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Heal the Bay Blog

Category: About Us

A Boost for Beachgoers!

07.15.2013 |

About UsNews

California beach funding is a go, as the state’s full $1.8 million was approved and included in California’s budget.

Since 2008 when nearly $1 million was eliminated from the state’s beach monitoring funds, California’s Beach Program has struggled year after year to maintain a sufficient level of beach monitoring.  

State funding was in limbo for several years until Senate Bill 482 (Kehoe) was signed into law in 2011. SB 482 allowed up to $1.8 million in permit fees to be directed towards California’s Beach Program. (Of note, the estimated $1.8 million is based on the minimum funding needed to sustain a model monitoring program in California). Unfortunately, only $1 million of the $1.8 million allowed in the bill was approved in the 2012 state budget, a serious shortfall affecting the entire beach monitoring program.  

Beach water quality monitoring and strong pollution prevention measures are critical for protecting beach goers from waterborne diseases. Reduced monitoring could compromise not only public health protection but also the ability to track chronically polluted beaches.

Through Heal the Bay’s advocacy, along with the leadership of Assembly Member Richard Bloom and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, the full $1.8 million was included in the California state budget to fund California’s Beach Program during the next fiscal year (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014). Though there are many uncertainties when it comes to the future of beach funding, this is huge victory for water quality and public health!

— Amanda Griesbach
Beach Water Quality Scientist

Is your favorite beach safe for swimming? Find out by checking our free Beach Report Card.

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Thank You Thursday – 7.11.13

07.11.2013 |

About UsMore Ways to Give

Here at Heal the Bay, we’re still floating, buoyed by the knowledge that the city of Los Angeles has taken another step toward sustainability by banning single-use plastic bags.

But we have to admit that the victory was made even sweeter, thanks to the surprise ice cream delivery sponsored by Heal the Bay alumna Leslie Tamminen and her husband Terry. Thank you, Tamminens! 

This week we’d also like to extend special thanks to Southern California Edison for their longtime support of our educational programs. SoCal Edison funded the Heal the Bay Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s field trip program. The energy company has also supported our Education and the Environment Initiative over the last few years.

And props go to Santa Monica Seafood for their renewed support of our marine education Key to the Sea program. 

Only this morning we hosted a cleanup with Warner Bros. to help spread the word about their sci-fi movie Pacific Rim.

Among the SWAG prizes, “Go Big or Go Extinct” tee shirts made from recycled water cooler bottles.

Thanks to everyone who came to clean the beach with us!

 Partner your company with Heal the Bay. Contact Nina Borin or call 310.451.1500 x124.

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Marking the Passing of the Ultimate Waterman

06.28.2013 | , and

About UsMore Ways to GiveNews

Many members of Heal the Bay staff were saddened by the death at age 84 of Bob Meistrell, waterman and wet suit revolutionary. A few of us share reflections on his life:

“Bob inspired many people to enjoy the ocean through surfing and diving, which is seen and felt throughout Los Angeles, and especially in the South Bay. Through the years, several of Heal the Bay’s staff, interns, and volunteers were touched by Bob’s passion, which translated for many of them into a personal charge to help protect and restore our local coast and ocean. We are thankful for his leadership and the many lives he touched.”

— Sarah Sikich
Coastal Resources Director

“I learned to dive in the early 90s. My very first wet suit was made by Body Glove, which Bob co-founded with his twin brother Bill. I remember walking into Dive N’ Surf, buying my wetsuit and seeing this old photograph of Bill and Bob holding some big bugs. That just blew me away — that year I caught my first lobsters off of Rocky Point.

The Meistrells helped shape the waterman culture in the South Bay in the early days and they were definitely an inspiration to me. Anyone that has learned to dive, surf or paddle in the South Bay owe it to Bob & Bill. They changed the world of ocean sports.

I am lucky to live in the South Bay and proud to have grown up here.  I still dive today and I support the shop. I am grateful to be a part of it and will always appreciate the Meistrell family.”

