Shop with Heal the Bay this holiday season and help keep our coastline and waterways safe and clean for all.

SHOP NOW

Give back to the beach this Saturday, November 16 at our Nothin’ But Sand Clean Up at Dockweiler State Beach!

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Storm Response Team Unite!

The “First Flush” has brought trash and pollution to the coastline. We need volunteers to join our Storm Response Team! Sign up to help protect our beaches.

Join the Storm Response Team

Stay safe and stay out of the water for 72 hours after rainfall!

A Day of Service at Kuruvungna Springs

November 17, 9 AM – 1 PM

Honor Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month with a day of service at the sacred Kuruvungna Springs. Discover the rich history and ongoing preservation efforts with watershed coordinators from the Safe Clean Water Program and the Gabrielino-Tongva Foundation.

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Celebrate CCD and support Heal the Bay with designs inspired by our 2024 Coastal Cleanup Day artwork.

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The FINAL stats from Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 are in:
62 Sites Cleaned
6,983 Volunteers
19,209.47 Pounds of Trash Removed!

These amazing efforts are only possible with your support. Help us continue to protect our beaches and oceans by making a donation today.

Donate

Register Now

Our coastline is shrinking, but what can Los Angeles do about it?

Knowledge is power. Attend the discussion panel of the year at Hermosa Beach Community Center, “Rising Tides: Exploring LA’s Readiness for Sea Level Rise,” to find out.

Register to Attend

Join Heal the Bay in celebrating the transformative power of reusable alternatives at our Nothin But Sand Beach Cleanup this Earth Month! Every gloved hand on the sand, every advocate trained, and every dollar raised brings us closer to a plastic-free future.

Register Now

Registration filled? Don’t worry – just bring your own buckets and gloves to join us on the sand!

Looking for more ways to make an impact? Donate to help end plastic pollution for good.

You are cordially invited to our Bring Back the Beach Gala on May 16, 2024.

Dance all night under the stars while benefiting Heal the Bay!

Reserve Your Tickets & Learn More!

Looking to get activated this April? Join our “Reusable is Beautiful” Earth Month activities to help you ditch single-use plastic and keep our oceans healthy.

Every year, billions of pounds of single-use plastic flood our oceans, threatening the health of our planet. This month and every month, Heal the Bay is committed to raising awareness about choosing reusable options over single-use plastic and keeping our waterways clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Plan your Earth Month now!

Heal the Bay Earth Month Events

Calendar View

Heal the Bay Volunteers removed over 22,000 lbs. of trash in 2023. Are you ready to make a big impact for the environment? Join our next Nothin But Sand Beach Cleanup!

Heal the Bay mobilizes thousands of volunteers each year to pick up trash at beaches and in our watersheds in Los Angeles County. Cleanups are the last defense against marine pollution. We actively use data collected by volunteers (like total trash and the types of trash in each area) from local cleanups to educate businesses and communities, support environmental legislation, and advocate for the health of our waterways. In addition to picking up trash and debris at the beach, we encourage cleanups at any accessible outdoor location in Greater LA’s watersheds.

FIND OUR NEXT BEACH CLEANUP LOCATION

REGISTER TO RESERVE A BUCKET

Saturday, March 16, 2024 | 10 AM – 12 PM

BEACH CLEANUP: Join us at Toes Beach in Playa del Rey for our March Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup. Recent rain has washed thousands of pounds of trash onto the beach. Help us keep the coastline safe and clean for all! Ready to make a difference?!  SIGN UP TODAY >>.

JOIN OUR SATURDAY CLEANUP

After the recent 8 million Gallon Sewage Spill in the Dominguez Channel, and California State of emergency brought on by recent storms, Cabrillo Beach needs more love than ever! Join us on Saturday, February 17, 2024, for a crucial Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup.

While our team has deemed it SAFE to participate in this clean up, here are some updates:

💧 Volunteers must avoid the water and wet sand
🌴 The cleanup will be limited to low-risk surrounding areas in accordance with the closure of the inner beach
🐟 For your safety, the tide pool tour is canceled

As always, staff will assist you with questions or concerns to ensure everyone has a safe, fun, and productive cleanup!

RSVP TO CLEAN UP

On Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms combined with “very dangerous” winds have increased the chances of potentially dangerous flash flooding and rough surf, with flood watches in effect across the area.

When it rains in LA be in the “Know Before You Go” to the coast and “weather” the storm safely with our safety checklist:

1) Stay out of the water for 72 hours after rainfall. Rainfall will bring accumulated pollution to our waterways and shores.

2) Tune into local news stations to keep up-to-date on changing weather conditions and road closures.

