Heal the Bay Blog

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Celebrating Earth Month From Summit to Sea In 2023

04.03.2023 | Heal the Bay

Earth Month is here! Heal the Bay is excited to celebrate this April from #Summit2Sea. Our waterways are precious and care for them is an essential part of keeping the Earth healthy. This April, make time to honor and care for them, from the San Fernando Valley to Mulholland all the way to the sands of Santa Monica Bay. Greater Los Angeles offers opportunities to learn ways to conserve, go outside to do some good, and celebrate our precious blue planet with Heal the Bay all month long.

Individuals, households, schools, businesses, and community organizations are all invited to attend Heal the Bay’s Earth Month events. Our inspiring and fun activities all contribute to our dedication to protect Southern California coastal waters, rivers, creeks, and beloved beaches from Summit to Sea. Join us and bring your family and friends to help Heal the Bay.

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 Calendar of Special Events

Scroll down for our full #Summit2Sea list of Earth Month events and activities waiting for you to get involved. Don’t forget to stop by our partner events listed below, as well.

Beach Captain’s Training- Virtual & In Person

Tuesday, April 11, 6 PM – 7 PM PST

Our monthly Nothin’ But Sand cleanups are public events open for all to join and we couldn’t run these awesome cleanups without the help of our amazing captains & Speakers! Our Beach Captains lead our cleanup volunteers, educate the public on Heal the Bay’s work and mission, help with registration, hand out supplies, fill out community service forms, and represent the organization on the sand. Beach Captain Volunteer Training is a two-step process. First, attend a virtual Beach Captains Volunteer Training, then attend our in-person cleanup to finalize your traininig.

Training Dates:

Tues, April 11 from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Beach Captains Volunteer Training (Virtual Training- Register to receive Zoom Link)
Saturday, April 15 from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM first Beach Captain Shift: (In-Person at Santa Monica Beach Tower 1550)

Hundreds of pounds of trash are removed from the beaches of Los Angeles at each Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup, helping to promote safe, clean coastlines for wildlife and people alike. We could not achieve this without amazing volunteer Beach Captains. Ready to dive in?

Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup – In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 10 AM – 1 PM PST

April is Earth Month, so we are amping up our regularly scheduled Nothin’ But Sand cleanup. Come for the great feeling you get when you volunteer, then stay to win prizes at our sponsored raffle. While you’re there, check out our on-the-sand art installation Marina the Mermaid (Artist Andrea Martina Isenschmid), and celebrate your good work with a silent disco party.

Dance your way to a cleaner beach to support Heal the Bay! We are thrilled to partner with World of Sound Productions by offering our cleanup volunteers a unique silent disco dance party experience. DJs will be spinning family-friendly music through your rented headphones for ALL AGES including: EDM, house music, nu-disco, hip hop, Latin, pop and remixes from the 70’s to current day. Headphones will be available for rent on the sand, but you can prebook yours today after you register to reserve your bucket. A percentage of profits will be donated to Heal the Bay to further support our marine and coastal watershed protection work! Reserve your headphones with World of Sound.

A Big Wave of thanks to Golden Road Brewing, Ocean Conservancy, and Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors for sponsoring this very special cleanup!

Reserve Headphones

Celebrate Earth Month at Heal the Bay Aquarium-

In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

The award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium located at the Santa Monica Pier has planned an afternoon filled with fun Earth Month activities. Featuring exciting exhibits and demonstrations, it’s a great way for the entire family to experience the Santa Monica Bay and observe the local animals that call it home.

Heal the Bay Aquarium’s Earth Month Celebration schedule includes:

Aquarium Opens (11 AM): Check out our award-winning animal exhibits, visit with sharks and sea stars in the touch tanks.

Wildlife Observation Station (12:00 PM to 3:00PM): Visitors who walk to the west end of the Pier will find our wildlife station, staffed and stocked with binoculars and bird identification guides.

Sea Star Feeding (1:00 & 3:00 PM): Help Heal the Bay Aquarium staff feed our sea stars their favorite lunch in our Tide Pool Touch Tanks.

Story Time (2:00 PM): Join the Heal the Bay team for a whale of a tale at our Earth Month Themed Story time.

Mini Dance Party (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (hourly): At the top of each hour, join Heal the Bay in our Dorothy Green Room for a Mini Dance Party to celebrate all things Earth Month.

All Afternoon: Enjoy an eco-themed crafts station, short films, and hands-on pollution displays including our 6-foot-tall Marina the Mermaid art installation (artists Artist Andrea Martina Isenschmid).

Visit Heal the Bay Aquarium

Stussy x Heal the Bay Collaboration Launch – Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

Stüssy and Heal The Bay have collaborated on a capsule collection consisting of two
ecocycle blank co-branded t-shirts, and a mesh hat. 100% of the proceeds from this collaboration will be donated to Heal the Bay to further support our marine and coastal watershed protection work!

Stüssy and Heal The Bay is available at Stussy.com and LA Chapter only on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Check out the Collaboration

Earth Day 2023 Celebration at Heal the Bay Aquarium -In Person

Saturday, April 22, 12 PM to 4 PM PST

Did you miss out on the Earth Month fun last Saturday? Enjoy the encore of exciting exhibits and activities as Heal the Bay Aquarium celebrates Earth Day on April 22. Come celebrate the wonder of our Earth’s oceans with touch tanks, sea star feeding sessions, story time, an eco-themed crafts station, short films, an on the pier Wildlife Observation Station, photoshoots with our 6-foot-tall Marina the Mermaid art installation, and mini dance parties at the top of each hour.

Earth Day at Heal the Bay Aquarium

Gardena Willow Wetlands Earth Day Celebration & Blue Table Talk- Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 11:30 AM

Start the Morning with a wetlands cleanup at Johnson Park from 8 AM -10 AM, then look for the shimmering Heal the Bay Blue Table at the Gardena Willow Wetlands Earth Day Celebration from 10 AM-1 PM where there will be informational booths, food, music, a scavenger hunt, games, and arts and crafts!

Join us for the Blue Table Talk at 11 AM, and take a seat at the table to chat about some of Los Angeles’ most pertinent water topics. Sit down with our watershed experts from Heal the Bay, the Natural History Museum, and TreePeople to ask us anything about water, and its connection to our local habitats. This pop-up roundtable is FREE and open to the public.

Can’t make it to the Blue Table in Person? Follow @cityofgardenaca to join us at the table on Facebook LIVE and then check out @healthebay for the replay!

Watch the Blue Table Talk LIVE

SURFScape -A Consumer-First Experiential Event -In Person

Saturday April 29, 9AM – 5PM & Sunday 30, 9AM – 3PM PST

Enjoy an immersive consumer experience featuring the best brands in surf and the outdoors, produced by the Surf Industry Members Association, supporters of the Nowcast Beach Report Card. The event is free to attend and family friendly. Stop by the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card table as you check out tons of outdoor gear demos, listen to inspirational conversations around environmentalism and sustainability, enjoy food, and watch local surfers catch waves.

SURFScape

Earth Month April eDNA Community Science Event with MPA Watch -In Person

Saturday, April 29, 10 AM -1 PM

Interested in meeting volunteers and participating in cutting-edge science? We are excited to reintroduce a fun and social Heal the Bay event that will occur monthly in the Malibu Marine Protected Area transects! Heal the Bay is partnering with UCLA again to collect sea water samples in Malibu for an environmental DNA scientific testing program with PhD candidate, Moriah Byrd. All marine life leaves traces of DNA in their environment. eDNA water testing analyzes the quantification of biodiversity in a standardized way within a marine ecosystem, making it an incredible tool to monitor Marine Protected Areas.

Register ASAP as spots are limited.

BioBlitz in the Marsh- In-Person

Saturday April 29, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Heal the Bay’s Safe Clean Water Program team is adventuring out to Madrona Marsh in Torrance, CA on 4/29 at 10am for an Earth Month BioBlitz. Heal the Bay staff will instruct guests on how to safely observe and document wildlife while discovering more about local marsh ecosystems. Come walk in nature to collect data as part of the 2023 LA City Nature Challenge, sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.

Registration on Eventbrite in advance is required.

Register ASAP as spots are limited.

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 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.

LA Galaxy Easter Egg Hunt and Earth Month Celebration, Dignity Health Sports Park: Track and Field Stadium, April 7, 12 PM

FOLAR Earth With Us Great LA River Cleanup, Golden Shore Marine Biological Reserve, 201 Golden Shore Long Beach, CA 90802, April 22, 8 AM

LASAN Earth Day LA Expo, Hyperion, 12505 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey, April 22, 10 AM

Earth Day at Gardena Willow Wetlands, 10 AM

20th Annual Earth Day Celebration at the Beverly Hills Farmers Market, April 23, 9 AM

The City of Alhambra Utilities Department 2023 Eco Fair, 100 S Second Street Alhambra, CA 91801, April 23, 8 AM -1 PM

Earth Day Celebration 2023 at Wilderness Park, Wilderness Park 1102 Camino Real, Redondo Beach, CA, 90277, April 22, 2 PM & April 23, 3 PM

Kids Beach Cleanup Event (Plus Traveling Tidepool, Arts & Crafts, & More), Dockweiler Youth Center, Playa del Rey, CA, April 29, 9 AM- 12 PM

All Earth-Month-Long at Heal the Bay

Take the Pledge: Start your Commitment to Conservation

All Month Long

Take Heal the Bay and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s ONE Water pledge for a step by step guide on saving water indoors and outdoors during the drought. The Dashboard.Earth app connects Angelenos to the climate solutions that matter most in their neighborhoods and makes it easy and rewarding to take action. Together, we can brighten Los Angeles’ water future.

Capture the QR code above to begin the ONE Water Pledge. Already on a mobile device? Download the App.

