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WILDFIRE AFTERMATH: IS OUR WATER SAFE?

06.17.2025 |

Ash to ActionWater

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 are inconclusive 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.

How We Assessed Potential Risk

Heal the Bay’s testing locations.

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.

Donate

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WILDFIRE AFTERMATH: ARE OUR BEACHES SAFE?

06.17.2025 |

Ash to ActionSand

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 of 0.1 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. 

How we assessed potential risk:

  • Heal the Bay used Department of Toxic Substances Control Toxicity Criteria for Human Health Risk Assessments, Screening Levels, and Remediation Goals and the EPA Risk-Screening Level Calculator to determine health risk from recreating on sand. 
  • 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.

Donate

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A Dream Project: Multi-Benefit Inell Woods Park Opens in South LA

06.16.2025 | and

Compton CreekNews

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.

Donate Today

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Heal the Bay Releases Annual Beach Report Card Honor Roll and Beach Bummers Lists

05.22.2025 |

CaliforniaL.A. RiverNews

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.

Download Beach Report Card

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.

See the full 2024-2025 Honor Roll (62 Beaches)

Watch the LIVE Press Conference

TIPS TO STAY SAFE AT OCEAN AND FRESHWATER AREAS

  • View beachreportcard.org and healthebay.org/riverreportcard for the latest water quality information.
  • 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.

 

WATCH THE FULL 2024- 2025 PRESS CONFERENCE 

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.  

Download Press Release in English

 

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Celebrating Earth Month 2025

03.12.2025 |

CaliforniaEventsHeal the Bay AquariumLos AngelesTake Action

Celebrate Earth Month with Heal the Bay!

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.

 Register

Changing Tides: Fires, Blooms & A Warming Coast (Panel) 

Wednesday, April 23, 5 PM – Virtual

Join Heal the Bay and Marine Mammal Care Center forJoin 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!

 RSVP

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)

 Register

Gathering at Kuruvungna – FREE

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.

 Register

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!

 Apply Now

Gear Up for Earth Day with Heal the Bay 

Level up your drip while leveling up the ocean!

Rep Heal the Bay, discover unique gifts, and shop reusable goods, all for a great cause!

Shop Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2025 Tabling Calendar 

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

2nd Annual Cleanup @ Discovery Cube Los Angeles, April 12, 9 am – 12 pm

City of STEM + Maker Faire @ Exposition Park Los Angeles, April 12, 9 am – 4 pm

Wild for the Planet @ The LA Zoo, April 18 – 20, 10 am – 4 pm

Annual Earth Day Event @ South Bay Parkland Conservancy, April 19, 10 am – 1 pm

CSUDH’s 18th Annual Earth Day Celebration @ Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, April 22, 9 am – 2:30 pm

City of Santa Monica Earth Day Celebration: Our Power, Our Planet @ Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, April 22, 3:30 PM – 5:30 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

Beverly Hills’ 22nd Annual Earth Day, 9300 Civic Center Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, April 27, 9 am – 1 pm

City of Manhattan Beach Earth Day, April 29, 11 am – 3 pm

Culver City Enviro-Fest, May 3, 9 am – 1 pm

Make waves for a sustainable future in Greater Los Angeles by making your Earth Month donation to Heal the Bay.

DONATE 

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Petition: Investigate Health Impacts of Southern California Offshore DDT Dumpsite

03.10.2025 |

News

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.

Sign The Petition

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Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn Appointed to the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery

02.26.2025 |

Ash to ActionNews

Heal the Bay is committed to rebuilding greater L.A. to be more resilient to climate extremes after the devastating 2025 wildfires. As a valued environmental partner for nearly 40 years, Heal the Bay will have a key seat at the table as decision-makers formulate plans on how to rebuild the areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires.

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recently appointed Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn as one of the leaders on the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery.

“Los Angeles County cannot afford to simply rebuild what was lost—we must build for the future,” said Supervisor Horvath. “This is our opportunity to rethink how we design communities, fortify infrastructure, and protect lives from the growing threats of the climate crisis. The Blue Ribbon Commission will ensure that we lead the way in creating fire-safe, climate-resilient communities that will stand for generations. Our communities are invited into this process led by Los Angeles’ leading experts across academia, urban design and sustainability, environmental justice, housing, and finance.”

Quinn’s appointment ensures that Heal the Bay can provide guidance on how to rebuild devastated communities in a way that balances the needs of residents, ecosystems and coastal waters. She is one of only two people on the commission representing ocean, coastline and watershed interests. You can see the full list of commission members here.