3) Know before you go. Check out the local water quality grades at beachreportcard.org or the River Report Card.

4) Check the local forecast, including tide levels! Don’t get washed away! We use: NOAA Local Tides and Currents.

5) Join the Storm Response Team. Once conditions are safe, check out how to do your own storm response cleanup.

DOWNLOAD OUR SAFETY CHECKLIST

Join Heal the Bay for a full day of beach fun on February 17, 2024, for a Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup, followed by a guided tide pool exploration and a wildlife tour of the local wetlands at the Salt Marsh Open House! We’ll be on the sand rain or shine — so be sure to dress accordingly! 

🪣BEACH CLEANUP

10 AM – 12 PM @ CABRILLO BEACH

🐚TIDE POOL FUN

12 PM – 1 PM @ POINT FERMIN

🦆OBSERVE WILDLIFE AND TOUR NEARBY WETLANDS

1 PM – 3 PM @ SALINAS DE SAN PEDRO WETLANDS

Register Now!

Are you looking to dive into a career in marine science, environmental organizing, or non-profit operations? Heal the Bay is looking for motivated interns who want to make a difference in their communities. Gain hands-on experience, work with passionate experts, and make a splash at Heal the Bay.

Don’t wait, applications are due by January 31, 2024! Click here to learn more and apply. 

When it rains in LA be in the “Know Before You Go” to the coast and stay safe with our checklist:

1) Stay out of the water for 72 hours after rainfall. Rainfall will bring accumulated pollution to our waterways and shores.

2) Tune into local news stations to keep up-to-date on changing weather conditions and road closures.

3) Know before you go. Check out the local water quality grades at beachreportcard.org or the River Report Card.

4) Check the local forecast, including tide levels! Don’t get washed away! We use: NOAA Local Tides and Currents.

5) Join the Storm Response Team. Once conditions are safe, check out how to do your own storm response cleanup.

DOWNLOAD OUR SAFETY CHECKLIST

Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup at Zuma Beach

⚠Weather Notice⚠: We are prepared to carry out our cleanup rain or shine!

Kick off the New Year with Heal the Bay at Zuma Beach, 3000 Zuma Access Road, Malibu, CA 90265, at TOWER 2, for a beach cleanup with a big impact. Register today to reserve your bucket and we’ll SEA you on the Sand!

Sign Up

Underwater Parks Day at Heal the Bay Aquarium.

Come to Heal the Bay Aquarium to celebrate the amazing animals and habitats of the Santa Monica Bay and learn more about the important conservation of the underwater treasures just off our coast!

Enjoy crafts, explore our virtual exhibit “Underwater Treasure”, and experience wet and wild hands-on education with Heal the Bay and our fishy friends as we celebrate Marine Protected Areas, better known as underwater parks, that preserve the biodiversity and abundance of the amazing ocean right here in Santa Monica.

Discover More

Want to BECOME A HEAL THE BAY VOLUNTEER?

Register NOW for Heal the Bay’s first volunteer orientation of 2024, happening this Thursday, January 11 6:30PM-8PM at Heal the Bay Aquarium!

REGISTER

✅ Volunteer Orientation must be completed in order to participate in MPA Watch, become a Beach Captain, attended Aquarium Volunteer Training, and join Speaker’s Bureau.

Stay Safe with our checklist:

1) Stay out of the water for 72 hours after rainfall. Rainfall will bring accumulated pollution to our waterways and shores.

2) Tune into local news stations to keep up-to-date on changing weather conditions and road closures.

3) Know before you go. Check out the local water quality grades at beachreportcard.org or the River Report Card.

4) Check the local forecast, including tide levels! Don’t get washed away! We use: NOAA Local Tides and Currents.

5) Join the Storm Response Team. Once conditions are safe, check out how to do your own storm response cleanup.

DOWNLOAD OUR SAFETY CHECKLIST

🎁Give gifts for good that “protect what you love” to all the people you love.

ORDER NOW! Last day to place an order to ship to the east coast is December 18, 2023.

>>>> SHOP NOW

TODAY, on #GivingTuesday, support Heal the Bay’s mission to impact the lives of thousands of students in LA County.

Inspire generations of future ocean activist and help protect our precious coastal waters and waterways when you donate today at healthebay.org/GivingTuesday.

Let’s make a BIG SPLASH for the future of our ocean, watersheds and coastal communities.

DONATE

Recycle your Plastic Bags the right way and keep plastic out of our coastal waters for No Bag November.

