick, particularly from consuming seafood that has a bioaccumulation of metals in their systems.
Heal the Bay is urging authorities to expedite the removal of burned-out structures and other fire-related debris from PCH as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some homeowners have been slow to respond to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ offers to facilitate debris removal. Roughly 45 shoreline homeowners have opted out of the program, while nearly 100 have not responded at all. Whether or not a homeowner decides to use the US Army Corps of Engineers or a private contractor, it’s imperative that debris removal happens quickly.
“Every day that hazardous debris remains along the coast, more harmful contaminants flow into the sea,” says Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay. “If we want to give our marine life a fighting chance, we need that debris removed as soon as possible.”
The most concerning findings come from the hardest-hit fire areas, including Topanga Beach, the Big Rock section of Malibu, and Will Rogers State Beach near Pacific Palisades. However, the waters around Santa Monica Pier and Dockweiler State Beach also spiked for heavy metals — suggesting that more studies are needed to understand the movement of contaminants offshore or identify other sources.
Because it is now March, these data do not tell us the current conditions in Santa Monica Bay, but they do provide valuable insight into the impacts of the Palisades Fire on marine life and the potential impacts on human health.
Risk tolerance is a personal decision. Here is some information that can help beachgoers decide if, when, and where they may want to enter the ocean.
The contaminants tested seem to be below human health limits for recreational contact for the data where limits could be identified. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is still assessing risk-thresholds, including those for PAH, a harmful organic compound related to fire-scorched debris.
PAHs, the group of contaminants that may be above human health limits, are unlikely to sicken people who swim or surf a few times, but frequent or prolonged exposure may contribute to an increased risk for future chronic health issues.
Beachgoers should also be careful about walking on the sand, which may contain sharp fire-related debris like nails and broken glass. For the time being, Heal the Bay recommends avoiding beaches within the fire-impacted areas and as far south as Montana Ave in Santa Monica. The Regional Water Quality Control Board has already posted some sand and sediment data for LA’s beaches. We are waiting for the complete test results to post our analysis. Stay tuned.
The fire and recent marine mammal deaths
It’s also worth noting the recent uptick in marine mammal beach stranding and deaths in Santa Monica Bay related to domoic acid poisoning. Elevated levels of runoff-related nutrients can contribute to the development of algal blooms in the Bay and accumulate in shellfish. When mammals consume shellfish, they can get sick and die from the neurotoxins produced by certain algae.
This is the fourth consecutive year of domoic acid outbreaks. The recent fires did create a significant dump of nutrients like sulfate and phosphorous into the ocean, but there is no evidence, yet, of a correlation between the wildfires and the domoic acid outbreak.
About the testing
On Jan. 24-25, before the first winter storms came, Heal the Bay staff collected ocean-water samples at 10 shoreline sites across Santa Monica Bay. From Paradise Cove to Malaga Cove, they tested for 116 pollutants. They took samples again on Jan. 28, after heavy rainfall, to better understand how stormwater might carry toxins from the burn zone.
Processing samples took multiple weeks due to the complexity of sample preparation, the need for precise instrumentation, and the rigorous quality control required. It also took several weeks to receive the data results back from Physis Lab. Then, additional time was needed for Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Team to analyze and assess the data.
Staff members from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health collected water samples on Feb. 18, which Heal the Bay also analyzed for its report. After the intense Feb. 13 storms, testing showed elevated levels of contaminants that do not have established risk-thresholds for recreational contact. Further analysis is required and will be included in an upcoming post.
Heal the Bay is part of a collaborative task force working with government agencies, researchers, and other nonprofits to better understand the extent of the contamination and how to clean it up efficiently. We will be updating our analysis and sharing the findings in the weeks to come as soon as new data becomes available.
Heal the Bay is the only organization providing this kind of in-depth analysis of water quality data.
But to continue this important work, we need your support. If you’d like to see more of these efforts, please consider donating.
Watch the Webinar for today’s latest Heal the Bay Ash to Action Updates.