The Commission will provide expert-driven recommendations focused on:

• Fire-safe reconstruction: Implementing fire-resistant materials, defensible space strategies, and climate-smart building standards.
• Resilient infrastructure: Undergrounding utilities, expanding water storage and conveyance, and hardening power grids.
• Faster rebuilding: Identifying resilient home designs and systems that could be pre-approved to expedite reconstruction and financial incentives to support rebuilding.
• Equitable recovery: Reducing the risk of displacement, ensuring affordable insurance, and prioritizing support for vulnerable communities.

The Commission will hold its kick-off meetings Friday, February 28, 2025, and Saturday, March 1, 2025, and release its first set of recommendations within three months, outlining proposed steps for fire-safe reconstruction and long-term climate adaptation strategies. The Commission meetings will engage community voices to help shape the resilient rebuilding and recovery recommendations.

“By working together with local decision-makers, environmental leaders, and the communities of Los Angeles, I believe we can recover from this terrible climate event and begin to heal L.A., coming back even stronger,” said Quinn. Heal the Bay is committed to working tirelessly to renew the region with resilience.”

More Information 

Fact sheet on Blue Ribbon Commission | Blue Ribbon Commission Website – UCLA

   Meet the Commissioners | Watch the Press Conference 

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Topanga EPA Hazardous Waste Site: February 2025 Update

02.12.2025 |

Ash to ActionWater Quality

Heal the Bay strongly disagrees with the use of Topanga Creek and the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot for the sorting and staging of hazardous waste. In January, Heal the Bay met with the EPA to obtain information and discuss our concerns. See our original January FAQ on the Topanga site to learn more. Since then, Heal the Bay has been hard at work advocating for the communities, ecosystems, and coastal waters impacted by this work.

Our February update is below.

UPDATE 2/11/2025

On February 8, 2025, Heal the Bay’s Associate Director of Science and Policy, Annelisa Moe, toured the EPA hazardous waste sorting and storage sites at Topanga Creek and Will Rogers State Beach with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the EPA, and FEMA.  The pollution mitigation measures observed by Heal the Bay at the Topanga site caused concern as they did not seem adequate. While we continue to fight for the EPA to move operations to a safer location, our Science & Policy Team is also developing recommendations to strengthen mitigation measures to prevent contaminants from leaving the EPA sites and polluting our beaches, creeks, lagoon, and bay.

Let us be clear. Heal the Bay strongly disagrees with the use of Topanga Creek and Will Rogers State Beach parking lot for the sorting and staging of hazardous waste. We also recognize that the most dangerous situation is for hazardous waste to remain in the community, exposed to the elements, with few measures in place to prevent the contaminants from reaching the ocean. If the EPA does not move its operations to a more acceptable site, we demand that it implement stronger pollution mitigation and begin water quality testing at these sites.

Here is a timeline outlining Heal the Bay’s actions since the EPA designated the site.

    • January 28, 2025: We learned about the selection of Topanga Creek as the EPA/FEMA hazardous waste staging and sorting location and immediately requested a meeting with the EPA.
    • January 30, 2025: Heal the Bay met with EPA and learned that operations had already begun and that it was unlikely that EPA would elect to close the site and move operations elsewhere. We also learned that the Newsom Administration offered the Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Creek sites because they are state-owned and met the basic criteria for a Phase 1 site. Additionally, we learned that EPA would need an additional 25 acres to stage and sort hazardous waste and that the state had offered Will Rogers State Beach, but it had been rejected due to opposition from City of LA officials.
      • Heal the Bay expressed that we strongly disagreed with the Topanga location and recommended that EPA explore the commercial area near the Palisades village.
    • February 2, 2025: Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn began participating in a multi-agency Beach Cleanup and Restoration Taskforce with representatives from State and County agencies.
    • February 2, 2025: Tracy Quinn connected with Col. Brian Sawser from the US Army Corp of Engineers and provided input on appropriate locations for sorting and staging for Phase 2 debris removal.
    • February 3, 2025: Heal the Bay published an FAQ on the selection of Topanga Creek for the EPA Hazardous Waste site, and Tracy Quinn responded to questions from the public on Heal the Bay’s social media.
    • February 8, 2025: Annelisa Moe participated in a tour of both the Topanga and Will Rogers sites with Supervisor Horvath, the EPA, and FEMA.
    • February 9, 2025: Tracy toured the mudslide-prone areas in Palisades and Malibu and saw the EPA sites at Topanga and Will Rogers with Councilmember Traci Park.