🪣This SATURDAY

Join us for our last Beach Cleanup of the YEAR and help keep plastic bags out of our coastal waters! Saturday November 18, 2023, bring your plastic grocery bags from home to make sure they are recycled the right way and help keep the beach clean and safe for all!   RSVP to RESERVE A BUCKET

♻️This SUNDAY

Bring your single-use plastic bags to ALMA Backyard Farms this Sunday, November 19, 2023, to keep them out of our landfills, waterways, and oceans. Enjoy the best produce in Compton then stop by our Heal the Bay plastic bag Collection Booth to make sure your single-use plastic products are recycled the right way! GET DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS

Dive into a weekend of fun with festive happenings for everyone!

🧪SATURDAY in MALIBU

Become a Community Scientist for a Day!  Join us on the sand to help protect local biodiversity with UCLA scientists and Heal the Bay at our eDNA Event. RSVP to ATTEND

🎃SATURDAY in SANTA MONICA

Fishy Fest is back this Halloween weekend with spook-tacualr fun and haunted happenings at Heal the Bay Aquarium for the whole family.

Enjoy: Scavenger hunts, sustainable crafts, spooky story time, our deep-sea creepy creature feature and BRAND-NEW animal exhibits!

🍭SUNDAY in SANTA MONICA

Join us for TRICK-OR-TREATING on the Santa Monica Pier for our annual Costume Parade on Sunday, October 29, 2023, 2:30 PM. NO RSVP required!

This Saturday, October 21, 2023, | 10 AM – 12 PM

BEACH CLEANUP: Join us on Venice Beach at Washington for a special celebration of environmentalism in Los Angeles’ Latinx communities! We hope to “SEA” you on the sand for an awesome autumn beach cleanup, RAFFLE PRIZES, and more! Click the link in our bio for registration and details 🌊Venice Cleanup Event sold out? You’re still welcome to join us. Just bring your own cleanup supplies. Ready… set, SIGN UP >>.

JOIN OUR SATURDAY CLEANUP

Thank you to all who joined our Los Angeles County Cleanups on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Check out the full Coastal Cleanup Day 2023 wrap-up and get the latest stats as sites continue to report their trash hauls!

Make Sure You Are Ready With Our Checklist:

Sites are filling up fast! Make sure you and your clean-up crew are registered :Coastal Cleanup Day 2023 Tickets, Sat, Sep 23, 2023 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

📜Registration lines will be LONG! Expedite your registration! Make sure your digital waivers are signed>>Coastal Comm – Waiver – California Coastal Cleanup Day Liability Waiver – DocuSign  +  COASTAL CLEANUP DAY WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND EXPRESS ASSUMPTION OF RISK (ca.gov)

🤳Download the Clean Swell app to record and share your trash haul : Trash Free Seas: Clean Swell® App – Ocean Conservancy

🌞Have your reusable water bottle + plenty of sun protection ready

🪣IF POSSIBLE bring your own cleanup supplies as sites reach max volunteer capacity and supplies run low. Checkout our #CCD Supplies Checklist  Heal the Bay (@healthebay) • Instagram photos and videos

🎶Save the 2023 Cleanup Spotify Playlist to get in the groove> Coastal Cleanup Day 2023 Playlist – playlist by Heal the Bay | Spotify

📸Get ready to take pics on Saturday and tag us @healthebay #CoastalCleanUpDay2023

COASTAL CLEANUP DAY 2023

The Transformative Power of the Ocean & Waves

Discussion Panel + Art Exhibition + Special After-Hours Aquarium Tour

Saturday, August 26, 2023 | 6 PM – 9PM
Heal the Bay Aquarium, Santa Monica

Engage in captivating discussions and gain insights into the collaboration between science, surfers, and environmental activists, all making waves for positive change.

PURCHASE TICKETS

*Light refreshments will be served throughout the night from our donation-based beverage bar. 

Summer fun has left THOUSANDS of pounds of beachgoer TRASH on the coastline. Help us cleanup the beach and protect our precious coastal waters.

The Beach needs your help!

This Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 10 AM – 12 PM | Torrance Beach

Join us this Saturday for our August Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup!

 Event sold out? You’re still welcome to join us. Just bring your own cleanup supplies. Ready… set, SIGN UP >>.

JOIN OUR SATURDAY CLEANUP

⚓️Ready to lead your own Coastal Cleanup Site?

Coastal Cleanup Day is just around the corner! Join our August Site Captain Training Session this Saturday, August 12, 2023 9am-12pm.

Sign Up For Site Captain Training

Join Heal the Bay + the Safe Clean Water Program team in partnership with the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission for a special FREE screening of the documentary Paya: The Water Story of the Paiute.