Learn about the critical work that Heal the Bay and its academic partners are doing to protect the environment and monitor water quality in Santa Monica Bay.
UPDATE MARCH 13, 2025
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has released its 2025 Post-Fire Water Quality Monitoring results.
“The board has been working with Los Angeles County to monitor ocean water quality since Jan. 22, 2025. Samples are collected regularly at 12 beach sites from La Costa Beach to Dockweiler Beach by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. They then are analyzed by the board for metals, nutrients, polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are chemicals that may be found in water runoff based on previous California wildfires.” (Waterboards.ca.gov)
Post-Fire Water Quality in Santa Monica Bay: We reviewed results from the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH).
Recent wildfires in Los Angeles that started on January 07, 2025, have impacted water quality in Santa Monica Bay. To understand the extent of these water quality impacts, we looked for contaminants that are likely to be mobilized after a wildfire, and that pose a risk to human and ecological health when concentrations are elevated; this includes heavy metals, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), nutrients, bacteria, and solids that decrease water clarity. Right now, Heal the Bay has data that our staff collected for bacteria and water clarity (referred to as “turbidity”), which have faster processing times and which we can test on-site in the Heal the Bay lab, while other contaminant samples were sent to a contracted lab to process.
While we wait for Heal the Bay’s results for the other contaminants, we reviewed results from the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH), which took samples on January 22, 2025, and January 27, 2025, at beaches from Las Flores State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach. These data points are representative of water quality before and after the first flush rain event, over a month ago. Since then, we have had additional significant rainfall, including nearly two inches of rain on February 13, 2025, which, unfortunately, was not tested by DPH in time to provide wet weather data. Data that are more recent will provide needed insight into overall conditions in our coastal waters. Heal the Bay will continue to provide updates as new data become available.
Water contact limits do not exist for most of the contaminants of concern associated with wildfires, so to understand potential health risks, we compared results to limits in the CA Drinking Water standards, the CA Ocean Plan (for both human health and marine life), and the Hawai‘i Department of Health Surface Water Action Levels for Marine Habitats (used to assess impacts of the Lahaina Fires). Our initial findings show elevated heavy metals, bacteria, nutrients, and other organic compounds, along with a decline in water clarity, all of which indicate that wildfire runoff does pose a risk to human and ecological health and that contamination is traveling beyond the immediate burn zone.
Key Findings from January 22 and 27, 2025:
Heavy Metals and Metalloids: Aluminum, iron, selenium, and manganese were elevated above drinking water standards, sometimes as much as 10x the limit. This is not an immediate human health threat,but we urge caution if there is the possibility of ingestion. These four metals, in addition to arsenic, copper, and zinc, also exceeded safety thresholds for marine health, particularly at Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach, posing a health risk to marine life. Even at low concentrations, these metals can disrupt vital biological processes, damage cells, and impair reproductive and immune functions for marine animals.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons): PAHs were detected at unsafe levels, based on human health standards in the CA Ocean Plan, at Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach and were not detected at other sites. This poses a site-specific risk to human health within the burn zone.
Nutrients: Elevated phosphorus levels have increased nutrient concentration in Santa Monica Bay, leading to the formation of a persistent brown foam along the shoreline and increasing the risk of algal blooms.
Turbidity & Solids: While turbidity may not pose a direct risk to public health, it can disrupt biological processes for marine life, and water clarity can help to show how far runoff from the burn zone traveled along the coastline. Water clarity declined significantly after rain from Surfrider Beach down to at least Dockweiler Beach, indicating wildfire runoff spread beyond the burn zone. Turbidity levels were consistently good at Paradise Cove (north of the burn zone) and Malaga Cove (just north of Palos Verdes Peninsula), indicating boundaries on the extent of pollution traveling up and down the coastline, but that boundary is not yet clear.
Bacterial Contamination: High bacteria levels were observed near storm drains, worsening after rainfall, following the typical pattern for bacterial pollution in Santa Monica Bay.