Since Heal the Bay first learned that the EPA sites were chosen, Heal the Bay has been in communication with LA City Councilmember Traci Park, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin, Congressperson Laura Friedman, and staff from Senator Ben Allen’s and Assemblymember Rick Zbur’s offices.  We have also met with members of the community concerned about the impacts of the fires and hazardous waste storage on their health and the health of our oceans.

Next Steps:

Heal the Bay continues to oppose using the beach locations for Phase 1 hazardous waste storage and develop recommendations to improve the mitigation measures to prevent contamination from leaving the EPA’s hazardous waste sites. We will continue to advocate for the affected coastal waters, ecosystems, and communities.

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FAQ on EPA Hazardous Waste Site at Topanga Beach

01.31.2025 |

Ash to ActionCaliforniaLocationsMalibu / Pacific PalisadesNewsPress ReleaseWater Quality

Heal the Bay strongly disagrees with the selection of State land in close proximity to Topanga Creek and Lagoon as the US EPA’s Palisades Fire hazardous material staging area, where materials will be sorted and repackaged before they are sent to permitted waste collection facilities. The site chosen is an area of cultural and ecological significance, and we stand with the surfers, swimmers, and local communities concerned about the potential for harm to this precious ecosystem.

UPDATE: February 26, 2025 -The first phase of removing wildfire debris is over. What happens to those collection sites?  (Daily News)

UPDATE: February 12, 2025 – Heal the Bay’s Associate Director of Science and Policy, Annelisa Moe, toured the EPA hazardous waste sorting and storage sites at Topanga Creek and Will Rogers State Beach with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the EPA, and FEMA.

UPDATE: January 31, 2025 – Initial Takeaways from the EPA Hazardous Waste Site at Topanga Beach & FAQ (below)

For the record, Heal the Bay was NOT consulted on the site selection ahead of time. 

Soon after we learned about the site selection, we asked to meet with US EPA officials to express our concerns and learn what measures were being taken to protect Topanga Creek and Lagoon. That meeting occurred on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

At our meeting with EPA, we learned that operations have already begun on the Topanga site, reducing the likelihood that we can get EPA & FEMA to select a different location (although we still pushed). Between the Palisades and Eaton fires, this is the largest operation the EPA emergency response team has had to clean up since they began this work in 2015. In addition, they have been tasked by the current Federal Administration to complete the work in 30 days, a time constraint that has left the region with few options.

We are fighting to ensure that the EPA implements sufficient measures to prevent contaminants from coming into contact with the bare soils or leaving the site and impacting critical waterways. In addition to what the EPA has proposed (see EPA’s FAQ), Heal the Bay asks for water testing in Topanga Creek and Lagoon. We have also asked to be permitted access to the site to observe operations and the implementation of measures meant to prevent harmful chemicals from leaving the site. We are waiting to hear back on both of these.

Although we strongly disagree with the site EPA and FEMA have chosen, speedy removal of hazardous wastes from the burn areas IS ESSENTIAL. Right now, the hazardous waste in the burn areas is uncontained and exposed to the elements, with almost no measures in place to prevent it from being blown by the wind or entering our ocean when it rains again. There are no good choices here, but in our opinion, hazardous materials left exposed at burned structures pose a greater threat to water quality and ecosystem health than they will at an EPA sorting site where multiple containment measures are in place. If the EPA will not or cannot move the hazardous waste staging area from the Topanga location, we demand that they take extra precautions to prevent stormwater from running onto the site, contaminated runoff from leaving the site, and contaminated dust from being blown from the site into waterways. Please join us in asking for water quality sampling to be added to the BMP protocol.

Here are the biggest takeaways from our meeting with the EPA:

What does the EPA look for in a staging site?  

  • When looking for a hazardous material staging site, the EPA team needs at least five acres of flat land located near a roadway suitable for trucks to enter and exit.  
  • The EPA could not start cleaning efforts until a space was selected and prepared. 

Why was Topanga Lagoon chosen as the site location? 

  • EPA did recon with Cal Fire, and the Topanga Lagoon site met the basic logistical requirements for space and access. The state approved EPA use of the Topanga location. 
  • According to the EPA, other proposed sites were either rejected by City of LA and LA County officials or already used by other emergency response teams.  
  • Heal the Bay has requested a list of other sites considered by the EPA.  

Will additional locations be needed to remove all of the hazardous waste entirely? 

  • For the Palisades Fire response, EPA anticipates the need for more staging areas, maybe an additional 25 acres. 
  • The EPA is currently searching for other staging areas, and Heal the Bay has requested to be part of that decision-making process. 

What has taken place on the site to date? 

