Heal the Bay Blog

Author: Heal the Bay

El Reporte del Río: ¿Están Seguras las Zonas Recreativas del Agua Dulce?

08.11.2017 | Heal the Bay

Lo más importante aquí en Heal the Bay es la calidad de agua y la salud pública. Creemos que usted tiene el derecho de saber de la calidad de agua en las zonas recreativas de aguas dulces, antes de llegar, especialmente si usted tiene planes de visitarlas.

Nuestro nuevo programa del verano convierte lo que creemos en acción. Vamos a probar, analizar, e informar en la calidad de agua en dentro de las cuencas del río Los Ángeles, el arroyo de Malibu, y el río San Gabriel. Lo que queremos lograr es simple: facultar que ustedes puedan hacer decisiones informadas y reduzca el riesgo de enfermarse.

De momento, estamos monitorizando los niveles de las bacterias dañinas en varias locales de agua dulces cerca de zonas recreativas populares, en colaboración del L.A. County Department of Public Health, el Council of Watershed Health, el Los Angeles River Watershed Monitoring Program, el City of Los Angeles Department of Sanitation, y el San Gabriel Regional Watershed Monitoring Program. Las áreas de monitorizar el río de Los Ángeles están en zonas recreativas designadas en que algunas actividades son permitidas durante el verano (kayaking o pescar, pero no nadar); los otros locales son todos lugares populares para nadar.

Comprueba nuestro mapa para ver los últimos resultados de la calidad de agua:

¿Que significa tienen las pruebas?

La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos y el Departamento Regional de Control de Calidad del Agua se han fijado el máximo para un nivel aceptable de bacterias dañinas en agua. Cada semana nuestro mapa está actualizado con los últimos resultados de prueba, incluyendo el número de veces el nivel de las bacterias supera el límite en las cuencas nuestras. Cuanto mayor es el número de excesos, cuanto mayor es el riesgo de enfermarse en aquello sitio. Entonces el verde significa el riesgo menor y el rojo significa en el riesgo mayor.

Un desglose

Si un sitio tiene zero excesos, tiene una marca verde, lo cual significa el riesgo menor.
Si un sitio es hasta la mitad o menos del límite de excesos, tiene una marca amarilla.
Si un sitio tiene más de la mitad permitida de excesos, tiene una marca roja, lo cual significa el riesgo mayor.
Las marcas grises no tienen datos.

Heal the Bay ha monitorizado la calidad del agua en el arroyo del Malibu desde 2014 y la calidad del río Los Ángeles desde 2015. En 2016, ganamos el subsidio del US EPA Urban Waters. Gracias a esto subsidio, hemos lanzado un programa único de monitorizar agua dulce en asociación con una universidad local. El programa está organizado por nuestra científica Katherine Pease y estamos formando a cinco estudiantes de Los Angeles Trade Technical College “LATTC” para monitorizar las condiciones del río Los Ángeles. También estamos trabajando con dos pasantes en el apoyo del arroyo Malibu.

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Heal the Bay lanza “El Reporte del Río”

08.09.2017 | Heal the Bay

Beach Report Card Spanish Calidad de Agua L.A. River Los Angeles Santa Monica

Hoy empezamos de publicar notas de la calidad de agua de las zonas recreativas de agua dulce que existan aquí en Los Ángeles. Nuestra científica Dr. Katherine Pease nos explica por qué este labor es importante y nos habla de la gente interesante que nos está ayudando de completarla.

El verano pasado, Heal the Bay publicó un estudio importante de la calidad de agua que mostró que la contaminación por las bacterias seguían asolando al río Los Ángeles en una manera crónica y a largo plazo. Nuestro estudio ha demostrado que las zonas recreativas de agua dulce, que son cada vez más populares, padecen de la mala calidad de agua y presentan riesgos para la gente que visita aquellas zonas de agua dulce para pescar, nadar, o hacer kayaking.

Los hallazgos eran una causa de preocupación, pero también nos dieron una oportunidad. Después de que los publicaron, la pública se renovaron su interés en el río Los Ángeles y inspiró un plan para la revitalización de las aguas de L.A., que cuesta hasta mil millones.