ACTION LINK(S)

TAKE THE PLEDGE

FREE Beach Wheelchair Rentals & Beach Exploration with Heal the Bay Aquarium – In person

All Month Long 9:30 AM – 11 AM PST

Need a Beach Wheelchair to enjoy some fun in the sun? Everyone should be able to enjoy a day at the beach, so come to Heal the Bay Aquarium to access our manual, beach wheelchairs, available for FREE public rentals.

Pick Up Location Details

Heal the Bay’s Beach Wheelchair rental program helps provide accessibility to one of nature’s most inspiring and critically important resources, and was made possible thanks to funding from The Coastal Conservancy. Learn more about our Beach Wheelchair Rental Program: https://healthebay.org/beach-wheelchairs-santa-monica-pier/

Gear Up for Earth Day with Heal the Bay

All Month Long

Nothing says Earth Day like swag from Heal the Bay. Use promo code EARTHLOVE for 15% off everything in the Heal the Bay online store from April 1 – April 30, 2023.

Shop the Bay

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

Inspire Local Youth: Your $25 gift can provide 1 student with a marine science education experience.
Tackle Toxic Plastics: Your $50 gift can train 2 volunteers to fight plastic pollution with strong advocacy.
Restore Our Rivers: Your $100 gift can underwrite 1 week of water quality monitoring in local freshwater spots
Protect Clean Water: Your $500 gift can fund campaigns to hold polluters accountable for pollutants in the Bay

DONATE

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Appreciating 33 Years of Amazing Volunteers

03.29.2023 | Heal the Bay

California Eventos Events News Take Action

Heal the Bay thrives because of our amazing volunteers. We are only able to celebrate those achievements because of the time, dedication, and support that our volunteers so graciously donate.

Each and every volunteer is instrumental to the success of our organization whether educating the public, reaching out to communities, aiding in aquarium care, or picking up plastic at the beach. Volunteer passion for the environment through selfless dedication is the ture heart and soul of Heal the Bay and drive our accomplishments toward achieving the mission to protect coastal waters and watersheds of Southern California. On March 23, 2023, we took time to celebrate our volunteers at Heal the Bay’s 33rd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party and Award Ceremony.

Aquarium volunteers contributed 4,005 hours to the Heal the Bay Aquarium, supported field trips, assisted in caring for our animals, and guided visitors through the experience of our touch tanks.
MPA Watch volunteers conducted 489 surveys in 2022 to monitor human activity in the Palos Verdes and Malibu Marine Protected Area sites.
Thousands of volunteers picked up trash from the greater L.A.’s shorelines and neighborhoods last year. On Coastal Cleanup Day, 4,583 volunteers removed more than 11,298 lbs. of trash and 313 lbs. of recyclables from our waterways and neighborhoods.

Our Key Stone Award Winners

The Jean Howell Award and the Bob Hertz Award are Heal the Bay’s lifetime achievement awards. This years award winners, like any keystone, have become central to the success of many Heal the Bay programs. A special thank you to our 2023 awardees.

Tim Cheung – Jean Howell Award

Tim began volunteering with Heal the Bay in 2017. Through the years, Tim has been instrumental to the Beach Captains team for Nothin’ But Sand and Heal the Bay public cleanup programs. In the past, Tim represented Heal the Bay at tabling events in the community and helped spread our virtual Knowledge Drop education series at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim brings a strong sense of community to each cleanup and ensuring all team members feel informed and involved along the way, commanding the attention of our cleanup volunteers at Nothin’ But Sand every month, ensuring a safe cleanup. At the end of the cleanup, Tim leads the charge, weighing the trash and transporting large items to the dumpster, often by himself. There is no task Tim isn’t willing to do.

John Wells – Jean Howell Award

Since joining Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch Program in February 2020, John has conducted more than 385 MPA Watch surveys. His surveys alone account for more than 25% of the submitted surveys on behalf of Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch program. John’s increased resolution in our data came during an exceptional need to record unprecedented changes in human recreational and consumptive behavior in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. John was awarded the MPA Watch Super Healer award in 2020 and his dedication to Heal the Bay has only grown stronger, serving as an active volunteer, a Beach Captain at monthly NBS beach clean-ups, Suits on the Sand events, and at Heal the Bay’s Coastal Cleanup Day in 2022. John’s contributions are invaluable

John Reyes – Bob Hertz Award

John Reyes attends every Heal the Bay volunteer opportunity. There isn’t a cleanup program or Heal the Bay event that John is not involved. Since 2018, John has captained Coastal Cleanup Day sites in Dockweiler State Beach and even organized his own Adopt-A-Beach team, “the Beach Reacher’s”, to clean up would-be marine debris from L.A.’s inland watershed. John is always one of the first volunteers to sign up to support special Heal the Bay events such as the Trash Bowl and Golf Open. Even during the rainy seasons John joins our Storm Response cleanup efforts. His leadership at Nothin But Sand Cleanups are instrumental and he has volunteered at over 100 Suits on the Sand cleanups. The current Beach Programs team wishes to express the greatest gratitude for John’s dedication and outstanding support.

Celebrating our Super Healers

All Heal the Bay volunteers are wavemakers, but some go above and beyond. We are especially proud to recognize the following outstanding individuals with the 2022 Super Healer Awards:

Sharon Lawrence – Development Super Healer

Actress, philanthropist, and leader Sharon Lawrence is known to most as the multiple Primetime Emmy-nominated and SAG Award-winning actress from hit shows like NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy, Monk, Law and Order: SVU, Rizzoli & Isles, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (among many others). She has also been a change-maker at Heal the Bay for more than a decade, working tirelessly wherever she is needed, serving most recently as Chair of the Heal the Bay Board of Directors. Always the advocate for Heal the Bay, Sharon uses her voice and passionate influence to raise unquantifiable amounts of support and donations that have helped fund some of our most important science, policy, and outreach programs. A wavemaker like Sharon is truly one in a million.

Amalfi Estates (Anthony Marguleas) – Corporate Super Healer

Anthony Marguleas of Amalfi Estates often notes: “we are a philanthropic company that excels at selling real estate. Alongside our commitment to our clients stands our commitment to our community.” Every year the Amalfi team donates 10% of their commissions to Heal the Bay among six L.A. charities. Their mighty team of 10 works enthusiastically to support local nonprofits donating more than $2 million since 2015.In just the past two years, nearly $35,000 has benefited Heal the Bay. When it comes to corporate responsibility, Amalfi Estates leads by example, setting the standard for what organizational-wide philanthropy can look like in the 21st century.

Andrea Martina Isenchmid – Communications Super Healer

Andrea is an actress, filmmaker, and artist, but we all know and love her as one of our most dedicated Beach Captains and Speakers. She has been a Heal the Bay volunteer for many years, inspiring countless attendees at our Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanups with her energizing educational safety talks. Rain or shine Andrea is always ready to help setup at the beach and a reliable amplifier promoting Heal the Bay’s messaging and advocacy through social media often serving as impromptu social media photographer for the Communications team. This year, Andrea furthered her passion for Heal the Bay’s mission with the completion on “Marina the Mermaid”. the single-use plastic recycle. This 6-foot-tall recycled mannequin is adorned with pounds of items collected during Nothin’ But Sand Cleanups and her own self-cleanups. Her artwork will be on display during the entirety of Earth Month this April at the Heal the Bay Aquarium to raise environmental awareness.

Celina Banuelos – Public Programs Super Healer

Celina is a real Ocean Hero, dedicating extensive time and effort to interpreting marine life for the public at the Heal the Bay Aquarium. She has helped countless visitors interact with ocean creatures for the first time at the Aquarium while exercising unwavering advocacy for the animals that live in Santa Monica Bay. Celina inspires people to connect with the ocean. We are so grateful to you, Celina, for all that you have done!

Hannah Benharash – Public Programs Super Healer

Hannah is a Heal the Bay regular and is always open to new experiences. Whether breaking down birthday parties or interpreting at the touch tanks on busy weekends, Hannah has made our aquarium programs unforgettable. Hannah is not only enthusiastic and dedicated but also extremely well-known for their unmatched button-making skills! We are grateful to Hannah for always coming to our rescue at the Heal the Bay Aquarium when it is needed the most.

Sophia Sorady – Public Programs Super Healer

Sophia is a Wave Maker who has inspired her peers to take action in support of environmentalism. An amazing advocacy teacher for all our new public programs volunteers, Sophia dedicated time to the Aquarium by ensuring guests responsibly interacting with our animals. . Sophia is a kindhearted leader with compassion for the ocean, and we are proud to have her on our team.

Ren Capati – Public Programs Super Healer

Ren is a stellar Public Programs volunteer. Extremely knowledgeable, dependable, and always curious, Ron has been volunteering with the Public Programs team for more years than some senior staff members! We love talking with Ren about discoveries in marine science, and are grateful for Ren’s infectious passion as part of the Heal the Bay team!

Jim Mckenzie – Aquarist Super Healer

Jim has been volunteering with the Aquarium Operations department for the past two years and is an invaluable member of our team. Jim’s curiosity and dedication to protecting our environment shines through in all the work he does with Heal the Bay. From helping keep exhibits squeaky clean to spending time out on the sand supporting a beach cleanup, Jim has done it all. He is easily our best and most reliable first mate on Dorothy for kelp collections and overall incredible support to have at the Heal the Bay Aquarium. We’re so honored to have Jim be part of our team!

Russell Blakely – Super Healer

Russell first volunteered with Heal the Bay in 2021, as a Beach Captain to help clean coastal areas. Russell is a tireless hero of our Nothin’ But Sand cleanups; always working and giving his all. Recently, Russell has developed into one of our leading Corporate Outreach volunteers, helping at Suits on the Sand cleanups, and on more than one occasion assisting at TWO cleanups in ONE day. Russell is our Suits on the Sand superstar.

