Heal the Bay Blog

Category: Climate Change

Big Wins! Making Waves of Change in 2024

12.20.2024 | Heal the Bay

Reflecting on a Year of Progress

Heal the Bay achieved significant accomplishments in 2024 in safeguarding our waters, preserving biodiversity, and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.  Through our collective efforts and with your unwavering support, we worked tirelessly to create cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable coastal waters and watersheds for Los Angeles and beyond from summit to sea. As we reflect on the achievements of this past year, we are thrilled to carry this momentum into the coming year, always aiming to make a lasting difference. Celebrate them with us!

2024 Highlights

Our expertise was sought after, and our work was celebrated.

In 2024, Heal the Bay was honored for decades of commitment to the environment.

Heal the Bay was selected as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of District 42 in recognition of nearly four decades of accomplishments and “outstanding contributions to the communities and environment” we serve.

The 4th Annual Heal the Bay One Water symposium was convened at Lewis Macadams Riverfront Park, establishing Heal the Bay as a thought leader among civil engineers, water conservation experts, and local, county, and state legislators.

Heal the Bay continued its work on the LA28 Environmental Sustainability Committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics to ensure the games are the most sustainable yet and leave a legacy of environmental stewardship in the region.

Heal the Bay Aquarium was voted Santa Monica’s Most Loved Sustainable Green Business of 2024 by thousands of Angelenos.

The First Line of Defense in Environmental Policy

Heal the Bay played a pivotal role in successfully advancing policies and legislation to improve water quality, affordability, and coastal ecosystems and ensure a more sustainable Los Angeles region and climate-resilient California.

In response to advocacy from Heal the Bay, the LA Regional Board recently approved more stringent regulation of surface water runoff from the highly contaminated Boeing Santa Susana Field Lab site. Boeing immediately filed a legal petition opposing the new regulations. Heal the Bay is engaging in this lawsuit as an interested party in support of the Regional Board.

Heal the Bay co-authored the Vision 2045 Report with NRDC and Los Angeles Waterkeeper and shared it with LA County decisionmakers tasked with overseeing the ambitious Safe, Clean, Water Program (SCWP). This collaborative “vision” laid out a roadmap of bolder goals, and recommendations to more quickly and definitively reach 2045 SCWP targets and is now being used as a resource by LA County for the SCWP Watershed Planning Efforts.

Big trouble for Big Plastic

Recognizing the urgent need to combat plastic pollution, Heal the Bay continues impactful environmental policy work and campaigns to amplify sustainable practices. For several years, staff has worked with LA City and County to help create legislation to break the harmful plastic cycle. We took significant steps toward a plastic-free future by advocating for reducing single-use plastics and promoting responsible waste management.

We sued Big Plastic! Heal the Bay took historic legal action and joined a coalition of leading environmental groups to file a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, the world’s largest producer of single-use plastic polymers. California’s Attorney General also filed a similar lawsuit today.

Heal the Bay advocacy supported major wins for state and local plastics regulation this year, including the passage of SB 1053, which removes ALL plastic film bags from checkout counters at convenience stores and grocery stores across the state by 2026 and increases the minimum recycled content requirements for paper bags to 50%.

In 2024, Heal the Bay made big waves for the environment by advocating for the unanimous approval of the Environmental Impact Report for the City of LA’s Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program. This means that in the next 6 months, we could have powerful new legislation in the City of LA to really reduce plastics, and Heal the Bay will be right there alongside key decision-makers to ensure success.

It Takes a Very Large Village

This year Heal the Bay volunteers made massive waves of change.

In 2024, more than 24,900 Heal the Bay volunteers collected over 24,000 pounds of trash and contributed 71,048 hours to protecting our precious watershed and coastal waters!

In September, Heal the Bay mobilized 6,600 volunteers on Coastal Cleanup Day, removing 18,269 pounds of trash (including 429 pounds of recyclables) from greater Los Angeles coastlines and waterways.

This year Heal the Bay Aquarium welcomed 59 new volunteers, and a total of 128 volunteers completed and served 5,494 hours at the Aquarium.