Aprovechamos del estudio y se inspiró en nuestro trabajo en proteger la salud pública por proporcionar un reporte de la calidad de agua en nuestras playas, hemos comprometido de publicar notas de la calidad de agua en los ríos por todo Los Ángeles.

Hoy revelamos el reporte del río, un nuevo instrumento en línea que permite a nuestros usuarios comprueba los niveles de las bacterias dañinas en hasta doce zonas recreativas de agua dulce, de Malibu hasta Frogtown, de Encino hasta Atwater Village.

Empezamos en 2014 a monitorizar a las zonas recreativas del interior. Primero, monitorizábamos las pozas en las Montañas de Santa Mónica, se agregaron luego otros sitios del río Los Ángeles en 2015. Para asegurar que la gente pueda ver todos estos sitios cuales son seguros, publicamos todo en un blog semanal.

El público tiene acceso a nuestro programa, ya ampliada, en los mapas online para comprobar las calificaciones de la calidad de agua (verde, amarilla, o roja) en su zona recreativa preferida. Actualizaremos el reporte dos veces a la semana, cada lunes y miércoles. Los datos de las pruebas por los niveles de las bacterias vienen del personal mismo de Heal the Bay, complementado por pruebas hechas por la ciudad de Los Ángeles y Council for Watershed Health como parte de Los Ángeles River Watershed Monitoring Program (LARWMP).

Nuestro informe de la calidad del agua en el río Los Ángeles ganó mucho atención el año pasado, mejorando en la conciencia pública sobre los problemas de la cualidad de agua en el río.

Entre los cambios positivos:

El Departamento de Salud Pública de Los Ángeles ya tiene un sitio de web dedicado a las zonas recreativas de agua dulce.
Otras agencias ya hacen pruebas por la calidad de agua en el río por el programa de LARWMP (Antes era sólo nosotros, Heal the Bay, que hicimos pruebas de las zonas recreativas de la Valle Elysian).
El saneamiento de la ciudad de Los Ángeles pusó avisas por todo el río de Los Ángeles que le recomendaron Heal the Bay y El Departamento de Salud Pública de Los Ángeles.

En otro cambio positivo, Heal the Bay contrató estudiantes de las universidades locales para realizar este trabajo.

A través de un subsidio, trabajamos con Los Angeles Trade Technical College, una universidad técnica en el centro de Los Ángeles. Este verano cinco estudiantes de LATTC han unido nuestro equipo para aprender la ciencia de monitorizar la calidad de agua y defendiendo las protecciones del medio ambiente — desde el río de su ciudad.

El entusiasmo que nos han traído los estudiantes para el río es contagioso, y sus raíces y experiencias diferentes nos han traído una perspectiva nueva para nuestro trabajo. (Se puede leer de todos ellos aqui). El entrenamiento subraya el compromiso de Heal the Bay para que la gente que trabaje en la ciencia de medio ambiente sea variada y pueda ayudar a desarrollar los futuros líderes de nuestra región.

Enfocamos en las experiencias de estos estudiantes por todo el verano en nuestro blog y por nuestros canales sociales — compruebe lo que nos dicen de su experiencia.

Los estudiantes se encargan con una labor importante: encontrar de donde viene la polución que está en el río. Es una pregunta importante, no sólo para la gente por el cauce del río sino también para la gente que usa el mar. La gran mayoría de la polución que afecta a nuestras playas llega ahí de los ríos.

Para encontrar los orígenes de la polución, los estudiantes andan en bicicleta por toda el Valle Elysian para identificar y probar los pluviales.

La realización de monitorizar este trabajo es fascinante – conseguimos datos importantes y nos presenta la oportunidad de acercarnos al río. Cada semana vemos a la gente usando el río para las actividades recreativas como nadar, pescar, y hacer kayaking sino también para las necesidades humanas básicas como bañarse y limpiar la ropa.

Áreas que tienen agua corriente ofrecen la gente y sus perros un descanso del calor del verano. Sirven la gente sin hogar como un lugar donde se puede bañar. También son los sitios primeros dañados por los residuos urbanos contaminantes que luego dañará a la gente, el hábitat, y la vida silvestre en los ríos y en el mar también.