What You Need to Know:
A day at the beach should never make anyone sick. Heal the Bay is dedicated to protecting public health by sharing water quality information, and we remain concerned about the potential risks associated with post-fire contamination in ocean water and sand. Additionally, hazardous debris, such as nails and pipes, continues to wash ashore, posing a physical risk to beachgoers.
At this time, Heal the Bay recommends avoiding beaches and ocean water from Las Flores to Santa Monica State Beach and exercising caution at beaches further south, at least to Dockweiler State Beach. While water clarity does improve further south at Malaga Cove, we do not yet have comprehensive data for beaches south of Dockweiler State Beach, so we cannot determine potential health risks. If you visit the beach anywhere in Santa Monica Bay south of Surfrider Beach:
Stay vigilant; look out for sharp debris and avoid picking up objects with bare hands.
Keep children and pets from touching or ingesting water or wildfire debris.
Refrain from full-body submersion into the coastal waters in the designated areas, which can lead to accidental ingestion.
Heal the Bay has collected additional sand and water samples throughout Santa Monica Bay from Paradise Cove down to Malaga Cove. We will share results on our website as soon as those data become available. We urge the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to enhance transparency in decision-making and ensure all relevant data is made publicly accessible in a timely manner. Until further testing is completed and more information on current water conditions is released, we advise the public to remain cautious when visiting affected beaches.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 26, 2025
On Monday, February 24, 2025, Heal the Bay learned that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) had stated beachgoers may recreate on the sand in the fire-impacted areas. We also learned that this determination is likely based on only two debris samples taken by Los Angeles County Public Works, one at Topanga Creek and the other at Will Rogers State Beach. These samples were collected to determine the disposal method required to remove the debris, not to determine if it is safe for people to be on the sand. It is alarming that DPH would make this proclamation based on only two data points. While preliminary debris and ocean water quality testing have not shown elevated levels of harmful contaminants attributed to burned household items, the sample size for both water and sand thus far is quite small. At this time, we simply do not have enough information to determine if the sand or water at beaches where debris is present is safe for recreation. Furthermore, dangerous debris such as nails, screws, and pipes continue to wash up on shore, often concealed in sand or near-shore waves, increasing the risk to people playing on our beaches. This is an unprecedented event, and we must wait for the results of additional testing before declaring our beaches safe. We ask for increased transparency from the LA County Department of Public Health in decision making going forward, data used to protect our public health should be available to the public.
For now, Heal the Bay recommends that people avoid beaches (both sand and water) from Las Flores to Santa Monica State Beach and use extra caution on beaches south of Santa Monica. If choosing to go to the beach, watch out for sharp debris, do not pick up debris with your bare hands, and keep a close eye on children and pets to ensure they do not touch or ingest debris.
Heal the Bay and the Regional Water Quality Control Board have each collected sand samples from throughout the burn area, and we are awaiting results. We will share our ocean water and sand testing results on our website as soon as they are available.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s full statement on beach safety: “The ocean water advisory due to fire impacts from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice. Beachgoers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory.”
UPDATE FEBRUARY 18, 2025
We expect results this week from Heal the Bay’s first round of expanded ocean-water quality testing.
In late January, Heal the Bay’s staff scientists began collecting ocean-water samples from 10 shoreline sites along the Bay to test for heavy metals, PCBs, asbestos, and other toxins. These harmful pollutants are flowing unchecked to the sea from recent heavy rains and other runoff from burn zones. We expect results from before and after the “first flush” storm during the week of February 17th and will post them here.
UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2025
We present the updated timeline detailing our recent water quality assessment activities in the coastal regions affected by the Palisades fire.
January 24-25, 2025
Heal the Bay conducted initial pre-rain water quality testing at 10 locations throughout Santa Monica Bay: five within the burn zone, three outside of the burn zone but within the beach advisory zones, and two control sites (one north and one south of the beach advisory zones).
