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Heal the Bay Blog

Author: Heal the Bay

Unanswered Questions in Miami

03.23.2011 |

News

I spent last week at the EPA’s National Beach Conference in Miami, where I gave a couple of presentations, learned about the latest in beach water quality research, and heard from EPA on the upcoming criteria for measuring water quality.

EPA’s criteria haven’t been updated since 1986, and the new rules are required to be completed by the end of 2012 under a Consent Decree with the NRDC.  With the recent completion of a comprehensive research plan, EPA staff members have all the information they’ll use to develop the new criteria.

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Enlist for the Angler Outreach Team

03.18.2011 |

About UsLong Beach / AvalonMalibu / Pacific PalisadesMarina del Rey / Playa del ReyPalos Verdes PeninsulaSanta MonicaSouth BayVenice Beach

Heal the Bay is looking for people to join our Angler Outreach Team! This group of dedicated people spends their days on local piers talking to fishermen about the importance of avoiding contaminated fish. The national EPA recently awarded the program one of its top honors for protecting public health.

In Santa Monica Bay, most fish are safe to eat. Some species, however, are contaminated with DDT, PCB and mercury dating from the decades old hot spot off the coast of Palos Verdes. This is particularly true for white croaker (also called Kingfish or Tomcod), barred sand bass, black croaker, topsmelt and barracuda.

If you’re interested in joining the Angler Outreach program, please visit our jobs page. Or learn more about the DDT contamination off the coast of PV.

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Latitude 33 and Angeleno Magazine Host SURF CHIC

03.17.2011 |

Malibu / Pacific PalisadesMarina del Rey / Playa del ReyMore Ways to GiveNewsSanta MonicaVenice Beach

Latitude 33 and Angeleno Magazine to Host Surfer Chic Fundraiser Featuring Auction of Artist Made Surfboards and Musical Performers The Makepeace Brothers on March 30th in Venice Beach

Large portion of surfboard auction proceeds to benefit Heal the Bay

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 16, 2011) — Latitude 33, the 122-unit modern beach-inspired community located at 330 Washington Blvd. in Marina del Rey, Calif., and Angeleno magazine have announced a March 30th fundraiser event to be held in conjunction with Heal the Bay. In homage of the local vibrant art and music experience of the Venice Beach boardwalk, the event will feature an auction of unique one-of-a-kind surfboards handmade by eight well-known artists as well as a live acoustic musical performance by local roots rock favorite The Makepeace Brothers. The event auction proceeds will benefit Heal the Bay and its efforts to keep our coastlines and waterways clean.

The RSVP-only March 30th fundraiser will be held from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm onsite at Latitude 33 in the BOARDWALK Collection, one of the beach chic community’s three eclectic living options offering lushly landscaped outdoor living spaces and a mix of contemporary floorplans. Upon arriving, guests will be greeted and directed toward the artistic display of surfboards created by artists Damon Johnson, Greg Miller, Muramasa Kudo, Tony Larson, Deedee Cheriel, Man One, Scott MacDonough and JRF. Once viewed, guests will bid on these eight custom designed surfboards that evening from 6:30 pm to 8: 45 pm in an auction curated in conjunction with Culture Shock Marketing (CSM) with proceeds benefiting Heal the Bay. All bidders at the live event must be present to claim their surfboards.

During the week prior to the March 30th event, one special surfboard will be placed for auction online at www.CharityBuzz.com. Participants will be able to place bids on the board from March 15 through March 30. Bidding will start at $1,000 and increase in $250 increments until the board is sold.

As part of the contemporary beach experience, The Makepeace Brothers, a local roots rock favorite known for their exceptional acoustic style, will entertain guests at the event with a live performance. Culinary favorites will be served by local artisanal eateries Chaya, La Cachette and Joes. Guests will also experience an assortment of beach-inspired cocktails provided by St. Germain, a shaved ice display and a selection of wine from sponsor Voga Italia Wines.