Son observaciones tristes, pero también tenemos noticias buenas. Cada vez hay más gente conectando con la naturaleza y descubriendo el oasis en Los Ángeles urbano. Muchos de los lugares del interior tienen una calidad buena de agua y sus residentes son determinados de proteger sus aguas.

Alentamos que ustedes vuelvan para nuestro sitio de web, que pasen para las zonas recreativas, aprendan de la calidad de agua, y aprendan lo que ustedes pueden hacer para mejorar la calidad de agua aquí en Los Ángeles.

Si usted está pensando en ir a las zonas recreativas de agua dulce, pasen por nuestra página de FAQ para informarles de las zonas recreativas y la calidad de agua.

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Heal the Bay Launches “The River Report Card”

07.27.2017 | Heal the Bay

Los Angeles News River Report Card Water Quality

Today we begin publishing regular water quality grades for freshwater recreational zones across greater L.A. Staff scientist Dr. Katherine Pease explains why the work is so important, and some interesting people helping us do it.

Last summer, Heal the Bay released a landmark study of water quality that showed that bacterial pollution continues to plague the L.A. River on a chronic, long-term basis. Our scientific report demonstrated that increasingly popular recreation zones suffered from poor water quality, and posed health risks for the growing number of people fishing, swimming and kayaking its waters.

The findings were a cause for concern, but also served as an opportunity – given all the renewed interest about the L.A. River and a $1 billion revitalization plan for L.A.’s central water body.

Building on that study and our longtime work to protect public health by providing weekly water quality grades at California beaches, Heal the Bay this year committed to regular water quality monitoring in rivers throughout greater L.A.

Today, we take the wraps off our River Report Card, a new online tool that lets users check for harmful bacteria levels at nearly a dozen freshwater recreational zones, stretching from Malibu to Frogtown, from Encino to Atwater Village.

We began monitoring inland recreational areas in 2014, starting with swimming holes in the Santa Monica Mountains, and adding sites in the L.A. River in 2015. To make sure people could see whether these popular spots are clean and safe, we posted the test results online in a weekly blog.

With our expanded River Report Card, the public can use our online map to check out water-quality ratings (green, yellow, or red) at their favorite summer spot. We will update the grades twice a week, every Monday and Wednesday. The data come from bacteria testing by Heal the Bay staff, supplemented by testing by the City of Los Angeles and Council for Watershed Health as part of the Los Angeles River Watershed Monitoring Program (LARWMP).

Our report on the L.A. River water quality garnered quite a bit of attention last year, leading to improvements in public awareness about water quality issues in the River.

Among the positive changes:

The L.A. County Department of Public Health now has a webpage devoted to Fresh Water Swim Areas
Additional agencies now test at recreation sites in the L.A. River through the LARWMP program (Heal the Bay was previously the only group testing the Elysian Valley recreation sites)
L.A. City Sanitation has posted new signs along the L.A. River about water quality that Heal the Bay and L.A. County Department of Public Health recommended

In another positive development, Heal the Bay has recruited some local students to conduct this work.

Under an EPA grant, we’re partnering with Los Angeles Trade Technical College, a public community college in downtown Los Angeles. Five LATTC students have joined our field staff for the summer, to learn the science of water quality monitoring and the art of advocating for environmental protections – starting with the River in their own backyards.

The enthusiasm that these students bring to the River is contagious, and their varied backgrounds and experiences bring broad new perspectives to our watershed work. (You can read more about them here.) The training underscores Heal the Bay’s commitment to diversifying the ranks of environmental science and developing future leaders in our region.

We will highlight their voices and experiences over the rest of the summer through Heal the Bay’s blog and social media channels – check back often to hear what they have to say!

These students have been charged with an important task: identifying where pollution is entering the L.A. River. It’s an important question, not only for people along the banks of the River, but for ocean users as well. The vast majority of pollution at our beaches is carried there via rivermouths and stormdrain outfalls.

To pinpoint these nasty pollution sources, the LATTC students are biking along the L.A. River in the Elysian Valley to identify and sample flowing stormdrains.