  • The property was burned, so EPA cleared it of burned debris, then built berms around it and added straw wattles to prevent water from entering or leaving the site.  
  • Secondary containment and plastic lining have been implemented to prevent direct contact of hazardous materials with the soils on site. 
  • The EPA took soil samples before the cleanup activity commenced and will sample again once the cleanup activity is complete.  (NOTE: Heal the Bay has requested a list of contaminants tested to ensure the sampling plan is sufficient).  
  • The cleanup team monitors the air for particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radiation, and wind indicators for weather tracking. 
  • The cleanup team has started electric car battery recovery for the Palisades area, de-energizing them in the Topanga staging area to be recycled.  

What safety precautions will EPA take to protect the environment? 

  • See EPA FAQ 
  • Heal the Bay asked about additional BMPs (Best Management Practices) for the expected rain. EPA Public Information Officer Rusty Harris-Bishop has agreed to update us as more information becomes available. 
  • Heal the Bay has also requested that the EPA conduct water quality monitoring in the nearby creek and Lagoon.  
  • The EPA has explained that they have not had any issues with staging areas in past emergencies, including the Lahaina fires. 

When will they start accepting hazardous waste? 

  • As of January 30, they have already started collecting lithium-ion batteries (from electric cars). 
  • Larger-scale work is scheduled to begin January 31, 2025. 

When will they be done? 

  • This is a temporary staging area, and although the Palisades Fire was an unprecedented event, the plan is for the site work to be completed by the end of February 2025 (30 days).  

Where will the hazardous waste be sent? 

  • Materials are taken to the staging area to sort and re-pack for final shipping to permitted hazardous waste facilities that are in good standing.  
  • The facilities have not been determined yet.  
  • Determining specific locations will depend on what the EPA team finds and how much material is collected. Still, our understanding is that the waste will likely be transported out of state. 

Can EPA move the staging to another location? 

  • Attempting to move locations would cause delays in removing the hazardous waste from within the burn zone where it is currently exposed to the elements, which is the biggest concern. 

What is more dangerous to the environment: Creating the staging area near an ecologically sensitive area or slowing removal? 

  • Slowing down removal is likely more dangerous for the environment because there are few measures to prevent the waste in the burn areas from entering waterways and the ocean. 

Is the EPA planning to test the water quality? 

  • No water quality testing is planned. 

Does Heal the Bay have water quality testing recommendations?

  • Yes, our Water Quality Team recommends that the EPA test for the following:  
    • Chronic and Acute Toxicity  
    • Basic water quality parameters (e.g., turbidity, pH, dissolved Oxygen, and temperature) 
    • Total Suspended Solids 
    • Heavy Metals (e.g., lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium and cadmium) 
    • Volatile organic compounds  (e.g., Benzene) 
    • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 
    • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 
    • Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) 
    • Oil and Grease 
    • Total Organic Carbon 
    • FIB (i.e., E. coli, total coliforms, and enterococcus) 
    • Dioxins 
    • Ammonium 
    • Phosphates 
    • Sulfates 
    • Asbestos 
    • Microplastics 
    • Radionuclides 

Has the EPA started a cleanup operation in response to the Eaton Fire? 

  • They have started cleanup operations in Eaton. 

Will Heal the Bay continue to monitor the situation at Topanga Lagoon?

  • Yes, and Heal the Bay will continue to push for the opportunity to conduct a site visit in the coming days to observe the BMPs in action.

 

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Boeing vs the Regional Water Board: A Win for the Environment

01.28.2025 |

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Polluters are being held accountable in the Upper LA River Watershed!

A recent legal victory for the Regional Water Board is a major win for the environment, helping to protect the Los Angeles River headwaters and the broader watershed from further pollution.

As a result of advocacy by groups like Heal the Bay, LA Water Keeper, and Parents Against SSFL, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) approved updated regulations for runoff from the Boeing Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) site in 2023. The new permit included strict water quality limits and additional monitoring requirements for contaminants like PFAS and PCBs, permit elements that are necessary to understand and control polluted runoff from this site. Boeing immediately filed a petition against the Regional Board opposing the permit.

For a “deep dive” into the history of Santa Susana and the Regional Water Quality Control Board check out our piece Calling for Accountability at the Santa Susana Field Lab.

Over this past year, Heal the Bay, LA Water Keeper, and Parents Against SSFL supported the Regional Board as interested parties, filing an amicus briefing, or “friend-of-the-court” briefing, to provide useful information to the court as they weighed their decision. The Los Angeles Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Regional Water Board, rejecting most of Boeing’s arguments, and upholding the new permit terms.

This significant legal victory for the Regional Water Board is a major win for the environment, helping to protect the Los Angeles River headwaters and the broader watershed from further pollution.

Read the full press release.

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