Favorite local lifestyle retailers Linus Bikes and Aviator Nation will also play important roles in the March 30th fundraiser. Linus Bikes, purveyor of the French inspired utilitarian city bike, will auction off a bike. Aviator Nation, the vintage t-shirt line, will conduct informal modeling of their unique clothing pieces and will furnish the closets in the BOARDWALK model unit.

For event details and to RSVP, see our calendar listing.

SURF CHIC Invitation

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simplehuman and Adopt-A-Beach

03.14.2011 |

About UsMore Ways to GiveNewsSouth Bay

simplehuman Adopts Torrance Beach; Gives Back to Community

LOS ANGELES – March 14, 2011 – simplehuman, renowned for its numerous design awards, patented innovations and quality housewares products, can now add the adoption of Torrance Beach to its list of endeavors.

On Friday, March 18th, the high-end housewares brand will hold its third beach cleanup with Heal the Bay, making simplehuman an official adopter of Torrance Beach. Heal the Bay is a non-profit public interest group dedicated to improving the quality and cleanliness of Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds.  After sponsoring the conservation efforts of Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card program in 2007, simplehuman made it a priority to clean up Torrance Beach three times a year as a commitment to its community and to the environment.

simplehuman is completing its final requirements to become an official beach adopter at a time when these efforts are needed most. After the devastating loss of millions of fish in the Redondo Beach marina in early March, programs like Heal the Bay’s beach cleanups are essential to the recovery and preservation of the California coast.

“It is important for us to take care of our environment and the beaches of Los Angeles, but it is also important to give back to our community,” says simplehuman CEO, Frank Yang.

Based in Torrance, CA, simplehuman transformed the trash can with the introduction of the award-winning stainless steel “butterfly” step can in 2000, and has expanded its product line to an extensive array of cleaning, organization and recycling solutions. Today, the company’s mission to make “tools for efficient living” has produced a line of more than 100 products. The simplehuman collection has received international design recognition and is available at fine specialty retailers and at www.simplehuman.com.

To learn more about ways you can help Heal the Bay, visit HealtheBay.org/Get Involved.

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Tsunami Advisory Canceled – Regular Aquarium Hours Resume

03.12.2011 |

News

Yesterday, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, the west end of the Santa Monica Pier and surrounding beach lots were closed due to the Tsunami Advisory (canceled at 8:20am today) issued for the Southern California coast due to the 8.9 earthquake in Japan.

Tsunami Advisory Info

  • A Tsunami Advisory was in effect for the coastal areas of California from the California-Mexico border to Point Concepcion, California.
  • A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of
    producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near
    the water is expected.
  • Significant, widespread inundation
    is not expected for areas
    under an advisory    . Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats,
    and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the
    initial wave arrival.

Japan Earthquake Info

The Aquarium staff  worked closely with Santa Monica Harbor Patrol to monitor the situation and get up to date guidance and information.

As such the following changes were made to yeasterday’s Aquarium schedule:

  • Public hours: 12noon – 5pm today (Friday, May 11)
  • Two field trips that were scheduled for Friday were cancelled.

Note: regular Aquarium public hours resume today, Saturday, May 12.

Other tsunami-related updates during Friday, May 10, for Santa Monica:

  • Updated 12noon: Beach parking lots were reopened.
  • Updated at 4pm: While swimmers are being warned about potential
    strong currents, the police are no longer cautioning people to stay away
    from the beach or the pier.
  • Updated at 4pm: The Santa Monica Pier reopened
    Friday afternoon, with pedestrians and cars streaming down the bridge.
    The tsunami advisory is still in effect in Santa Monica, according to
    NOAA.
  • Follow general observances and updates at Santa Monica Patch.
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Fish Kill Cleanup Volunteers Needed

03.09.2011 |

NewsSouth Bay

With the massive fish kill in Redondo’s King Harbor earlier this week, the most pressing issue now is the clean-up. It’s critical that all the dead fish are removed within the next couple of days to prevent an even worse problem.