Our water quality scientists tested for temperature, turbidity, Fecal Indicator Bacteria, PAHs, PCBs, PFAS, benzene, mercury, and other heavy metals. This sampling involved coordination with the Fire Department and Lifeguards to gain access to the closed burn zone.
January 28, 2025:
After the January 26 rainstorm, staff took water quality samples again for the same pollutants and at the same locations tested on January 24-25, to compare pre- and post-rain results.
Jenny Jay from UCLA joined us for the six northernmost sampling sites to test for metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and nutrients.
February 3, 2025:
Heal the Bay staff examined the Beach Report Card on Friday, January 31, 2025, and identified data gaps within the burn zone.
Staff went out on Monday, February 3, 2025, to sample the five locations within the burn zone for temperature, turbidity, and Fecal Indicator Bacteria (which we can process ourselves in our lab) to fill those data gaps.
On this sample day, journalists from NPR and Spectrum News and the Fire Department’s photography team joined us to document and report on our testing.
Heal the Bay staff attended the Post-Fire Coordinated Water Quality Testing Meeting hosted by SCCWRP. While this group aims to establish a working group to coordinate long-term post-fire water quality monitoring (which Heal the Bay will participate in), this meeting addressed urgent needs arising from the weather conditions by identifying who would be conducting sampling that week, where the sampling would occur, and which contaminants would be tested.
February 10, 2025:
Heal the Bay returned to the field one last time to support ongoing research, visiting six of our ten original sample sites, from Surfrider Beach at Malibu Lagoon to Will Rogers State Beach at Santa Monica Canyon.
An assessment of the BRC on Friday, February 7, 2025, indicated no remaining data gaps, so we did not collect Fecal Indicator Bacteria samples.
Instead, this trip was intended to gain access to the burn zone one more time and show our sampling locations to researchers from the Proteocean Lab at USC. They plan to build on our initial testing with weekly sampling for heavy metals, microbial health, and nutrients.
Staff from Surfrider also joined us so that we could show them where there is safe access to their regular testing locations within the burn zone.
We also collected sand samples at each site from below the high tide line and above the high tide line where the sand was dry (where possible). These samples have been delivered to CSU Northridge, where researchers will test them for heavy metals and PAHs. They will also compare the results from our sand samples to soil samples that they collected within the Eaton Fire burn zone.
UPDATE JANUARY 29, 2025
Our fire response has just begun.
Over the past six days, the Heal the Bay Science and Policy Team has been testing water in and out of the burn zones along Santa Monica Bay impacted by the Palisades Fire.
The Palisade Fire has increased sedimentation and introduced harmful pollutants into our coastal waters, and Heal the Bay is dedicated to understanding the impacts, which is why we are testing for key pollutants that may be transported into Santa Monica Bay due to runoff from the Palisade Fire.
Not only are we testing for bacteria and turbidity (which we can process in-house), but we are also collecting samples to test for Heavy metals, Mercury, PAHs/PCBs, Benzene, and PFOS/PFOA (two types of PFAS). We collected samples before and after the rain event on January 26, 2025, which will provide a comparative analysis of initial pollutant levels and stormwater runoff effects.
During a typical rain event, stormwater runoff is considered the most significant source of water pollution. Following the unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles this past weekend, the “first flush” amplified the pollution – carrying not only higher levels of typical pollutants like oil and grease, trash, plastic, bacteria, and heavy metals but also wildfire debris and other hazardous materials including ash, fire suppressant, household chemicals, car batteries, and more. These contaminants pose significant risks to water quality, marine ecosystems, and public health.
The team collected water samples from 10 key locations, including areas within the burn zone, adjacent impacted areas, and control sites.
(NOTE: We were joined in the field by Professor Jennifer Jay of UCLA, and there may be additional data from agency offices like the LA County Department of Public Health, that will also contribute to the very limited water quality dataset for understanding the impacts of the Palisades Fire.)