Conducting this monitoring is fascinating – we get important data, and the opportunity to be up-close and personal with the River. Every week we see people using the river for recreational activities like fishing, wading and kayaking but also for basic human needs, such as bathing and washing clothes.

Areas with flowing water provide people and their dogs respite from the oppressive summer heat. They serve homeless encampments as a place to freshen up or bathe. They are also ground zero for the often-polluted urban runoff that harms people, habitat and wildlife in the rivers as well as downstream at the beach.

These are sobering observations, but there is good news too. More people are connecting with nature and discovering their own freshwater oases in urban L.A. And many inland locations have good water quality. Residents are working to protect these special places and keep them healthy and safe.

We encourage you to check back here often, explore your local water bodies, learn about water quality, and learn what you can do to improve the health of your watershed.

If you are thinking about getting out on the water, please check out our FAQ about recreation and water quality issues along the L.A. River.

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Snapshot CalCoast 2017 in Los Angeles

06.22.2017 | Heal the Bay

Los Angeles Marine Protected Areas Take Action

Snapshot CalCoast 2017
Ever wanted to be a scientist? Now is your chance! The California Academy of Sciences is teaming up with the Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network for Snapshot CalCoast 2017!

From June 23rd-July 2nd, teams across California will head to tide pools in marine protected areas (MPAs) to discover, photograph, and identify intertidal marine species. Put your smartphone to good use, download the iNaturalist app, and become not only a citizen scientist, but a conservation superhero today!

Why Care About Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is at the heart of ecosystem balance. By better understanding and protecting biodiversity, we are taking action toward more effective conservation. Ecosystems that have a higher level of biodiversity are more robust, can more easily bounce back from environmental changes and are generally more sustainable. MPAs in particular have been identified to successfully increase biodiversity, which, in turn, boosts productivity, increases resilience and establishes overall healthier ecosystems.

What is a BioBlitz?
A Bioblitz is a community event in which many people come together to document biodiversity by observing and recording as many species as they can in one area at one time. Bioblitzes are not only fantastic opportunities to get involved in the community, but also to connect you to both nature and science in a positive and rewarding way. Snapshot CalCoast uses the iNaturalist platform to bridge the gap between technology and outdoor nature, connecting social media to conservation and enabling you to share your discoveries through a fun, inspiring, and easy-to-use medium.

Get Involved!
For more information about Snapshot CalCoast and how you can get involved, visit here. See below for a list of bioblitzes happening in the Los Angeles area:

Heal the Bay
Wednesday, June 28
7:30am-9:30am
Point Dume State Park
RSVP here

LA Waterkeeper
Wednesday, June 28
10:00am-1:00pm
Paradise Cove

Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation
Sunday, June 25
6:30am-11:00am
Leo Carrillo State Park
RSVP to Eventbrite required. Spaces are limited.
For more information, please contact: kmelendez@wishtoyo.org, (805) 323-7023

Aquarium of the Pacific, Sea Grant, Terranea Resort
Friday, June 30
7:30am-10:30am
Pelican Cove
RSVP to Eventbrite required. Spaces are limited.

Natural History Museum – LAC
Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26
5:00am-8:00am
Point Fermin
RSVP here

Want your own adventure? Head out on your own, or with friends and family! Choose any coastal location between June 23rd and July 2nd, especially within Marine Protected Areas, and share your observations. Be sure to keep an eye out for the animals on the most wanted species list! All information collected will not only help improve knowledge of coastal biodiversity, but also be used by coastal managers to improve conservation efforts. Spread the word, invite your friends and family, and together, let’s make a positive impact and document our beautiful California coast! To learn more about how to use iNaturalist, click here and be sure to share! #SnapshotCalCoast @SnapshotCACoast.

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2016-2017 Beach Bummer List

06.15.2017 | Heal the Bay

Beach Report Card California Coast News Water Quality

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This site is right in front of the luxurious five-star Ritz Carlton resort in Dana Point, but one-star water quality persists in the bird-ridden spot. Local agencies have argued that the meandering portion of Salt Creek has facilitated a greater bird population, and in turn increased the amount of bird feces at this location—ultimately leading to the poor water quality. A falconry program was implemented to reduce bird-related bacterial counts at the mouth of the creek. However, potential harm to federally threatened snowy plovers during their nesting season halted the program—a decision Heal the Bay supported. The City of Dana Point has also invested in an Ozone Treatment Facility to treat dry weather runoff.