Come for this award-winning documentary and stay for a discussion panel of indigenous representatives from the Tongva Land Conservancy and Owens Valley Indian Water Commission.

Dockweiler Youth Center | Thursday, July 27 · 6 – 7:30pm PDT

Reserve a Seat or RSVP for DIGITAL SCREENING

This Saturday, July 15, 2023 | 10 AM – 12 PM

BEACH CLEANUP: Join us at Will Rogers State Beach for a special 🌟 Plastic Free July edition of our monthly Nothin’ But Sand cleanup featuring: The Great Green Bin Games. 4th of July fun brought thousands of beachgoers to the California Coastline, and unfortunately, thousands of pounds of trash. Help us provide immediate relief to our marine life neighbors. Event sold out? You’re still welcome to join us. Just bring your own cleanup supplies. Ready… set, SIGN UP >>.

JOIN OUR SATURDAY CLEANUP

Support Heal the Bay & Gender Justice LAGet your Limited-Edition Heal the Bay PRIDE Hat!

Help protect our precious coastal waters and support the advocacy of LBGTQAI+ rights🌈

Nature is Queer! Celebrate Pride all year!

SHOP & SUPPORT

Heal the Bay’s Annual Beach Report Card and River Report Card has been published!

Download the reports to find out which beaches and rivers had perfect water quality grades, and which made the TOP 10 Beach Bummer lists.

Blue Table Talk #3: “Relationship with Water”

Streamed, Saturday, January 21, 2023, 12 PM PT @ Manhattan Beach Pier

The New Year is a perfect time to reenergize your commitment to conservation with a more interconnected approach. What is Holistic Environmental Stewardship? How are beach cleanups and drought solutions connected? Join Heal the Bay and special guests from the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples at our January Nothin’ But Sand Cleanup to find out how you can nourish your relationship with water during California’s drought.

WATCH LIVESTREAM

Spread the word: #GivingTuesday with Heal the Bay

Through all the unique challenges of these past two years, our work has persisted, grown, and strengthened. We want you to know that Heal the Bay is here for good.

Heal the Bay has stewarded the protection and restoration of our coastal waters and watersheds in Southern California since 1985, and we’re not stopping anytime soon! This Giving Tuesday, November 29, join us in celebrating the continuance of our work to keep our waters safe, healthy, and clean by making a donation and sharing Heal the Bay’s mission.

DONATE NOW

We are teaming up with Jack Johnson on his 2022 Summer Tour as an All At Once Non-Profit Partner! Support Heal the Bay’s mission to protect coastal waters and watersheds by October 15 and Jack Johnson’s Foundation will match your gift.

All At Once, Jack’s social action network, promotes sustainable & equitable food systems, plastic free initiatives, healthy watersheds and more. To celebrate our partnership, the Johnson Ohana Foundation is generously matching donations contributed to Heal the Bay at the Jack Johnson concert or directly to our organization now – October 15 2022, up to a total of $2500. Make a donation today and it will be doubled by the Johnson Ohana Foundation!

DONATE NOW

Get our monthly Blue Newsletter to find out where our next big cleanup will be and what actions you can take to protect the Bay:

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Follow @healthebay on social media:

Get involved today:

• Register the kids for in-person or virtual Aquarium Science Camp this summer
• Become a volunteer by signing up for our next Volunteer Orientation
• Read our new blog posts to stay up to date on the latest environmental and public health issues.
• Donate to Heal the Bay and support our mission to protect the coastal waters and watersheds of Greater LA

Tracy Quinn is joining Heal the Bay as our new CEO! Read our press release about why this big news upholds our commitment to science-based advocacy. View a farewell letter from Shelley Luce. Share this news with your networks via LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

LEARN MORE

2,735 volunteers joined us on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 35 beach, river & inland sites in Los Angeles County, California for our 32nd Annual #CoastalCleanupDay. From 9 am til Noon, volunteers covered 50+ miles of area on land & underwater—removing 5,051 pounds of trash & 156 pounds of recyclables!

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND PARTNERS FOR MAKING COASTAL CLEANUP MONTH A BIG SUCCESS SO FAR!

Make a donation to Heal the Bay and now through September 30 your donation will be matched 100% up to $20,000 thanks to generous Heal the Bay Board Members.

Time to Heal: Reflecting on 2020

“This has been a year of hardship and heartbreak. Many people are lamenting its losses and eager to get out of 2020 and into the new year. I have felt the deep pain of the pandemic, the wildfires, and the unpredictable politics of this unprecedented year. But I am seeing something else too: I see progress. I see change. I see a new future ahead of us…”

Read Shelley’s Message