Heal the Bay is one of only a few organizations doing this water quality testing in the wake of these devastating fires. Still, great science is collaborative, and our team is excited to be one of the only nonprofits contributing to this initial and limited data set. Every bit of data will help us understand the long-term impacts of this unprecedented fire season.
Our findings will be shared as soon as possible to inform the public about potential environmental and public health risks. We will also contribute to coordinated monitoring efforts that will inform policymakers and guide future mitigation and response efforts.
While our samples are being processed to help us understand what is in our coastal waters, we strongly urge everyone to avoid contact with ocean water and to refrain from walking on the beach, as fire debris runoff may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals. The LA County Department of Public Health has issued Ocean Water Closures from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach, with additional Beach Advisories issued as far north as Surfrider Beach at Malibu Lagoon and south to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way, all of which will remain in effect until further notice. Your health and safety are our top priority—thank you for doing your part to protect yourself and our environment.
PCBs = Polychlorinated biphenyls, chemicals used in industrial / commercial products (PCBs stopped being produced in the 70s, so a legacy chemical)
PFASs = Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals (manmade chemicals that do not breakdown ) used to make waterproof, nonstick, and flame-resistant products.
Fun, inspiring activations are happening all month for everyone – individuals, families, schools, and more! Grab your reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and friends for climate action fun near you!
Heal the Bay Earth Month 2025 Calendar of Special Events
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF EVENTS and get involved this Earth Month with events and activities from Heal the Bay and our partners! 👇👇👇
Black Sands, A Beach Talk Series- FREE
Monday, April 21, 7 PM – Virtual
Join us for Black Sands, a special virtual installment of Heal the Bay’s on-the-sand Beach Talk series
We welcome ALL who want to connect, learn, and share.
This roundtable will blend thoughtful dialogue with community-building, exploring topics like Black identity in outdoor and marine spaces, coastal resilience, climate justice, wellness, and environmental stewardship. Whether you’re a longtime advocate, a curious learner, or someone simply seeking space to exhale, Black Sands is for you.
Changing Tides: Fires, Blooms & A Warming Coast (Panel)
Wednesday, April 23, 5 PM – Virtual
Join Heal the Bay and Marine Mammal Care Center for a special virtual panel moderated by actress and advocate Bonnie Wright (Harry Potter Series), who will meet with Heal the Bay’s CEO Tracy Quinn and Marine Mammal Care Center’s Chief Operations & Education Officer, Dave Bader, for a conversation about climate change and the recent environmental events, from wildfire to toxic algae, that are testing the resiliency of our coastal ecosystems.RSVP to get access to the livestream link!
Heal the Bay BioBlitz: 2025 L.A. City Nature Challenge – FREE
Sunday, April 27, 10 AM – 12 PM @ Ballona Discovery Park OR Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve
Join Heal the Bay’s Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) for the 2025 LA City Nature Challenge BioBlitz, a global event that started as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco and has since grown into a worldwide movement!
A BioBlitz is a fun, hands-on community science event where we’ll work together to document local wildlife. By snapping photos of wild plants and animals, you’ll contribute valuable data to a global biodiversity database to help scientists better understand our urban environment. No experience needed! Just bring your curiosity and a smartphone.
We’re offering two BioBlitz locations this year, and both are happening simultaneously, so please choose only one.
WHERE: Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve (1202 W 170th Street; Gardena, CA 90247) OR Ballona Discovery Park (13110 Bluff Creek Dr; Los Angeles, CA 90094)
Saturday, May 3, 10 am – 2 pm @ Kuruvungna Village Springs and Cultural Center
Heal the Bay is joining the Gabrielino Tongva Springs Foundation in honoring and celebrating the past, present, and future of the Kuruvungna Village Springs and Cultural Center. This family-friendly gathering will feature live music, garden tours, art, vendors, food, and workshops.
We’re Looking For Our 2025 Coastal Clean Up Day Poster Artist!
Calling all ocean-loving artists! Let your artwork advocate for our ocean this Coastal Cleanup Day!