Brant Kim – Super Healer

Brant started as a Beach Captain in 2022 and has exhibited multitalented capabilities of leading any station. Exceptionally helpful with uplifting all our new digital initiatives at our cleanups, such as the electronic check-in, waiver check, and DEI survey, Brant’s commitment to community outreach streamlines Heal the Bay’s Beach Program initiatives.

Alice Pak – Super Healer

Alice began volunteering with Heal the Bay in 2022 and has been an excellent addition to the Beach Captains team. Alice hit the sand running, quickly optimizing our Nothin’ But Sand event procedures, most importantly, our registration booth protocols. With Alice at the registration desk the Beach Programs volunteer teams are able to check-in 300 attendees in an hour or less. In addition to serving as a teacher on the sand for other volunteers, Alice is one of our most dependable Beach Captains.

David Eddy -Super Healer & Keystone Starfish

David started volunteering his data analysis skills to Heal the Bay in 2020. In the past, he helped our water quality scientists assess dissolved oxygen levels in the Channel Islands Harbor, painting an impressive overview of the data through visuals and a results overview video. This year, David has started volunteering his time and expertise to help the Beach Programs team revive the marine debris database, integrating our historic data with current datasets, and helping Heal the Bay bring our historic marine debris database into a modern, accessible format. Thank you for making that dream a reality!

Tasha Kolokotrones – Science Super Healer

Tasha Kolokotrones has been an MPA Watch volunteer with Heal the Bay since 2021. Inspired by a love of the outdoors, Tasha has conducted more than 50 MPA watch surveys earning honorable mention as one our most active MPA Watch volunteers. In 2022, Tasha submitted more surveys than 90% of our other program volunteers. Thanks to Tasha, our Marine Protected Area in Palos Verdes had consistent MPA Watch monitoring in 2022, an accomplishment all on its own!

Special thanks to Golden Road Brewing for supplying refreshments and cheer!

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Commit to Conservation Part 3: Solutions to California’s Water Supply – It’s All About Infrastructure

03.24.2023 | Heal the Bay

California California Drought News

California’s major infrastructure was built in the 20th century, but neither our laws nor conveyance systems were designed to address the challenges faced by climate change in the 21st century. Here’s everything you need to know about that infrastructure from the Heal the Bay Climate Action Team in Part 3 of our 3-part series, Commit to Conservation.

In past blogs, we’ve broken down the drivers behind the California drought and types of actions that make a real difference as we work to close the large and growing gap between the water we use and the water made available by nature. Even with the recent deluge of snow, torrential rains, and resulting flooding, precipitation was insufficient in permanently reversing the drought. The good news is that we have the technology we need for reliable drinking water and Heal the Bay is actively championing projects that will move us toward a more resilient and equitable future.

BACKGROUND

Water systems in California were designed based on historic patterns of precipitation that are being altered by climate change, but the primary cause of water scarcity in our region is not climate – it’s governance. Rights to our State’s water supply go all the way back to the 19th century, and our major infrastructure was built in the 20th century, and neither our laws nor conveyance systems were designed to address the challenges faced by climate change in the 21st century. The good news is that the potential for bolstering local water sources and supply in Southern California is enormous, and there are already plans and policies underway to make Los Angeles more resilient! And we believe in the idea of a “One Water” approach, which prioritizes investments in demand management and new supplies based on reliability, affordability, equity, public health, and environmental impacts.

ACHIEVING WATER RESILIENCY THROUGH CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY

Conservation and efficiency are two important tools when considering water use in a time of drought.

Conservation involves the conscious choice to change an action, like watering your lawn only one day a week instead of every day. While efficiency means taking the same actions as before but using less water (usually with the help of technology), for example, adding water-efficient showerheads to your bathrooms.

We talk a lot about water conservation and efficiency as strategies that the people of Los Angeles can take to help ensure that every on California can have access to safe clean water as that need increases. Reducing demand is often the cheapest and fastest way to close the large and growing gap between supply and demand. Saving water also helps save energy. In fact, a study by UC Davis revealed that during the 2015 drought, Californians saved more energy through water savings than all the energy efficiency programs combined. And when individuals actively choose to use less water, it makes a remarkable difference in water availability for everyone. Technology already exists that could save up to 1 trillion gallons a year statewide and the greatest potential for water savings exists right here in the South Coast Region, owing in part to the sheer potential of people (9.86 million in LA County alone) who could improve their water efficiency. To help encourage communities to use water more efficiently, the State Water Resources Control Board is working on a rulemaking to establish unique water efficiency budgets for each urban water supplier in California under a broader water resilience framework to “Make Conservation a California Way of Life”.

The greatest potential for water saving and new supply exists in the South Coast Region, which includes Los Angeles County. From The Untapped Potential of California’s Urban Water Supply: Water Efficiency, Water Reuse, and Stormwater Capture, published by the Pacific Institute in April 2022.

Barriers to increasing water efficiency include:

1) Water efficiency rebate programs that are often not accessible to low-income households because they require customers to purchase new appliances first and then wait several weeks (or more) for a rebate;

2) Water supplier revenues tied to how much water they sell, so there is a disincentive to invest in programs that reduce sales, and

3) Water suppliers won’t pay nearly as much for saved water as they will for new water.

Heal the Bay and our partners are working with our local water suppliers to implement solutions to these challenges, including:

Improving access to water efficiency programs by advocating for state and federal funding for programs that provide direct installation of new plumbing fixtures, appliances, and landscapes for income qualifying customers.
Advocating for water agencies to adopt water rates that incentivize improved efficiency while also allowing water suppliers to recover fixed costs, like the budget-based rates used by Irvine Ranch Water District and Western Municipal Water District.
Increasing the return on investment by advocating for water agencies to leverage the energy savings embedded in water savings to co-fund rebate programs with energy utilities.

CAPTURING STORMWATER – Waste Not, Want Not

Unlike wastewater, most stormwater in Los Angeles is not treated nor cleaned before it reaches our rivers and ocean. Our current stormwater infrastructure was built to protect against flooding, but when rain comes, the first flush of water from urbanized areas sweeps up trash and other contaminants which flow through our storm drains, dumping polluted water directly into our waterways, beaches, and ocean. Capturing LA’s rainwater offers opportunities to improve water quality in rivers and the ocean and at least triple the amount of stormwater captured for water supply (currently around 33 billion gallons per year).

The architects of the archaic system could not have foreseen the impacts of accommodating large population increases and ensuing development let alone a future of climate change and drought. They viewed water through a very different lens as something to control because it was a flooding danger rather than an integral resource and the lifeblood of ecosystems. Since 1985, Heal the Bay has seen first-hand the symptoms and impacts of stormwater contamination on our beaches and ocean as our volunteers and staff pick up thousands of pounds of trash each year. In fact, our Beach Report Card predictably downgrades our beaches after each rainstorm, and therefore, swimmers should consider staying out of coastal waters for at least 3 days after a rain event.

If we utilize natural solutions for stormwater capture, we could get even more benefits like carbon sequestration, cooler temperatures, recreational opportunities, and so much more. Heal the Bay works with the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board to track action under the Regional Stormwater Permit and has also engaged with a local dedicated source of funding as Watershed Coordinators for the Safe, Clean Water Program. One good example of this is our project at Inell-Woods Park, which will be located in South Los Angeles, in a neighborhood that lacks green space within the Compton Creek Watershed. The objective is to use native plants to reduce long-term potable water requirements and capture and treat stormwater to irrigate the park.

Stormwater Capture Projects: a) The Oxford Retention Basin Regional Stormwater Capture Project, b) The Ladera Park Stormwater Improvements Project, c) a rain garden in The Elmer Avenue Neighborhood Retrofit Project. Photos by Annelisa Moe/Heal the Bay.

SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT – A Huge Underutilized Opportunity

One element you need for successful stormwater infiltration projects is clean groundwater. Here in the Los Angeles area, groundwater reservoirs offer vast natural water storage potential. And while they are heavily regulated to avoid over-pumping, much of this water is contaminated from historical industrial pollution. So, in recent years, groundwater has only made up about 10% of local water supply. Groundwater remediation, therefore, offers removal of pollution that is currently underlying communities, a boost for subsurface ecosystem health, and an increase in local water supply, as long as these stores are also regularly refilled by other local water sources. Across LA County, there are roughly 5.8 billion gallons of available unused groundwater storage space where we can store recycled wastewater and captured stormwater for future use; and if we do not use this storage space, the ground could compact, actually removing that storage potential.

In addition to some groundwater being polluted, we also have aquifers that are salty. Desalination can be used to clean up salty groundwater, and that process is safer, less expensive, and less energy intensive than ocean water desalination. It also provides multiple benefits by removing salt from our groundwater and providing water supply.

SAFE WASTEWATER RECYCLING – Rinse and Repeat

Treated wastewater (water used indoors that gets cleaned to a high standard at a wastewater treatment facility) has traditionally been discharged to the ocean or rivers, which is a hugely missed opportunity because that water can be used again to reduce our dependence on imported drinking water. We currently reuse some of this water indirectly to recharge groundwater reservoirs, or directly for irrigation through the purple pipe system or recycled water fill stations, but we could be using more. In fact, California is finalizing regulations to allow for direct potable reuse, defined by the EPA as a “water recycling method that involves the treatment and distribution of water without an environmental buffer”. Although the concept has received some non-scientific skepticism along the way, it is actually very safe and is already in use around the world and even here in Southern California. Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) is the world’s largest purification system providing treated water to near-distilled quality that is then piped to a location where it naturally seeps into a groundwater basin that provides about 70% of the potable water needs for 2.4 million OC residents.

