Demand
Climate
Action
We can’t wait any longer to take bold climate action locally and globally. Here’s how we are urgently demanding systemic change and advocating for multi-benefit solutions that build toward an equitable and resilient future:
- Prioritizing nature-based and equitable stormwater capture projects in our region
- Investing in water recycling to increase local resilience and reduce pollution
- Advocating to the public about better alternatives to costly ocean desalination
- Raising awareness about sea level rise, warming, erosion, and other impacts of climate change while pressing local and state regulators to take urgent action
- Encouraging students and youth to learn with standards-based interactive remote learning, field trips, and camps at Heal the Bay Aquarium and school clubs
- Informing about solutions through our Speakers Bureau climate presentations, Suits on the Sand beach cleanups, and Knowledge Drops and Gotitas del Saber webinars
- Supporting a robust restoration in the highly degraded Ballona Wetlands for resiliency to sea-level rise and to make up for the greater loss of wildlife habitat
Protect
Public
Health
We protect people’s health through science-based education, outreach, and policies on contaminated water and fish at beach, pier, offshore, and freshwater areas in Greater Los Angeles. Here’s how we are making waves:
- Providing water quality information at 450 California beaches each week and making daily water quality predictions at dozens of sites
- Mobilizing local communities and visitors to become advocates for safe access to local waterways
- Monitoring water quality and notifying the public of good and poor conditions at popular freshwater recreation areas in the LA River, Malibu Creek and San Gabriel River watersheds
- Watchdogging stormwater runoff, pushing for increased enforcement, and advocating for projects to improve water quality at beaches, rivers, and wetlands
- Inspiring 100,000 visitors annually at Heal the Bay Aquarium to take action in defense of human and marine health
Ban
Single-Use
Plastic
Our ocean and watersheds should be teeming with diverse wildlife, not inundated with plastic waste and microplastics. Here’s how we are eliminating single-use plastic and defending the vibrancy of our communities:
- Campaigning for tough legislation that keeps harmful plastic pollution out of the Pacific Ocean
- Hosting two or three cleanups a day in LA, on average, and engaging local and global businesses, families, groups, and individuals to make an impact
- Recording more than four million pieces of trash and debris removed from the natural environment by Heal the Bay volunteers to inform public policy, business practices, and organizational sustainability goals
- Educating thousands of students in LA County (70% of students are from Title 1 schools) about how to minimize plastic use in the household
- Engaging local businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals and helping them opt for reusables with a strong coalition of partners
- Advocating for the end of fossil fuel extraction offshore and in our communities, and pushing for a just transition to a healthier environment for all
Our Victories
Take Part
We all have a role to play in protecting Santa Monica Bay – whether it’s donating money, volunteering time, speaking up, or educating others.
Get involved today!