— Jose Bacallao
Operations Manager, Santa Monica PIer Aquarium

“Although sad, Bob was out on the water on his last days on earth, which I know is where he’d want to be.

Bob had taken me out on his boat a few years back to do some Reef Check surveys, and to breakfast at his local yacht club. He knew everyone’s name, was fun to talk to, a very generous man and true waterman. I bought my first SCUBA gear at his dive shop.

This is a loss for the dive and surf community, but his impacts on watermen and women will last for a long time.”

— Dana Roeber Murray
Marine & Coastal Scientist

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Thank You Thursday – 6.27.13

06.27.2013 |

About UsMore Ways to Give

Heal the Bay headed to the South Bay last weekend to soak up some love in Manhattan Beach. First we cleaned the beach with 75 volunteers (including friends from Target and Mattel), netting 87 pounds of trash and enough cigarette butts to measure five feet.

Thank you to Simmzy’s Manhattan Beach for hosting the cleanup and the post-cleanup party featuring Golden Road Brewing’s Heal the Bay IPA! Simmzy’s owner Mike Simms participated in the cleanup, as did Heal the Board member Ian Eddleston, the family of board member Jorge Delgado and HtB supporter Woody Henderson, owner of Adventure Voyaging and 2012 Coastal Cleanup Day captain.

Afterwards, Simmzy’s was pouring Golden Road’s Heal the Bay IPA, donating $20 for each keg to Heal the Bay. Thank you again to Golden Road for brewing such a delicious benefit to our work.

Speaking of refreshments, Nothing Bundt Cake-Santa Monica just joined our list of Aquarium party partners.Thank you for joining the party and for your ongoing support!

We also send big props to outdoor gear purveyor REI for their longtime involvement in what we do to protect our waterways. 

Discover more ways to show your support for Heal the Bay.

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Bag Ban FAQ: What About All That Dog Poop?

06.19.2013 |

About UsCalifornia Bag BanMore Ways to Give

We did it! After seven years of hard work and diligence, California is poised to become the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic grocery bags. The overwhelming response has been one of excitement, but we realize there are some residents who have concerns. Nancy Shrodes, our volunteer coordinator, answers a few typical questions.

How do I pick up my dog’s poop?

Yes, plastic bags are handy for picking up animal waste, but there are alternative and easy ways to continue to be a responsible pet owner! For example, you can bring last week’s newspaper on your walk and use it to pick up poop. You can also re-use the grocery store produce bags or other forms of food packaging like bagel or bread bags.

I line my trash cans with plastic bags from the grocery store. Now what am I going to use?

Line the bottom of your bin with newspaper or other paper, and rinse it out periodically after use. You can also buy heavier-weight plastic bags and REUSE them after dumping waste into your outside bin. 

What about using biodegradable bags?

A “biodegradable” plastic bag is a bit of a misnomer. These bags can only break down under very specific conditions and do NOT break down naturally in our waterways, posing a threat to animal life. Bags on our streets inevitably end up in our rivers and ocean, facilitated by the city’s storm drain system. To fully degrade, these bags require heat and specific bacteria present in industrial composting facilities.

Will I get sick from using a reusable bag?

No! I have been using reusable bags for years and have never gotten sick from them. You can easily avoid any chance of getting sick with easy-care tips. Just use common sense and everyday hygiene. Throw your cloth/fabric tote bags into the wash with your laundry load to clean them. Any of the thick plastic reusable bags should be wiped clean and allowed to dry before you store them. Voilà! You are germ free and the environment is healthier too!

Aren’t there bigger things to worry about than plastic bags?

Yes, the world is filled with many pressing problems. But Heal the Bay has spent a lot of attention to this issue because plastic bags ARE a big problem — blighting neighborhoods, clogging storm drains and harming animals. They are also a powerful symbol of our throwaway culture. This is a gateway issue for us. The healthy debate about bags gets people to think about other wasteful practices in their daily lives, be it using single-use water bottles or taking a drinking straw at the corner restaurant. Little things add up to bigger things. 