Skeptical about drinking recycled water? Fun fact: Half of all water systems that serve more than 10,000 people provide de facto recycled water, or water that includes wastewater that was discharged from an upstream source. Purified recycled water is actually much cleaner than most supplies because of the extensive treatment and purification process that takes place at these advanced treatment facilities.

Many facilities in Southern California are already preparing their facilities to include direct potable reuse as a means to increase the use of recycled wastewater, including the Metropolitan Water District Pure Water Southern California Project, the Las Virgenes-Triunfo Pure Water Project, the City of Ventura Water Pure Project, and the City of LA’s Hyperion 2035 Project. Though it will take time and funding for these facilities to be fully operational, Heal the Bay has already visited some demonstration facilities as we continue to advocate for smart policies that ensure high quality water, as well as environmentally safe and sustainable practices.

The Las Virgenes-Triunfo Demonstration Facility turns wastewater into highly purified water that exceeds federal and state drinking water standards in 3 very high-tech steps: 1) Membrane Filtration, 2) Reverse Osmosis, and 3) Advanced Oxidation. At the end of the Demonstration Facility tour, guests can taste test the final product. Photos by Annelisa Moe/Heal the Bay.

DESALINATION – The Option of Last Resort

We regularly receive questions about the possibility of desalination. Click here to read 5 reasons to be wary of desalination. The takeaway is that it is extremely expensive, energy intensive, and environmentally harmful and should only be used when all other options have been exhausted.

SECURING LA’S WATER FUTURE

With limited resources to counter the myriad impacts of the climate crisis, we must prioritize cost-effective projects that maximize local water and offer multiple benefits to support thriving communities and ecosystems. With better access to water efficiency programs, a multi-benefit stormwater capture network, sustainable groundwater management, and increased use of safe water recycling, we can reduce our reliance on imported water.

Successful water resiliency work requires bringing together the variety of water agencies and governmental departments to work collaboratively for the shared benefits not only for the future of the Southlands but for California water resilience, as a whole. For two years, Heal the Bay has led this conversation by hosting a “One Water” symposium attended by water agency leaders that serves to drive momentum toward collaborative solutions for these major infrastructure projects. You can take part in Heal the Bay’s work as we continue to track all of these efforts and advocate for a holistic One Water approach to build a resilient water future for LA.

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Written by the Heal the Bay Science and Policy Department in Collaboration with the Climate Action Team. Leading a dynamic team of scientists, policy experts, outreach specialists, educators, and advocates in pursuit of its clean water mission.

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What the Passage of SB 54 means for California’s Plastic Pollution & Waste Crisis

07.01.2022 | Heal the Bay

California Plastic Pollution

Watch Tracy Quinn, our CEO on Spectrum News 1 discussing SB 54.

HEAL THE BAY IS ENCOURAGED to share that California has taken a major step forward in addressing the plastic pollution and waste crisis with the passage of Senate Bill 54 (SB 54) in the California State Legislature, followed by Governor Newsom signing it into law on June 30, 2022.

Reducing single-use plastics through comprehensive statewide policy is a priority for Heal the Bay. During Heal the Bay beach cleanups, 80% of the more than 4 million pieces of trash that our volunteers pick up is made from single-use plastics. In our ocean and rivers, plastic waste poses a significant threat to animals, leaching harmful chemicals into their bodies or even blocking their digestive tract, leading to starvation and malnourishment. The plastic pollution can even transfer up the food chain ultimately passing the toxins on to us.

SB 54, authored by Senator Ben Allen, establishes a producer responsibility scheme to hold plastic industries accountable for the waste they produce. We look forward to working with Senator Allen on the implementation of SB 54, and with our environmental justice partners to ensure low-income communities and communities of color don’t bear additional burdens. Pollution from the full lifecycle of plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels, already harms communities of color disproportionately. This pollution can lead to health impacts such as asthma, respiratory illness, headaches, fatigue, nosebleeds, and even cancer.

“Heal the Bay envisions a solution that moves us entirely away from single-use materials, especially plastics, and focuses on reuse and refill instead. Even though recycling is an important part of this process, we cannot recycle our way out — nor can we use dangerous chemical recycling methods that dispose of plastics in our air. We will continue to push hard, alongside other environmental and community-based organizations and advocates, to ensure the producer responsibility program established by SB 54 prioritizes reuse and refill,” said Tracy Quinn, Heal the Bay CEO and President.

The passing of this legislation ultimately means the California Recycling and Plastics Pollution Reduction Act Initiative, which was supposed to be on the November 2022 ballot, will be pulled. While we were thrilled to give California voters the opportunity to make this decision, our California legislature has incorporated many of the requirements and solutions laid out in the plastic ballot measure. The momentum of the plastic ballot measure brought industry to the table to make real commitments, and we are going to hold them to it.

What’s included in SB 54:

Sets a 25% source reduction goal for single-use packaging production by 2032. And by then, 65% of single-use packaging still being produced will need to be truly recyclable or compostable
Establishes a producer responsibility scheme through the formation of a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to help California reduce plastic pollution, and creates strong state government enforcement and oversight that will remove power from the PRO should they fall out of compliance
Requires $5 billion of environmental mitigation funding from plastic producers to go toward environmental restoration and cleanup over 10-years

What needs to be improved upon in the legislation:

Does not outright ban polystyrene, rather it sets recycling rates of 25% by 2025 with the material being banned if this rate cannot be met
Allows for post-consumer recycled content (recycled plastic that is used in a new product) to count toward source reduction goal

Heal the Bay thanks Senator Allen and the bill’s co-authors Senators Becker, Gonzalez, Hertzberg, Kamlager, Skinner, Stern, and Wiener for championing SB 54. A huge thank you to Assemblymember Luz Rivas who advocated for important amendments. With the passage of SB 54, we look forward to experiencing less plastic pollution in our communities and environments and seeing a decrease in public health risks in the years to come.

Stay tuned for a deep dive from us on Senate Bill 54: The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.

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Heal the Bay Releases Annual Beach Report Card & River Report Card 2021-2022

06.22.2022 | Heal the Bay

Beach Report Card River Report Card

Summer is officially here – the peak season for swimming outdoors. Heal the Bay releases its annual scientific reports on bacterial-pollution rankings for hundreds of beaches in California and dozens of freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County.

SUMMARY

California beaches had excellent water quality in summer 2021, according to the thirty-second annual Beach Report Card that environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay released today. Heal the Bay assigned “A-to-F” letter grades for 500 California beaches in the 2021-2022 report, based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean measured by County health agencies. In addition, the group ranked water quality at 35 freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County for summer 2021 and shared findings from the third annual River Report Card.

BEACH REPORT CARD HIGHLIGHTS

The good news is 94% of the California beaches assessed by Heal the Bay received an A or B grade during summer 2021, which is on par with the five-year average.

Even so, Heal the Bay scientists remain deeply concerned about ocean water quality. Polluted waters pose a significant health risk to millions of people in California. People who come in contact with water with a C grade or lower are at a greater risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and rashes. Beaches and rivers usually have high-risk water quality following a rain event. Less rain typically means that reduced amounts of pollutants, including bacteria, are flushed through storm drains and rivers into the ocean. Last year, rainfall across coastal counties in California was 24 percent lower than the historical average. Only 66% of California beaches had good or excellent grades during wet weather, which was a little above average, but still very concerning.

“A day at the beach and the river shouldn’t make anyone sick,” said Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay. “It is wonderful news that most beaches in California have good water quality for swimming. But there are areas with poor water quality that need improvement and infrastructure upgrades. We can’t forget that our marine ecosystems are still threatened by the climate crisis and other pollution sources, and we need solutions to address these pressing issues as well. We expect people to increasingly seek out ocean shorelines and freshwater swimming holes to cool off as temperatures rise, so safe, clean, and healthy water is needed now more than ever.”

Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card and River Report Card provide access to the latest water quality information and are a critical part of our science-based advocacy work in support of strong environmental policies that protect public health.

Download Beach Report Card

Read Beach Report Card summary en Español

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. The 2021-2022 Beach Bummer List includes beaches in San Diego, San Mateo, Los Angeles, and Humboldt Counties, and for the first-time ever a beach in Baja California, Mexico makes the list (this beach is monitored by San Diego County).*

- Playa Blanca (Baja California, Mexico)
- Erckenbrack Park (San Mateo County)
- Marlin Park (San Mateo County)
- Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles County)
- Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach, at lifeguard tower (Los Angeles County)
- Moonstone County Park (Humboldt County)
- Newport Bay, Vaughn’s Launch (Orange County)
- Lakeshore Park (San Mateo County)
- Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach, between lifeguard tower and boat dock (Los Angeles County)
- Tijuana Slough, North of Tijuana River Mouth (San Diego County)

BEACH HONOR ROLL LIST

Heal the Bay’s Honor Roll List includes 51 California beaches that scored perfect water quality grades year-round (compared to 35 beaches in the prior year). Most beaches on the Honor Roll are in Southern California because many counties in Central California and Northern California do not sample frequently enough during the winter months. Orange County had the most beaches on the Honor Roll. Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, and Santa Barbara Counties also had beaches with perfect water quality grades. San Francisco, Ventura, and Alameda Counties had no beaches on the Honor Roll.