Heal the Bay analysts assigned A-to-F letter grades to 416 beaches along the California coast for three reporting periods in 2016-2017, based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution. Some 96% of beaches received A or B grades during the summer.

But pockets of fecal bacteria still trouble our waters and threaten the health of millions of beachgoers. Here’s our look at the 10 most polluted beaches in the state – our annual Beach Bummer List.

To avoid illness, ocean-goers can check the latest water quality grades at their favorite beaches, based on the latest samples, each week at beachreportcard.org (or download the Beach Report Card app for Apple or Android). For more information, check out our Beach Report Card blog post or read the full report here.

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Aquadopt for the Dads and Grads in Your Life

06.13.2017 | Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay Aquarium More Ways to Give

In honor of dads and grads and in celebration of the male seahorse’s unique role in childbirth, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s seahorses are available for aquadoption.

Fostering a seahorse through the Aquarium’s Aquadoption program is a special way to connect with an animal; leave the actual daily care to Aquarium staff while you can feel proud of your important contribution to this unique creature’s well being.

Growing up to 12 inches in height, the Pacific seahorse, Hippocampus ingens, is among the largest of the world’s seahorses and the only one to be found along the California coast. In the seahorse family, the males do all the heavy lifting, carrying an amazing number of eggs in their brood pouch, deposited there by the female. The male can give birth to hundreds of babies – known as fry – at one time.

A yearlong aquadoption of a seahorse comes with a personalized packet with an adoption certificate, photo, fact sheet and a full year’s membership to Heal the Bay – which includes free family admission to the Aquarium for the year.

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The Annual Beach Report Card 2017 Release

06.09.2017 | Heal the Bay

Beach Report Card California Coast News Water Quality

Much-needed winter storms may have relieved California’s historic drought, but all that rain came at some cost – poor beach water quality.

Bacterial pollution at some of California’s most popular beaches spiked dramatically in 2016-17, according to Heal the Bay’s 27th annual Beach Report Card, which the nonprofit released today.

Wet weather was a different story, however. Record rainfall created billions of gallons of polluted runoff, which poured into storm drains and out to the ocean. Nearly 48% of California’s beaches received C to F grades, about 12% more than the statewide five-year average.

La Jolla Cove, a popular swim spot.

Polluted ocean waters pose a significant health risk to the tens of thousands of year-round ocean users in California. Those failing grades indicate a significant health risk to the tens of thousands of year-round ocean users in Southern California, who can contract a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness from one morning swim or surf session in polluted waters.

Beach Bummers

Heal the Bay’s infamous Beach Bummers List, which ranks the 10 most polluted beaches in the state, was split between Northern and Southern California. San Clemente Pier and La Jolla Cove are both making their first ever appearance on the Beach Bummer’s List. Clam Beach County Park, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica Pier have each been Bummers for the past four years. Check out our Beach Bummers Slideshow, which has more details about each of the Bummers.

Clam Beach County Park, McKinleyville (Humboldt County)
San Clemente Pier, San Clemente (Orange County)
Cowell Beach, West of Wharf, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz County)
Lakeshore Park, Marina Lagoon, San Mateo (San Mateo County)
La Jolla Cove, La Jolla (San Diego County)
Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica (Los Angeles County)
Capitola Beach, Capitola (Santa Cruz County)
Luffenholtz Beach, Trinidad (Humboldt County)
Mother’s Beach, Marina del Rey (Los Angeles County)
Monarch Beach, North of Salt Creek, Dana Point (Orange County)

Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey, a repeat Beach Bummer.

On a more positive note, 32 beaches in the state were named to Heal the Bay’s Honor Roll, meaning they were monitored year-round and received perfect A+ grades weekly, regardless of rain or dry conditions. Orange County boasted the most beaches on the Honor Roll, with 14 sites earning top marks.