Before joining Heal the Bay, Nancy worked on the bag ban campaign for Environment California.

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Summer Events Exclusive to Heal the Bay Members

06.14.2013 |

About UsMarine Protected AreasMore Ways to GiveVenice Beach

As a special thank you to our dedicated members, Heal the Bay is kicking off the summer with a couple of invite-only events, open exclusively to our current donors.

June 28-29: Join us on either Friday, June 28, at 8 a.m. in Northern Malibu, or Saturday, June 29, at 11 a.m. in Palos Verdes, for an active tidepool tour of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) with Heal the Bay scientists Dana Roeber Murray and Sarah Sikich. Highlights include whale watching, an interpretive nature hike, and a tide pool walk at low tide. RSVP here.

July 13: Like beer? Love Heal the Bay? Golden Road Brewery produced a Heal the Bay IPA, available in select local stores and bars. Now they’re opening their doors to Heal the Bay members on July 13 at 2 p.m. Join us for a tour of the brewery, learn more about the beer-making process, and you’ll even get a free beer! Of course, you have to be 21. And a current member.

RSVP to Hallie Jones for location details and to get on the list!

Sign Up

Not sure if you’re a Heal the Bay member? Contact Hallie and she can assist you.

Think that this all looks incredibly fun? Join Heal the Bay as a member to attend these and other special events exclusively for HtB donors.

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Getting to Zero at Our Beach Cleanups

05.13.2013 |

About UsCoastal Cleanup Day

Seven years ago, Heal the Bay eliminated single use plastic water bottles from our events in an effort to not generate as much waste or trash as we were picking up at our cleanups.

Now when you join a Heal the Bay cleanup, you can visit the water station to refill your reusable water bottle, or use a 3 oz. paper cup.  This transition away from plastic to alternatives was so successful that we considered reducing or eliminating other waste-producing elements of our cleanups.

So in 2010, Heal the Bay introduced a “zero waste” clean-up idea at a number of Coastal Cleanup Day sites. The “zero waste” cleanup involved eliminating latex gloves and plastic water bottles, and significantly reducing the number of plastic bags used for collecting trash. Instead of latex gloves, Heal the Bay requested that people bring their own, or use one of our cloth gloves. In addition, Heal the Bay provided “painter’s buckets” for participants to place their collected trash. These “zero waste” events became so popular that we co-opted the “B.Y.O.B” acronym to mean “Bring Your Own Bucket”.

Over the last three years, Heal the Bay’s “zero waste” cleanups have been able to substantially reduce the trash generated from producing these cleanups. For example, the we’ve reduced the waste generated at an event from plastic water bottles from 100 12 oz. bottles to two or three gallon-size water bottles. We now use an average of 15 plastic bags, rather than 250; and 50 latex gloves versus 600.

This successful transition has encouraged us to expand our “zero waste” clean-ups beyond Coastal Cleanup Day to our other clean-up programs like Corporate Healers and Nothing But Sand events. In fact, Heal the Bay is striving to make this the “Zero Waste” Clean-up year. HOORAY!

Do you want to party with us in our “nothingness”? Great! You’re invited to celebrate our “Nothingness” and all its glory this Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to Noon at our Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanup at Will Rogers State Beach (at the end of Temescal Canyon Road on PCH). The beautiful venue will be provided — all you have to do is bring yourself, your gloves, and your bucket. See you there!

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Thank You Thursday – 5.9.13

05.09.2013 |

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Compton Creek runs 8.5 miles through the neighborhoods of South Los Angeles, traversing its last 2.5 miles as one of the few remaining natural bottomed urban waterways in the area. The creek contains water (and trash) that flows from just below Exposition Boulevard in the city of Los Angeles and from the city of Carson, before pouring into the Los Angeles River. Yet despite its challenges, the creek is not without its stewards.