Venice City Beach, at Brooks Ave. drain (Los Angeles County)
Rancho Palos Verdes, Long Point (Los Angeles County)
Royal Palms State Beach (Los Angeles County)
Palos Verdes Estates, at Malaga Cove trail outlet (Los Angeles County)
Las Tunas County Beach, at Pena Creek (Los Angeles County)
Nicholas Beach, at San Nicholas Canyon Creek (Los Angeles County)
Dana Point Harbor Youth Dock (Orange County)
Dana Point Harbor Guest Dock (Orange County)
Poche Beach (Orange County)
Doheny Beach (Orange County)
Doheny State Beach, end of the park (Orange County)
Doheny State Beach, at last campground (Orange County)
Corona Del Mar (Orange County)
Crystal Cove (Orange County)
Marine Science Institute Beach (Orange County)
Dana Point, Capistrano County Beach (Orange County)
Doheny State Beach, Pedestrian Bridge (Orange County)
Dana Strands Beach (Orange County)
Huntington City Beach, at 17th Street (Orange County)
Bolsa Chica Reserve, at Flood Gates (Orange County)
Surfside Beach, at Sea Way (Orange County)
San Clemente, at Avenida Calafia (Orange County)
Salt Creek Beach (Orange County)
Laguna Lido (Orange County)
Treasure Island Beach (Orange County)
Del Mar, at 15th Street (San Diego County)
Carlsbad, at Tamarack Ave. (San Diego County)
Carlsbad, at Poinsettia Lane (San Diego County)
Carlsbad, at Encina Creek (San Diego County)
Carlsbad, at Palomar Airport Rd. (San Diego County)
Carlsbad, at Cerezo Drive (San Diego County)
Oceanside, at Forster Street (San Diego County)
Oceanside, Harbor Beach at Harbor Drive (San Diego County)
Point Loma, Lighthouse (San Diego County)
Point Loma, Point Loma Treatment Plant (San Diego County)
Sunset Cliffs, at Ladera Street (San Diego County)
Mission Beach, Belmont Park (San Diego County)
La Jolla Shores Beach, 1000 ft south of Scripps Pier (San Diego County)
La Jolla Shores Beach, 250 feet south of Scripps Pier (San Diego County)
La Jolla Shores Beach, 500 feet north of Scripps Pier (San Diego County)
Guadalupe Dunes (Santa Barbara County)
East Beach, at Sycamore Creek (Santa Barbara County)
El Capitan State Beach (Santa Barbara County)
Sands, at Coal Oil Point (Santa Barbara County)
Cayucos State Beach, downcoast of the pier (San Luis Obispo County)
Pismo Beach, at Ocean View (San Luis Obispo County)
Pismo Beach, at Wadsworth Street (San Luis Obispo County)
San Simeon State Beach, at Pico Ave. (San Luis Obispo County)
Morro Strand State Beach, at Beachcomber Drive (San Luis Obispo County)
Pismo State Beach, 571 yards south of Pier Ave. (San Luis Obispo County)
Pismo State Beach, 330 yards north of Pier Ave. (San Luis Obispo County)

“The World Surf League is incredibly proud to partner with Heal the Bay to upgrade the Beach Report Card for all ocean lovers to be informed about water quality prior to heading to their favorite beach. Through the partnership we are investing in improvements to the user experience of the Beach Report Card website and app, and we will be activating local surfers to protect the health of 150 million beachgoers in California,” said Emily Hofer, Chief People Officer and Executive Director WSL PURE at World Surf League (WSL).

RIVER REPORT CARD HIGHLIGHTS

Heal the Bay graded 35 freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County within the L.A. River, San Gabriel River, and Malibu Creek Watersheds during summer 2021. 59% of the grades across all LA freshwater sites and all dates indicated a low risk of illness, 17% indicated a moderate risk of illness, and 24% indicated a high risk of illness.

“Our River Report Card identifies a disturbing trend between development and water quality. The natural areas in our watersheds, rivers and streams with muddy bottoms and ample flora, have the best water quality and are the safest for the public. While heavily developed areas, waterways encased with concrete (including within the L.A. River channel), tend to have lower water quality. We recommend checking out the River Report Card before heading out to the L.A. River because bacteria levels are often at unsafe levels and you can find a safer spot for cooling off,” said Luke Ginger, Water Quality Scientist and author of the River Report Card and Beach Report Card.

Download River Report Card

Read River Report Card summary en Español

FRESHWATER FAILS LIST

Top 10 river recreation sites in Los Angeles County that are high-risk places to contact the water.

1-5. L.A. River at Riverfront Park – Lower L.A. River Watershed
1-5. L.A. River below the Rio Hondo Confluence – Lower L.A. River Watershed
1-5. L.A. River at Hollydale Park – Lower L.A. River Watershed
1-5. Compton Creek – Lower L.A. River Watershed
1-5. L.A. River below the Compton Creek Confluence – Lower L.A. River Watershed
6. Tujunga Wash at Hansen Dam – Upper L.A. River Watershed
7. L.A. River at Willow Street – Lower L.A. River Watershed
8. L.A. River at Rattlesnake Park – L.A. River Watershed: Recreation Zones
9. Las Virgenes Creek – Malibu Creek Watershed
10. Bull Creek – Upper L.A. River Watershed

FRESHWATER HONOR ROLL LIST

Top 10 river recreation sites in Los Angeles County that are low-risk places to swim or boat.

1-7. San Gabriel River East Fork at Cattle Canyon – San Gabriel River Watershed
1-7. San Gabriel River East Fork at Graveyard Canyon – San Gabriel River Watershed
1-7. Eaton Canyon – Upper L.A. River Watershed
1-7. Hansen Dam Lake – Upper L.A. River Watershed
1-7. San Gabriel River Upper East Fork – San Gabriel River Watershed
1-7. San Gabriel River Upper West Fork – San Gabriel River Watershed
1-7. Mill Creek at Hidden Springs – Upper L.A. River Watershed
8. L.A. River at Balboa Blvd. – L.A. River Watershed: Recreation Zones
9-10. San Gabriel River Lower West Fork – San Gabriel River Watershed
9-10. San Gabriel River below North and West Forks – San Gabriel River Watershed
9-10. San Gabriel River at Upper Cattle Canyon – San Gabriel River Watershed
9-10. San Gabriel River Upper North Fork – San Gabriel River Watershed

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.

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.

☀️ 📢 Announcing Heal the Bay’s Annual Beach Report Card & River Report Card: https://t.co/LOlD4YLcOb https://t.co/FHkL8mhUKg
— Heal the Bay (@HealTheBay) June 22, 2022

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. 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.

About Beach Report Card: Beach Report Card with NowCast, in partnership with World Surf League, is Heal the Bay’s flagship scientific water quality monitoring program that started in the 1990s. For 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, SONY Pictures Entertainment, and World Surf League.

About River Report Card: Currently, there is no statewide water quality monitoring mandate for rivers and streams in California, like we have 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 brought to you by Garfield Foundation, Watershed Conservation Authority, Environment Now, and Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

Download Press Release in English

Download Press Release en Español

Download Social Media Images

View the Beach Report Card and River Report Card from last year.

*EDITOR NOTE: An earlier version of this blog post included Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara Counties within this paragraph description of the Beach Bummers, which was in error. Neither of these Counties have beaches on Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummers list this year.

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Nick Gabaldón Day 2022

05.11.2022 | Heal the Bay

Nick Gabaldón Day

Nick Gabaldón Day will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 9AM – 4:30PM.

Nick Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love, and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.

In 2013, with the help of African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts. Nick Gabaldón Day, in its current form, is now in its 10th year and will be held on June 18, 2022. This innovative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

The shoreline and waters at Bay Street in Santa Monica were an active hub of African American beach life during the Jim Crow era. This beach was popular from the 1900s to early 1960s among African American people, who sought to avoid hostile and racial discrimination they might experience at other southland beaches. Racial discrimination and restrictive covenants prevented African Americans from buying property throughout the Los Angeles region, but their community’s presence and agency sustained their oceanfront usage in Santa Monica.

In 2008, the City of Santa Monica officially recognized the “Inkwell” and Nick Gabaldón with a landmark monument at Bay Street and the Oceanfront Walk. In 2019, this same beach was listed as the Bay Street Beach Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in the African American experience and American history.

Nick Gabaldón Day introduces young and old from inland communities to the magic of the coast through free surf and ocean safety lessons, beach ecology exploration, and a history lesson about a man who followed his passion and a community who challenged anti-Black discrimination to enjoy the beach.

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, and the Santa Monica Conservancy collaborate for Nick Gabaldón Day to reach families in resource-challenged communities and connect them to meaningful educational programming. Together, we are helping build personal experiences with cultural, historical, natural heritage, and civic engagement that make up the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of heritage conservation and environmental leaders.

Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier will be free for all visitors in honor of Nick on Saturday, June 18 thanks to a grant from Northrop Grumman. A celebrity guest reader will pop in for story time and special art activities will be offered, as well as screenings of documentaries exploring issues of race, coastal access, and following your passion against all odds.

Tentative Agenda: June 18, 2022

9 am Welcome Ceremony and Memorial Paddle Out for Nick at Bay Street Beach
10 am – 1 pm Free surf lessons (we’ve reached max. capacity for surf lessons!), beach and local history exploration, and cleanup at Bay Street Beach.
1 pm – 4 pm Celebration continues at Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier; admission to the Aquarium is free today in honor of Nick.
- 1 pm Documentary screening
- 2 pm Children’s story time with guest reader
- 3 pm Documentary screening

Nick Gabaldón Day 2022 Partners
Black Surfers Collective
Heal the Bay
Surf Bus Foundation
Santa Monica Conservancy
Color the Water

Sponsors
Stüssy
Northrop Grumman
Thanks to the Tuesday Night Ultimate Frisbee Group affiliated with LA Throwback Foundation, folks that are interested promoting civic engagement and history through sports, for funding support of Nick Gabaldón Day.

For more information about partnership and sponsorship opportunities please contact: Jeff Williams, Black Surfers Collective, ghettosurfn@gmail.com or Meredith McCarthy, Heal the Bay 310.451.1500 ext. 116 or mmccarthy@healthebay.org.

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Tracy Quinn Appointed to CEO of Heal the Bay

04.18.2022 | Heal the Bay

Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Upholding its dedication to science-based advocacy, the environmental group Heal the Bay today announced Tracy Quinn as its new CEO. Quinn joins the Santa Monica-based nonprofit from the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she served as the Director of California Urban Water Policy.