Staying Safe at the Beach

“We want people catching waves, not bugs, when they head to the beach,” said Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bay’s vice president and longtime ocean policy advocate. “The reassuring news is that if you swim at an open-ocean beach in the summer away from storm drains and creek mouths you statistically have very little risk of getting ill.”

Swimming or surfing at a beach with a water quality grade of C or lower greatly increases the risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and rashes.

Here’s how you can make sure that you stay safe at the beach:

Check BeachReportCard.org for the latest water quality grades.
Avoid closed beaches
Swim at least 100 yards away from flowing storm drains and piers.
Wait at least three days after rainfall before entering the ocean.

Baker Beach, San Francisco.

How to Stem the Tide of Bacterial Pollution

California often swings from extended dry periods to shorter periods of intense, wet weather. Our region needs to do a better job of capturing runoff before it hits shorelines. Heal the Bay advocates for reusing that water directly for non-potable purposes or sinking that water back into our aquifers rather than letting it flow uselessly to the sea.

If Southern California cities had the infrastructure in place, then they could have captured and reused a bulk of the 100 billion gallons of stormwater that drenched our region last winter. That’s enough water to meet the needs of 2.5 million people each year – about a quarter of L.A. County’s population.

In response, Heal the Bay’s policy staff is advocating for public funding measures to build nature-based projects that capture, cleanse and reuse runoff rather than dumping it uselessly into the sea. The Our WaterLA coalition is working with the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to place a funding measure on the ballot for innovative multi-benefit projects that will capture runoff and create public green spaces countywide. Look for the measure on the county ballot next year.

Heal the Bay to Forecast Water Quality

This summer Heal the Bay, Stanford University and UCLA are expanding their predictive beach water quality forecasting program. Using sophisticated statistical models, environmental data and past bacteria samples, the scientific team can accurately predict each morning when beaches should be posted with warning or open signs.

Promising results from the past two summers (at Arroyo Burro Beach, Santa Monica Pier Beach and Doheny Beach) demonstrated that agencies can post a warning notice immediately at pollution impacted beaches based on predictions rather than waiting days for test results. These new models will protect public health by providing more advanced water quality information to public health officials. This summer, Heal the Bay will run models for 10 beaches, from San Diego to Santa Cruz counties.

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Dr. Shelley Luce Appointed CEO of Heal the Bay

04.26.2017 | Heal the Bay

About Us News

Ex-chief of Environment Now Foundation to broaden our reach and impact.

Affirming its commitment to science-based advocacy, Heal the Bay today named Dr. Shelley Luce as its new president and CEO.

Luce joins us from the Environment Now Foundation, where she served as executive director and helped fund innovative clean water and forest protection programs throughout California. During her tenure, Luce became a widely respected voice throughout the state on how nonprofits must reshape themselves to meet the environmental challenges of the 21^st century.

Before that, she held executive director positions at state agency the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and its nonprofit partner, The Bay Foundation. The work of those organizations dovetails closely with Heal the Bay’s traditional mission.

An extensive nationwide search culminated in the hiring of Luce, who has been tasked with re-envisioning the scope of our advocacy and education programs. While focused on the core mission of clean water and healthy watersheds, she will implement strategies to better engage Southern California in battling the broader, intertwined environmental risks facing our region.

Formed three decades ago as a grassroots all-volunteer organization, Heal the Bay successfully led the fight to keep Hyperion from dumping sewage into Santa Monica Bay, thereby reclaiming Southern California shorelines. But the region now faces much bigger threats, from global warming to an uncertain water supply.

“The environmental landscape in greater L.A. is changing dramatically, and so Heal the Bay must transform,” said Craig Perkins, board chairman. “As a trusted partner in the community, people are counting on us to provide leadership locally to help solve problems that are increasingly national and global in scope.”

Luce, who holds a Doctorate of Environmental Science and Engineering from UCLA and a B.S. in Biology from McGill University, began her advocacy career at Heal the Bay. She served as a staff scientist from 2001-05, spearheading the successful fight to implement the state’s first zero-trash policy in L.A. River.