This “Thank You Thursday” is dedicated to all of our many friends, families and organizations that brought out over 150 volunteers to celebrate this wonderful space by removing trash, riding around on bikes and demonstrating the beauty of gardening and tree care. Without further ado, we wish to thank:

And a very warm thank you to all of the volunteers who joined us, removing a full dumpster’s worth of trash from the creek, and joining in on a 6-mile bike ride through the local community. I also would like to thank Compton City Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux (pictured right, with the author) for joining us as we celebrated this wonderful space.

— Edward Murphy, Watershed Education Manager

Discover the creeks and rivers in Los Angeles with our creek education programs

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Thank You Thursday – 5.2.13

05.02.2013 |

About UsMore Ways to Give

Los Angeles is so massive, divided by often impenetrable freeways, that it’s sometimes easy to forget that we all share a community, let alone a planet. And then along comes Earth Month (formerly known as Earth Day).

Thank you to the thousands of you Earth lovers who donated your time to give back to our beautiful planet this month. Whether you came to clean the beach, build a park or help us with outreach, we are tremendously grateful!

We’d also like to thank our Earth Month partners:

A hearty thank you to the two sets of Corporate Healers, who helped clean the beach this month:

  • Some very enthusiastic employees from Magento, a division of Ebay, came to Santa Monica Beach on April 18.
  • LA Kings staff, led by Heal the Bay boardmember Jennifer Regan, cleaned Dockweiler on actual Earth Day. Among the 335 pounds of trash they found were a pink marshmallow and fake green finger with a red claw!  (Jennifer also joined us at our outreach table at an L.A. Galaxy game. Thanks, Jennifer!)

And a big thank you to Slyde Handboards for donating to Heal the Bay 70% from an auction of a one-of-a-kind handboard autographed by bodysurfer Mark Cunningham, director Keith Malloy and photographer Chris Buckard. You guys rule! 

Want to sustain that Earth Month glow? Join us May 5 for a cleanup in Compton Creek!

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Earth Day Party Fun for All Ages

04.22.2013 |

About UsHeal the Bay Aquarium

Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium saw more than 1500 people over the weekend. Visitors bounced between beach cleanups, the BlueGreen festival, and our expo of sustainable innovation held on the Pier deck and the Aquarium — here face painting, scavenger hunts and engaging presentations kept kids happily entertained – not to mention the 100+ species of marine species on exhibit. And some quenched their thirst in Pier establishments serving Golden Road Brewing’s Heal the Bay India Pale Ale (IPA) Some highlights: 

  • Public Educator Wyatt Miller had all ages in the palm of his hand as he mugged his way through a program called “Who Pollutes?”
  • Volunteer Dr. Rene Bombien, put on a lab coat on his day off to play veterinarian with young visitors in the Aquarium’s science lab, where pint-sized vets recorded the “vitals” of various stuffed animal marine sea creatures: oil-slicked birds, sea lions with plastic six-pack rings around their necks and a plastic bag-choked pelican. 
  • Curby, Santa Monica’s recycling robot, spent Saturday afternoon next to the Aquarium, telling kids about the importance of recycling. A full-sized recycling truck was nearby, where visitors tried their skill at maneuvering the truck’s mechanical arms used to pick up the big blue recycling bins.
  • The BlueGreen Festival along the Pier deck’s Central Plaza, was bustling with folks checking out the ocean-inspired art of Heal the Bay partner Erik Abel.
  • Sazzi Toe Motion brought their new take on the flip-flop: a sandal (made of 100% recyclable materials) that has multiple toe posts, allowing for better grip for water sports.  
  • Santa Monica Farmers’ Market volunteers were dishing out delectable organic, in-season fruits and veggies and including recipe cards as a bonus.
  • The Aquarium’s Nick Fash and Philip Soza of Golden Road Brewing used their charms to sell eco-mugs made of bamboo — perfect for the debut of Golden Road’s latest brew: Heal the Bay IPA! 

Check out more festive photos on the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium Facebook page.

— Randi Parent

Aquarium Outreach Manager

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