During her tenure, Quinn was a widely respected voice on how communities and industries across California must respond to unprecedented drought by improving water efficiency and investing in climate resilient supplies through stormwater capture and recycled water. Her strong technical background and commitment to environmental equity are clear in her leadership in addressing emerging contaminants like PFAS, advocating for cost-effective strategies to improve water reliability, and partnering with frontline groups to protect low-income households from water shutoffs.

“I am honored and humbled to lead Heal the Bay into its next chapter as we tackle increasingly challenging environmental issues and work to ensure equitable outcomes for the communities in our watersheds,” Quinn said. “As California continues to adapt to a changing climate, Heal the Bay’s legacy of science-based activism makes it well suited to address the challenges in our region.”

As a Board Member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Quinn pushes for bold actions to conserve and protect drinking water supplies for millions of people. She also served on the boards of The Wildwoods Foundation and the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

An extensive nationwide search culminated in the hiring of Quinn, who has been tasked with amplifying Heal the Bay’s science, advocacy, education, and community action programs. While focused on the organization’s core mission of clean water and healthy watersheds, she will implement strategies to deepen Heal the Bay’s engagement in solving the most critical environmental challenges in Greater Los Angeles.

Formed more than three decades ago as a local grassroots organization, Heal the Bay successfully led the fight to require Hyperion Plant to thoroughly treat sewage before releasing into the Santa Monica Bay, thereby protecting Southern California’s coast for the many people who rely on it. The region now has even bigger threats, from climate change to an uncertain water supply to an increasing amount of toxic legacy pollutants and plastics.

“Heal the Bay will always pursue protection of our public waters and fight against pollution. We have also transformed in recent years with inclusion-focused programs,” said Sharon Lawrence, chairperson of the organization’s Board of Directors. “Clean water is essential for our communities to survive and thrive, and Tracy is perfectly equipped to continue our important work.”

Quinn, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Cornell University and is a registered civil engineer in California, began her water-centric career in Los Angeles at Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, an engineering firm that delivers innovative water solutions in the US.

Quinn plans to lead Heal the Bay in forming smart strategic alliances and growing public participation across the diverse region of Greater Los Angeles. In the coming months, Heal the Bay will extend its impact with these key initiatives:

Upgrade River Report Card. Heal the Bay is protecting public health by increasing access to science-based water quality information for ocean, river, and stream water users. The nonprofit is going through a rigorous process to enhance its River Report Card by aligning the freshwater grading methodology with scientific standards and the well-known Beach Report Card’s “A through F” grading system.

Build Inell Woods Park. The nonprofit group is addressing water quality and supply issues for the communities most impacted by climate change. For the first time ever, Heal the Bay is building a stormwater park in collaboration with LA City Councilman Curren Price Jr. and community members! The groundbreaking for the new community-designed, multi-benefit green space Inell Woods Park is planned in South LA this year.

Ban plastic pollution. Heal the Bay is launching an advocacy campaign, targeted at Southern California voters, in support of the statewide 2022 ballot measure (California Plastic Pollution Reduction and Recycling Act), to reduce plastic pollution in communities and aquatic environments. The passionate science and policy experts are also pushing the City of LA and LA County to greenlight comprehensive ordinances that address single-use plastic waste.

Quinn formally joins Heal the Bay on May 2, taking the leadership reins from Dr. Shelley Luce, who has served as president and CEO since April 2017.

“I am so proud to leave Heal the Bay in Tracy’s hands,” says Dr. Shelley Luce. “Her focus on strong, equitable water policy will take Heal the Bay’s environmental advocacy work to the next level.”

You can read a letter from Shelley Luce about the leadership transition at Heal the Bay.

“Shelley Luce began at Heal the Bay as a PhD student, grew as a scientific expert, and then led our organization as a trusted authority, coalition builder, role model, and mentor,” shares Sharon Lawrence. “Through the global pandemic she maintained operations and steered us through environmental and public health crises while keeping the public informed and engaged. The Santa Monica Bay and communities who use it are healthier and safer because of Shelley’s years at Heal the Bay.”

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Spring Into Action for Earth Month 2022

04.05.2022 | Heal the Bay

Events Santa Monica Bay

Earth Month is here and Heal the Bay is excited to celebrate all April long with in-person volunteer activities and hands-on training events, plus live virtual discussions and educational opportunities. Let’s learn and grow, go outside to do some good, and celebrate our amazing blue planet together because every day is Earth Day.

Individuals, households, schools, businesses, and community organizations are all invited to attend Heal the Bay’s Earth Month events. No special training or experience is required for any of our activities. Heal the Bay’s goal is to create that spark of inspiration so we can Spring Into Action for our coastal waters, rivers, creeks, and beaches in Los Angeles County.

Spring into the Climate Challenge – Virtual

ALL MONTH LONG Action

Take a deep dive into the climate impacts on our local coastal and marine ecosystems in our Spring Into Climate Action blog. We’ll discuss the coastal impacts of the climate crisis, the main sources of the pollution that is accelerating climate change, and what you can do about it. We are not powerless in this climate crisis. Small changes at home do add up, and individual action can also take the form of supporting the systemic changes we need. Together, our actions can make huge waves!

Act Now

Scroll down for our full calendar and event details on how to get involved.

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2022 Calendar of Special Events

Anti-Plastic Advocacy Happy Hour – Virtual

Thursday, April 7, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM PST

Heal the Bay’s Plastics Initiative team is hosting an advocacy event to provide information about current state bills and local policies that address the enormous plastic pollution issue. Attendees can participate in reducing plastic pollution in LA County and California by completing specific actions! Registration in advance is required.

RSVP For Happy Hour

Volunteer Orientation Meetup – Virtual

Monday, April 11, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PST

Get an introduction to Heal the Bay, our current issues, and how you can take part in our exciting volunteer programs. Founded on the principle that one person can make a difference, Heal the Bay has empowered thousands of volunteers to improve their environment, and now you can make a difference too. Our Orientation is ideal for those who want to learn more about how to take part in our beach, community science, and Aquarium programs. Registration in advance is required.

BioBlitz the Bay – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Heal the Bay’s MPA Watch team is adventuring out to a Marine Protected Area for an early morning tidepool tour and bioblitz. Experts will instruct guests on how to safely observe and document wildlife while discovering more about local marine ecosystems. This event is an introduction to one of Heal the Bay’s most popular community science programs where volunteers take long walks on the beach to collect data and protect precious marine habitats. Registration in advance is required.

Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 10 AM – Noon PST

Our big Earth Month cleanup helps to ensure safe, clean, and healthy local beaches. This Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup is a meaningful opportunity for volunteers to directly improve the condition of our beaches while enjoying the outdoors. Cleanup supplies are provided and speakers will share ocean pollution facts and safety talks for people of all ages.

This is our first Earth Month cleanup since 2019 – at that time, 1,072 volunteers picked up 271 pounds of trash and debris that would have otherwise entered our ocean. This year we are restricting capacity due to health and safety concerns from the pandemic. Please note: April’s cleanup location will be provided in a CONFIRMATION EMAIL after you complete the registration at Eventbrite.

If the event says it is SOLD OUT, you can still come! Please bring your own gloves and buckets to participate in the cleanup. For those of you who can’t register because it is sold out, we will announce the location on the Eventbrite page a few days before the cleanup, so check back then to find out where we will be.

Special perks for volunteers: Stay energized at our Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand cleanup in April with FREE coffee provided by Don Francisco’s coffee truck. Just by participating in the cleanup, 3 lucky volunteers will win free coffee for a year from Don Francisco.

A BIG thank you to our April Nothin’ But Sand Sponsors

Don Francisos

Amalfi Estates

Interactive Brokers

ARES Management

EarthDay.org

FREE Beach Wheelchair Rentals & Beach Exploration with Heal the Bay Aquarium – In-person

Saturday, April 16, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PST

Once you’re on the shore, take part in the Earth Month Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup or join Heal the Bay Aquarium staff for a guided beach exploration to learn more about the California coast and the thriving ecosystems we strive to protect.

Pick Up Location Details

Heal the Bay Aquarium Earth Month Celebration – In-person

Saturday, April 16, Noon – 4 PM PST

The award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium located at the Santa Monica Pier has programmed an afternoon filled with fun Earth Month activities. Featuring exciting exhibits and demonstrations, it’s a great way for the entire family to experience the Santa Monica Bay and observe the local animals that call it home.

Our Aquarium’s Earth Day schedule includes:

“Who Pollutes?” Dorothy Green Room Special Presentation – 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM
Saturday Sea Star Feedings – 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM
Earth Day Story Time – 2:00 PM

Crafts, pollution displays, and short films will round out our afternoon of activities.

Visit Heal the Bay Aquarium

Heal the Bay Stream Team Live on Instagram – Virtual

Wednesday, April 20, 3:30 PM – 4 PM PST

Immerse yourself in the science of water quality without getting your feet wet. Dive into a live discussion on @healthebay Instagram with Heal the Bay’s Stream Team and learn about how to start your impactful journey into the world of environmental careers.

Follow HTB on Instagram

Heal the Bay Aquarium Live on Instagram – Virtual

Friday, April 22, at 1 PM PST

On Earth Day, Heal the Bay Aquarium will host an Instagram Live featuring our Under the Pier Exhibit. Virtual visitors can learn all about local animal species that live in the Santa Monica Bay, including the critically endangered giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas), and view live feeding demonstrations. Swim by @healthebayaquarium on Friday, April 22 at 1:00 PM PST, and “shell-ebrate” Earth Day with us.