“Heal the Bay is at the heart of clean water advocacy in Southern California. I’m so proud of our legacy of science-based activism and I am honored to lead Heal the Bay in the next phase of growth,” Luce said. “Protecting our water and our larger environment is more important – and challenging – than ever. And I’m confident we’ll find innovative ways to get the job done, bringing in new practices and new partners.”

The board has given Luce a mandate to re-examine policy priorities, form smart strategic alliances, and grow public participation across the entire swath of greater Los Angeles. In the coming months, we will extend our impact with these key initiatives:

Building a world-class aquarium: We’re now engaged in a visioning process to drastically expand the physical footprint and programmatic offerings at our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. A re-imagined facility would be part of a long-gestating Pier construction and refurbishment project, which the city of Santa Monica will likely begin in 2020.

Fighting federal government backsliding: We’re mounting a spirited campaign to protect local safeguards historically provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has seen its proposed budget and staffing levels severely slashed by the new administration. Fundamental work related to climate-change research and enforcement of the Clean Water Act is now in jeopardy.

Replumbing L.A.: We’re playing a lead role in helping build a more resilient water future for greater L.A. Heal the Bay staff is helping to drive the newly formed Our Water L.A. Coalition, a consortium of influential nonprofits working to place a ballot measure before voters in L.A. County next year. The measure would fund increased recycling of treated wastewater and capturing of stormwater and other runoff for reuse, which will reduce water pollution and increase local water supplies.

Luce formally joins Heal the Bay on May 8, taking the leadership reins from Stephanie Medina, a longtime board member who has served as interim president and CEO since last July. Read more about Luce’s vision for Heal the Bay’s future in an exclusive sit-down interview with communications director Matthew King.

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“Nature’s Revolt” Video: Watch Our Animated Response to Climate Change Deniers

04.25.2017 | Heal the Bay

Climate Change Heal the Bay Videos Take Action

Heal the Bay has found a unique way to draw attention to the new administration’s attack on climate change science – a sea turtle with a ninja star.

The inspiring March for Science at cities around the nation has concluded, but the fight for rationality and reason lives on.

Many scientists and researchers working in the environmental field around the country feel as if they have a bulls-eye painted on their back – from the very government that has funded their important work for decades.

The new federal administration’s plan to curtail climate change research and to slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency has stoked deep concerns in the nonprofit world.

But Heal the Bay isn’t sitting by quietly. We’re getting quite animated about the issue – literally.

Today, we launched a 60-second PSA to rally digital advocates across the country to petition their Congressional representatives to oppose proposed budget cuts to EPA programs and staff. Public dissent is critical to ensure that essential air- and water-quality safeguards and habitat protections are not abandoned by climate deniers sitting in positions of federal power.

Heal the Bay’s partners in the advertising and animation industries shaped the spot, dubbed “Nature’s Revolt,” as part of a new creative coalition called Our Next 4 Years. Ironically riffing on over-the-top TV cartoon violence, the video offers a humorous take on marine animals fighting fire with fire.

Sarah May Bates, a veteran creative director in the advertising agency world, served as writer and art director on the spot, working with Matthew King, Heal the Bay’s communications director. Scott Graham provided animation, storyboards and character designs. (Full credits are below.)

“Climate change is a huge downer, but the EPA plays an essential role in sustaining this planet in the face of it,” Bates said. “To make a dire message more palatable, we imagined a scenario in which nature could fight back. At the very least, a crab with a rocket launcher can make an important message more engaging.”

Heal the Bay asks “Nature’s Revolt” viewers to take action and add their name to the Change.org/ProtectOurOceans petition seeking continued funding for climate programs at the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To date, nearly 75,000 ocean-lovers have added their signatures to the Heal the Bay-sponsored petition, covering every state and major overseas territory in the United States.

Bates previously collaborated with Heal the Bay on “The Majestic Plastic Bag,” the BBC-style nature mockumentary that has been viewed more than 2.3 million times on YouTube, and featured in environmental conferences and classrooms around the world.

Our Next 4 Years is a collective of nearly 300 animation professionals (Emmy- and Oscar- nominees among them) who are donating their creative talents to produce animated PSAs for progressive causes that will be negatively impacted by policies put forth by the current administration.