Win $500 and see your artwork all over Los Angeles County on the official Heal the Bay Coastal Cleanup Day poster!
Submit a portfolio of your work and a concept for a poster that captures the essence of our theme: “Rebuild With Resilience.”
How do you envision the future of LA? What changes do you hope to see in your community? How can we build a climate-resilient future? Express your vision through original artwork inspired by this theme!
Submissions are accepted until May 31st, 2025. See full details and application here!
Check out our list of Earth Month events hosted by some of our favorite social, environmental, and partner organizations across Los Angeles. Stop by Heal the Bay’s Outreach table while you’re enjoying Earth Month fun around Los Angeles County this April.
Pepperdine’s University’s Annual Earth Day Celebration @ Pepperdine University, April 1, 11 am – 2 pm
The 2025 Arts & Literacy Festival at Virginia Avenue Park @ City of Santa Monica’s Virginia Avenue Park, Santa Monica Public Library, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District-Child Development Services, and Venice Family Clinic, April 26, 10 am – 2 pm
State Water Resources Control Board: Investigate Health Impacts of Southern California Offshore DDT Dumpsite
We, the undersigned, urge the State Water Resources Control Board to take immediate action to protect the health of California’s communities by studying the impacts of the Southern California offshore DDT dumpsite as new standards are developed for waters that support subsistence fishing beneficial uses.
Decades ago, thousands of barrels worth of the toxic forever-chemical DDT were dumped off the coast of Southern California, creating an environmental and public health hazard that persists to this day. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of DDT contamination in marine sediments and marine life, raising serious concerns about exposure risks, particularly for communities that rely on subsistence fishing. To date, the extent to which the contamination has spread and the impact on marine food webs remains largely unknown, and further research is urgently required.
Many subsistence anglers come from vulnerable communities that face food inequity and other systemic challenges. According to a 2020 study using data from Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program, the top five zip codes of anglers on the piers include Hawthorne, Rosewood, North Long Beach, South Gate, and South El Monte. Many of these communities are classified as environmental justice communities, with populations disproportionately affected by pollution burdens. Fishing on piers itself is an environmental justice concern as it is the most accessible location to fish because it does not require a fishing license, which can present a barrier both through language and finances. As the State Board works to develop water quality standards that account for the needs of subsistence fishers, the long-term health impacts of the DDT dumpsite must be thoroughly studied and addressed. Without this research, policies may fail to protect those most vulnerable to contamination adequately.
We call on the State Water Resources Control Board to:
Commit to studying the human health impacts of DDT contamination considering the full context of the Palos Verdes Peninsula superfund site and the offshore DDT dumpsite.
Ensure that new water quality standards for subsistence fishing consider these health risks, including findings on which fish species are being caught and consumed by at-risk communities. Consider the demographics and practices of anglers from Santa Monica to Seal Beach and re-assess the structure, reach, and efficacy of existing intervention programs.
Prioritize public engagement with impacted communities, including multilingual angler surveys and focus groups with Indigenous community members, ensuring their voices are heard in the policymaking process.
Engage in government-to-government collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Fish Contamination Education Collaborative, as well as with local Public Health offices, to address public health in the context of superfund site remediation and update and enhance seafood consumption advisories to better protect vulnerable populations.
California has a duty to protect its residents from toxic pollution. By committing to this research and incorporating its findings into new standards, the State Water Board can help safeguard public health and ensure environmental justice for affected communities.
The independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery released a final report today outlining ways to ensure a resilient and sustainable recovery from the devastating 2025 LA wildfires and make the region better prepared for future climate disasters. The report assesses a range of recovery and preparation issues, providing important recommendations for efficient and climate-smart rebuilding, equitable recovery, and climate-resilient infrastructure. 
For LID 
Silver, arsenic and zinc were also detected above average marine-health limits. Aluminum, iron, and manganese also showed elevated levels, though no marine health limits exist for these metals. In all,