Follow AQ on Instagram

Earth Day Beach Cleanup with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Join Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi at Miramar Park for a Cleanup of Torrance Beach. Community members will have the chance to discuss environmental policy with the Assemblymember as well as meet with our local partners. Please check the weather in advance and dress appropriately. This event is supported by local partners including Heal the Bay, Grades of Green and the Sierra Club Palos Verdes-South Bay.

Get More Information

Community Educational Resource Fair at MacArthur Park Lakeside

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

LA Sanitation and partners are hosting an educational feria, or fair, full of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy while learning about the MacArthur Park’s upcoming improvements. Join in on Saturday, April 23rd for the latest updates on the MacArthur Lake Stormwater Capture Project and learn how this awesome initiative will benefit both the community and the environment. You’ll also have an opportunity to share your input regarding the in-progress project’s above-ground features. No registration is required for this public event on the park’s West side.

Learn More about the Project

Place, Power & Justice: Land Rematriation Now Panel – Virtual

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm PST

Jointly hosted and co-moderated by Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples and Heal the Bay in honor of Earth Month, the panel includes experts and activists in the Land/Water Back and Rematriation Movement. The panel will be held via Zoom and streamed to Facebook Live. And, follow us on Facebook for the latest updates. Registration for the Zoom is required in advance.

Attend the Panel

Gear Up for Earth Day with Heal the Bay

All Month Long

Nothing says Earth Day like swag from Heal the Bay. Use promo code EARTHLOVE for 10% off everything in the Heal the Bay online store from April 1 – April 30, 2022.

Shop the Bay

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

Inspire Local Youth: Your $25 gift can provide 1 student with a marine science education experience.
Tackle Toxic Plastics: Your $50 gift can train 2 volunteers to fight plastic pollution with strong advocacy.
Restore Our Rivers: Your $100 gift can underwrite 1 week of water quality monitoring in local freshwater spots
Protect Clean Water: Your $500 gift can fund campaigns to hold polluters accountable for pollutants in the Bay

DONATE

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Take our 2022 Challenge – Spring Into Climate Action

04.05.2022 | Heal the Bay

Climate Change

THE CALIFORNIA COASTLINE consists of various habitats including kelp forests, estuaries, wetlands, rocky reefs, and rocky intertidal zones (also known as tide pools). All of these habitats are vital natural resources that support thriving ecosystems, which in turn support healthy communities; provide economic and recreational value; and offer a natural form of climate resilience by dampening effects of sea level rise as well as absorbing the majority of our fossil fuel emissions and the extra heat as global temperatures rise.

“… to promote the public safety, health, and welfare, and to protect public and private property, wildlife, marine fisheries, and other ocean resources, and the natural environment, it is necessary to protect the ecological balance of the coastal zone and prevent its deterioration and destruction.” – CA Coastal Act

Oceans have served as a climate buffer for decades, but this has come at great cost because the climate crisis, accelerated by human activities, has altered the oceans’ natural processes. We see increasing ocean acidification, higher water temperatures, more frequent harmful algal blooms, disruption of ocean circulation, and rising sea levels that physically alter coastal habitats. In addition to these impacts from the climate crisis, stormwater pollution, plastic, and other contaminants affect our rivers, lakes, and ocean every day. Even now, in the 50th year of the Clean Water Act, half of US waters remain too polluted to serve their intended beneficial uses, such as water supply, recreation, habitat, and more.

For more information about local impacts, check out Heal the Bay’s 2021 Climate Change Aquarium Tour where our Senior Education Manager, Kelly Kelly, explains the climate impacts on the coastal and intertidal habitats of the Santa Monica Bay.

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@healthebay – Climate Change Aquarium Tour

In spite of all of these destructive impacts, our coastal and marine ecosystems persist. Without even having to get into the water, we can observe this incredible resilience within intertidal ecosystems. Tide pool habitat conditions shift throughout the day as the tides rise and fall, from exposure to dry air and UV radiation, to complete submergence in ocean water. The organisms that live in these habitats have evolved to thrive under constantly changing conditions – dry vs. wet, hot vs. cold, exposed to land-based predators vs. not, and fluctuations in salinity as well. They may even survive as sea level rises, but only if they are given enough time to adapt, and enough room to move up shore. That part is up to us. If we drastically reduce our fossil fuel emissions, and even work to draw carbon back out of the atmosphere with nature-based solutions, we can slow climate change enough to allow for adaptation within these coastal ecosystems, as well as in our own human communities through practices such as managed retreat and protection through living shorelines. Slowing the rate of climate change will take immense and immediate action.

Take the Climate Challenge

We know that that majority of fossil fuel emissions (71%, in fact!) are from big corporations and extraction operations. But we are not powerless in this climate crisis. Individual action adds up and provides us with a daily reminder of why this fight matters. Beyond that, individual action can also take the form of supporting the systemic change and resilient policies that we need to tackle the biggest sources of emissions. Whether you have money, time, creativity, passion, or something else entirely your own, we all have a unique role that we can play. You can start with small changes at home, or do your part for critical systemic change by signing petitions or calling political representatives. Together, our actions can make huge waves.

Get involved this weekend by joining Heal the Bay’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch team for an early morning tide pool tour and bioblitz – a biological survey recording the species living within a designated area — to document the current state of this critical intertidal ecosystem.

Want to do more? Consider the skills, experiences, and resources you have to offer and create a personal list of climate actions. Spring into Action today by doing one thing on this list, and then use that momentum to do what you can, when you can, with what you have all year long.

Here are some ideas to choose from to get you started with your personalized climate challenge…

Where We Live

Pick up trash around your neighborhood 
Ditch single-use plastic and switch to reusables at home
Refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste – yes the order matters!
Remove any hardscape or lawn on your property and replace it with a vegetable garden or drought tolerant native vegetation
Start or join a community garden
Sign up for Green Power if you live in the City of LA, or opt into 100% renewable energy if your city is part of the Clean Power Alliance
Reduce your energy needs
- Turn off lights, unplug unused electronics, and swap out old lights with LEDs (once the bulbs burn out)
- Bring in a professional to insulate your home, or find simple swaps around the house like adding thick curtains around your windows
- Set your thermostat for maximum energy (and cost) savings, or regulate temperature without a thermostat by opening/closing windows and using those thick curtains
- Wash clothes in cold water, and hang dry rather than using the dryer
Decrease your water usage
- Take shorter showers
- Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes
- Audit your household water footprint

How We Commute

Telecommute if it is an option
Choose public transportation
Walk or skateboard for shorter distances
Ride a bicycle
Support projects that improve access to alternative and active transportation 
If you must drive…
- Carpool
- Invest in a hybrid or electric vehicle
- Use car sharing services with electric vehicles
- Make sure your vehicle is in tiptop shape for optimal efficiency (secure gas cap, inflate tires, etc.)

What We Eat

Consider a plant-based diet
- Start by eating one vegan meal each day
Reduce food waste
- Eat your leftovers
- “Vote” with your wallet to support regenerative agriculture or community-supported agriculture. 
Compost at home or sign up for composting services
Support sustainable seafood
Patron environmentally friendly restaurants and businesses

What We Learn

Educate yourself, your family, friends, and community
Watch Heal the Bay’s Climate Reality Knowledge Drop
Get trained as a Climate Reality Leader
Check out The Nature Conservancy’s Carbon Footprint Calculator to understand your carbon footprint
Put climate change books in little libraries around your neighborhood
Start a Heal the Bay club at your high school
Follow climate change activists on social media
Listen to scientists and keep tabs on their latest research
Empower students and the next generation with tools
Request a Speaker’s Bureau climate talk for your school or organization
Sign up for a Suits on the Sand climate event for your business or group

How We Vote

Vote in local, statewide and national elections!
Support just and equitable environmental policies in support of:  
- Climate resiliency
- A tax on carbon
- The end of fossil fuels
- Regenerative agriculture
- Renewable energy
- A reduction in plastic waste
Be an advocate
- Attend and give public comments at local Agency, City Council, or County Board of Supervisor meetings 
- Send a letter to your representatives so they know climate action is important to you, because they may represent you on the global stage (COP26)
- Participate in public demonstrations and rallies with groups like Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles
- Sign petitions
- Create climate inspired art and share it with the world

Join existing efforts by Heal the Bay and partner groups to demand climate action now 
- Get involved with STAND-L.A. to Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling
- Get involved with VISION against oil in neighborhoods
- Advocate for the restoration of Ballona Wetlands 
- Join Reusable LA and fight plastic pollution
- Urge LA County Board of Supervisors to Vote Yes on Plastic Foodware Ordinance
- Become a member of  OurWaterLA in support of smart water
- Volunteer with Heal the Bay

Questions about any of these possible actions?  Contact Annelisa Moe here at Heal the Bay for more information or support in your advocacy work!

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Celebrating our Out-of-This-World 2021 Volunteers

03.30.2022 | Heal the Bay

California News

At Heal the Bay we love our volunteers to the moon and back! After a two-year pandemic hiatus, we could not wait to celebrate those individuals that give so much to Heal the Bay with an out-of-this-world party at the Heal the Bay Aquarium.

The Heal the Bay 32nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party

Our volunteers are the rocket fuel that allows Heal the Bay to shoot for the stars when it comes to educating the public, local outreach, aquarium care, making an environmental impact, and everything in between. Amid a global pandemic, their dedication, passion, and love for our environment are the heart that kept and keep us going. We are only able to celebrate so many successes because of the time, dedication, and support our volunteers so graciously donate.

Our 2021 Volunteer Accomplishments include:

· Over 1793 hours of Aquarium volunteers hours contributed in 2021 as they interpreted at touch tanks, supported field trips, and assisted in caring for our animals.

· Our MPA Watch volunteers conducted dozens of surveys in 2021 to monitor use in the Palos Verdes and Malibu MPA sites.

· Heal the Bay continued our legacy of community commitment by enriching the lives of thousands of LA County residents through our Speakers Bureau program.