“For each attempt to roll back hard fought social and economic gains won over the past 70 years, we will fight back with messages to help stem the regressive tide,” said Mike Blum, owner of boutique animation studio Pipsqueak Films. He is one of the co-founders of Our Next 4 Years, along with veteran animation producer Carolyn Bates.

Production teams are matched with other nonprofits to create virtual animation studios in order to tackle causes, including the environment, immigrant rights, affordable health-care, government reform and religious tolerance.

“So often, animated PSAs are out of reach of charities and community organizations, because we move fast and don’t have the long lead time that many animation houses insist on,” said Jayde Lovell, director of film and video for March for Science. “But working with Our Next 4 Years was incredible. They really brought our ideas to life in meaningful, funny and emotional pieces in a week’s time!”

The coalition has debuted eleven videos to date, including “Nature’s Revolt.” In just a few days, the four videos they released in time for Earth Day and March for Science have a combined reach of more than 600,000 people on Facebook. You can watch other videos here.

Full Credits: “Nature’s Revolt”

Animation, Storyboard & Character Designs:
Scott Graham, ScottGraham.carbonmade.com

Creative Director/Writer:
Sarah May Bates, SarahMayBates.com

Backgrounds:
Carolyn Arabascio

Animal Character Designs:
Regie Miller, MyNameIsRegie.com

Text Animation:
Daniela Fernandes Smith

Music:
Jeremy Simon, FurnivalMusic.com

Producer:
Carolyn Bates

Production:
Our Next 4 Years

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KTLA 5 and Sharon Lawrence Honored at Heal the Bay Annual Awards Gala

04.05.2017 | Heal the Bay

Bring Back the Beach Gala Events Santa Monica

Advocates form the backbone of our work at Heal the Bay. Where would we be without passionate people and organizations rising up, speaking out and taking action?

At this year’s Bring Beach the Beach: Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, May 18 at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, we are excited to honor two of our most authentic and vocal supporters: KTLA 5 and Sharon Lawrence.

Our Gala honorees continue to generously open up their trusted platforms to evangelize Heal the Bay’s mission, going above and beyond the call of duty to protect our local ocean, rivers, and watersheds. These incredible advocates don’t wait for change to take place — they’ve taken the lead to spark change right here in L.A. County.

Please join us in recognizing this year’s Gala honorees:

KTLA 5

As the trusted news source for millions of Southern Californians since 1947, KTLA 5 has also been a generous media supporter of Heal the Bay.

The dynamic team at KTLA 5 continues to elevate and celebrate our efforts to protect the environment. Their deep involvement spans across the media organization from Don Corsini, KTLA’s President and General Manager, to the news team and staff. They can always be counted on to help us spread the word about the complex environmental issues we face here in L.A.

From special broadcasts about our ocean and watersheds to year-round coverage of Heal the Bay’s milestones to covering events on KTLA’s award-winning newscasts, the KTLA 5 team has created a more informed and aware public, fostering deep connections between our community and the environment.

KTLA channel 5 is a CW television station located in Los Angeles, California. Follow KTLA 5 at ktla.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sharon Lawrence

For more than six years, Sharon Lawrence has served on Heal the Bay’s board, championing the vision of clean and thriving oceans both locally and nationally.

Whether it’s on the red carpet, a podcast, on social media or at a Heal the Bay Board meeting, Sharon speaks about our mission from her heart. She’s catalyzed peers, colleagues and fans in the entertainment community to become environmental stewards. Her thoughtful messages about caring for the environment and living a green lifestyle instill a real urgency to take action.

We thank Sharon for her strong advocacy and support of Heal the Bay for nearly a decade.

Sharon Lawrence is an Emmy Award nominated actress and an illustrious, longtime member of the entertainment community. You may know her from leading roles in NYPD Blue, One Tree Hill, Rizzoli & Isles, and Shameless. Follow Sharon Lawrence at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Don’t miss out! Reserve your seat for our annual awards Gala at the Santa Monica Pier. This exclusive seaside experience happens just once-a-year and goes a long way towards our mission of making Greater L.A.’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy and clean.

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