Fish Kill Cleanup: Volunteer!

  • For information on how and when to volunteer, contact the Redondo Beach CERT Hotline at 310.318.8111
  • Cleanups efforts vary, please call to receive correct instructions
  • Water, food, sunscreen will be provided to volunteers

More News, Photos & Videos

To volunteer for the Redondo Beach fish cleanup, please contact the Redondo Beach CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Hotline at 310-318-8111 for information on how and when to volunteer. Cleanups efforts do vary so you must call to receive correct instructions. Information is updated at 8 p.m. each night.

Water, food and sunscreen will be provided to volunteers. No experience or supplies are required — only enthusiasm. Volunteers are needed throughout the weekend.

In the meantime, scientists are analyzing samples of fish and water to determine the cause of the die-off in King Harbor. Heal the Bay is monitoring the situation through colleagues at the Redondo Beach SEA Laboratory and the University of Southern California.

Samples will be analyzed for the presence of any harmful algae, though early reports indicate there is no discoloration of the water to indicate massive amounts of algae. It has been reported that dissolved oxygen levels in the water are extremely low, meaning there is limited oxygen for fish to breathe in the water.

Heal the Bay will continue to monitor the situation and will offer updates as we receive more details. According to Brent Schiewe, director of the SEA Lab, very large schools of baitfish were seen in all the harbor’s basins the day before the fish kill, possibly due to the storm.

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"Rango" and Me

03.08.2011 |

News

As the father of an 11-year-old daughter, I end up going to a lot of movies that would never make my must-see list.  This weekend, I was one of the many parents that took in “Rango.” I actually enjoyed the film, and I couldn’t help but be struck by the similarities between my life and this latest animated feature from Nickelodeon.  As life goes on, the parallels between art and life are easier to find, but “Rango” hit pretty close to the mark.

Over 25 years ago, as a master’s student at UCLA, my field work focused on the behavioral ecology of lizards.  I know… kind of a shock for a water guy. The field site for my research on lizard escape behavior (a major theme of the film) was in beautiful Desert Center — a remote outpost off Interstate 10, halfway between Indio and Blythe. The connections between Desert Center and the fictional town of Dirt in the movie are eerie.

Read more (and comments).

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Our Newest Fish Friend

03.07.2011 |

About UsHeal the Bay AquariumLong Beach / AvalonMalibu / Pacific PalisadesMarina del Rey / Playa del ReyPalos Verdes PeninsulaSanta MonicaSouth BayVenice Beach

Finescale Triggerfish

The Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis) is the latest resident of the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s Beneath the Pier exhibit. Triggerfish are usually associated with tropical water, but their range stretches from San Francisco all the way to Peru. This fish has a feisty reputation and reportedly has been seen attacking sharks. Our triggerfish was shy at first, but has lately been seen coming right up to the glass, seemingly to check out our visitors and making it hard to tell who is observing whom.

Fun Facts

Triggerfish are often found in caves and crevices, but are also seen swimming in the open along the sandy bottom adjacent to rocky reefs and in waters as shallow as 10 feet. With powerful jaws and a set of eight teeth on each jaw, this fish is equipped to eat spiny sea urchins, small crustaceans, mollusks and other animals that are normally protected by a shell or armor.

The finescale triggerfish can reach a length of up 30 inches and usually weighs up to 10 pounds. The largest reported specimen was 16 pounds. Fossils of finescale triggerfish teeth dated at 25 million years old have been found in Santa Ana and Bakersfield.

Some triggerfish are toxic if eaten, but the finescale triggerfish has never been found to be toxic. Still the finescale doesn’t show up on the dinner table often because their tough hide makes it difficult to skin.

To get checked out by our finescale triggerfish, visit our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

photo by Nick Fash

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