· Thousands of volunteers helped picked up trash from the greater L.A’s shorelines and neighborhoods last year. On Coastal Cleanup Day, we had 2,735 volunteers remove more than 5,051 lbs of trash from our waterways and neighborhoods.

Thank you again Heal the Bay Volunteers!

Our star-studded party sponsors

We’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge our party Sponsors who supplied the raffle prizes and amazing refreshments that kept the party going.

Our stellar snacks, wraps, and sandwiches were provided by our lunch caterer Good Heart Catering.
The out-of-this-world donuts were donated by DKs Donuts, while Starbucks and Pacific Park donated some space-tacular raffle prizes.

Taking A Moment to Honor our Superstars

And of course, where would we be without our stellar 2021 Super Healers? These are our most dedicated volunteers, who continually go above and beyond the call of duty.

Their commitment is commendable, their dedication and passion for protecting water quality and the environment undeniable.

We’re proud to honor the following outstanding individuals with the prestigious 2021 Super Healer Award:

Justin Green -2021 Super Healer

Justin is a Santa Monica local who grew up coming to the aquarium for field trips. He’s always loved the Ocean and volunteering has only strengthened that bond. Justin even aspires to be a future aquarist! He has been volunteering at the aquarium for two years with both the Public Programs team and Aquarist Operations. His dedication and fearless drive to dive in headfirst wherever he is needed make so many programs possible and we are very honored he is part of our Heal the Bay Aquarium family.

Ian Brown -2021 Super Healer

Ian has grown up visiting the Aquarium (even hosting one of his childhood birthday parties here), and has been volunteering at the Aquarium for the past two years starting with our Public Programs, and later joining our Aquarist Operations. Ian’s dedication to education is truly inspiring and he is always researching new marine science facts to share with the public. The Aquarium team is always learning something new every time Ian volunteers. We are so thankful to Ian for all of his dedicated service, and for inspiring our visitors to get as excited and passionate as he is about the marine environment, and protecting what we all love.

Crystal Sandoval -2021 Super Healer

Crystal has been volunteering/interning within the Education Department for many years now. We’ve seen her learn and grow both within her capacities within our department, and also personally. She is constantly growing and is more than willing to go above and beyond for us. We cannot wait to see what else she will accomplish!

John Wells – 2021 Super Healer

Our MPA Watch program, which collects data on the human use of our local marine protected areas, would not be where it is today with out John Wells. Over the past two years, John has dedicated hundreds of hours to conducting MPA Watch surveys and in 2020, he was responsible for over HALF of all our surveys. John single-handedly kept our program charging forward, providing us with feedback whenever we asked and even befriending a local Fish and Game warden. We are deeply grateful for his rock star accomplishments!

John Wells has lived in four states, two of which are located near the ocean: Arizona, California, New York, and Colorado. When everyone else was moving in the opposite direction, John moved back to Los Angeles from Colorado Springs upon retirement in 2018. He earned degrees in Biochemistry from Cal State LA and UCLA, and ever the environmentalist, he worked as a chemical analyst measuring EPA Priority Pollutants in the 1980s. More recently he explored careers in grounds and building maintenance and instruction in school bus driving. Our 2021 MPA program was extremely successful because of his tireless dedication.

Oralia Michel -2021 Board Member Super Healer

Oralia Michel has been on our Board for 10 years. She takes her role very seriously, attending nearly every meeting and providing helpful ideas and feedback while always pushing us to do better. Oralia was on our Marketing Committee for many years where she applied her expertise in corporate partnerships and branding, putting in many hours to help Heal the Bay craft messaging and win over the hearts and minds of Angelinos. As Secretary of the Board since early 2021, she has been a voice for equity and inclusion on the Board and staff: she never hesitates to speak up and support transformative work to address inequities in our environment and our work for clean water. Oralia also served on our Search Committee a 6-month process to which she contributed enormous time and thoughtful input. Oralia’s creativity, constant support, and true friendship with our organization make her invaluable and a true Super Healer.

John Reyes -The Jean Howell Award

The Jean Howell Award recognizes the outstanding achievement in volunteer service of someone who has won a Super Healer Award in the past and this year the vote for our winner was unanimous. John Reyes is a LA native who has been involved with Heal the Bay since 2016, initially involved with HTB’s Nothin’ But Sand beach program and California Coastal Commission’s Adopt-A-Beach partnership with his family and friends. In addition, John has committed to being a Storm Response Team member, a California Coastal Cleanup Day captain, and a major component of the Suits on the Sand program. His dedication has included hundreds of hours of beach program involvement and has permitted him to average double-digit beach cleanups year after year! John’s passion for marine debris removal is only rivaled by his enthusiasm for native habitat restoration, especially within sensitive island ecosystems. He has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to restoring native habitats within California Channel Islands and is proud member #126 of the California Channel Islands’ exclusive “All 8 Club.” John’s outstanding contributions to Heal the Bay’s work earned him the Super Healer award in 2018, and he played a major role in the success of Heal the Bay’s in-person programming throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dave Weeshoff-Bob Hertz Award

The Bob Hertz award is Heal the Bay’s lifetime award recognizing volunteers who have given us a lifetime of extraordinary volunteer service and there is no one who deserves the recognition more than Dave. This Award is for volunteers who show up day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year. Dave has done so much for Heal the Bay, it’s almost impossible to capture it all, but his work on the 2021 advocacy for the Regional MS4 (Stormwater) Permit stands out among his many contributions. This single permit covers 99 permittees across the Los Angeles Region, and addresses the primary source of pollution to our surface water: stormwater. It was a massive undertaking. Dave not only provided written comments on the draft permit back in 2020 urging the Regional Board to make changes to the draft and adopt a strong permit, but he also did extra work to get others to sign his letter, making an even greater impact. He also attended multiple MS4 Workshop events and provided oral comments during at least three of these events. On top of all of that, Dave even joined me for two strategy meetings to parse through the trash prohibition language of the permit and find ways to improve it. We did not end up getting exactly what we wanted in this new permit, but we did get commitments for more accountability that we are finally starting to see. I am so pleased to nominate Dave for his outstanding advocacy work to help reduce stormwater pollution in Los Angeles.

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Heal the Bay Blog

Author: Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 Calendar of Special Events

Beach Captain’s Training- Virtual & In Person

Tuesday, April 11, 6 PM – 7 PM PST

Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup – In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 10 AM – 1 PM PST

Celebrate Earth Month at Heal the Bay Aquarium-

In-Person

Saturday, April 15, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

Stussy x Heal the Bay Collaboration Launch – Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 4 PM PST

Earth Day 2023 Celebration at Heal the Bay Aquarium -In Person

Saturday, April 22, 12 PM to 4 PM PST

Gardena Willow Wetlands Earth Day Celebration & Blue Table Talk- Virtual & In-Person

Saturday, April 22, 11 AM – 11:30 AM

SURFScape -A Consumer-First Experiential Event -In Person

Saturday April 29, 9AM – 5PM & Sunday 30, 9AM – 3PM PST

Earth Month April eDNA Community Science Event with MPA Watch -In Person

Saturday, April 29, 10 AM -1 PM

BioBlitz in the Marsh- In-Person

Saturday April 29, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2023 Tabling Calendar

All Earth-Month-Long at Heal the Bay

Take the Pledge: Start your Commitment to Conservation

Capture the QR code above to begin the ONE Water Pledge. Already on a mobile device? Download the App.

FREE Beach Wheelchair Rentals & Beach Exploration with Heal the Bay Aquarium – In person

All Month Long

Sharing our 2022 Volunteer Success:

Our Key Stone Award Winners

Tim Cheung – Jean Howell Award

John Wells – Jean Howell Award

John Reyes – Bob Hertz Award

Celebrating our Super Healers

Sharon Lawrence – Development Super Healer

Amalfi Estates (Anthony Marguleas) – Corporate Super Healer

Andrea Martina Isenchmid – Communications Super Healer

Celina Banuelos – Public Programs Super Healer

Hannah Benharash – Public Programs Super Healer

Sophia Sorady – Public Programs Super Healer

Ren Capati – Public Programs Super Healer

Jim Mckenzie – Aquarist Super Healer

Russell Blakely – Super Healer

Alice Pak – Super Healer

David Eddy -Super Healer & Keystone Starfish

Tasha Kolokotrones – Science Super Healer

Special thanks to Golden Road Brewing for supplying refreshments and cheer!

Watch Tracy Quinn, our CEO on Spectrum News 1 discussing SB 54.

Summer is officially here – the peak season for swimming outdoors. Heal the Bay releases its annual scientific reports on bacterial-pollution rankings for hundreds of beaches in California and dozens of freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County.

BEACH REPORT CARD HIGHLIGHTS

BEACH BUMMER LIST

BEACH HONOR ROLL LIST

RIVER REPORT CARD HIGHLIGHTS

FRESHWATER FAILS LIST

FRESHWATER HONOR ROLL LIST

TIPS TO STAY SAFE AT OCEAN AND FRESHWATER AREAS

ACCESS TO WATER RECREATION

ALL MONTH LONG Action

Heal the Bay Earth Month 2022 Calendar of Special Events

Thursday, April 7, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM PST

Monday, April 11, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PST

Saturday, April 16, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Saturday, April 16, 10 AM – Noon PST

Saturday, April 16, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PST

Saturday, April 16, Noon – 4 PM PST

Wednesday, April 20, 3:30 PM – 4 PM PST

Friday, April 22, at 1 PM PST

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM – 10:30 AM PST

Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm – 7:30 pm PST

All Month Long

Here are some ideas to choose from to get you started with your personalized climate challenge…

Where We Live

How We Commute

What We Eat

What We Learn

How We Vote

The Heal the Bay 32nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Party

Our star-studded party sponsors

Taking A Moment to Honor our Superstars