Environmental Health IS Public Health

In 2024, Heal the Bay continued its relentless commitment to ocean water and freshwater quality from summit to sea.

Our annual Beach Report Car d remains the gold standard for water quality reporting, providing access to the latest water quality information based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean at over 700 beaches. For more than 30 years, our annual report has assigned “A-to-F” letter grades and ranked the “Best and Bummer” lists across beaches from Washington State to Tijuana, Mexico.

The annual River Report Card was also released, ranking freshwater quality and providing grades for 35 freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County tested during the summer of 2023. This summer 14 students from colleges across Southern California joined Heal the Bay the Stream Team internship program – our biggest cohort yet! These two programs are at the forefront of our efforts to keep LA’s waters safe and enjoyable for all.

Conservation and Marine Protection Are Key to Our Mission

Heal the Bay reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity through both volunteer activations and the tireless efforts of our husbandry, operations, and education Aquarium teams.

Heal the Bay Aquarium plays a pivotal role in species conservation through research, breeding programs, and public awareness campaigns. In 2024, four Swell sharks, dozens of Pacific Sandollars, Giant Spine Sea Stars, Bay Pipefish, and hundreds of Moon jellies were born at the aquarium. Our animal care team released seven protected and rehabilitated marine animals, including keystone species like Swell sharks and Leopard sharks, into Santa Monica Bay. By releasing these animals back into the wild, Heal the Bay continues its mission to protect and support the biodiversity of wild fish populations.

As part of our commitment to successful conservation efforts, Heal the Bay Aquarium continued its work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Wildlife Trafficking Alliance. As an official member of the US Fish & Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Confiscation Network pilot program, the aquarium is certified to care for the well-being of wildlife confiscated from illegal trade.  
Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Team successfully lead public meetings to educate Californian’s on the impacts of DDT on public health and biodiversity.
They were also featured as experts in the Los Angeles Times documentary “Out of Plain Sight.”.

As a watchdog for Marine Protected Areas, Heal the Bay’s MPA Team is actively contributing and analyzing critical data on California’s first decade-long review that began in 2023. One of the biggest conclusions of the review highlighted the fact that protecting these precious estuaries for the past decade has worked, allowing for flourishing biodiversity, larger populations, and bigger individual animals in these safeguarded areas.

Environmental Equity and Inclusion are pillars of Environmental Health

This year, Heal the Bay continued to advocate for communities that experience the worst systemic and often immediate impacts of environmental injustice and climate change.

After 10 years of effort by Heal the Bay Outreach, Inell Woods Park, a first-of-its-kind stormwater park, is complete in the Compton Creek watershed. This pocket park will provide green space to an underserved community. The ribbon cutting is estimated for early 2025, highlighting the connection between communities, green space, and health.

The Heal the Bay Science and Policy Team hosted the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples for a day of hands-on water quality testing and knowledge sharing. By blending scientific methods with Indigenous traditions, we gained deeper insights into LA’s freshwater systems and the cultural significance of water.

Environmental Education, Outreach and Sharing our Passion to Protect What We Love

Education remained a cornerstone of our mission. In 2024, Heal the Bay expanded our outreach program, teaching schools and communities to understand the importance of environmental conservation and the role each individual can play.

Educational efforts continued to inspire and inform diverse audiences through innovative approaches and interactive science-based programs. The Heal the Bay Aquarium Education Team sponsored 247 field trips and welcomed 11,668 enthusiastic students from 22 school districts in LA County, including 85 students from Title 1 schools.

This year, “Coastal Cleanup Education Day” at the Aquarium hosted more than 118 3rd-6th grade students from across Los Angeles County for a day of beach exploration, scientific excursions, education, and hands-on learning while having fun in the sun.

In 2024, Heal the Bay built a blue economy, providing professional training on sustainable aquaculture practices in partnership with Santa Monica College. This program not only empowers future environmentalists with hands-on job training, but it has also allowed Heal the Bay Aquarium to lead a program that has put them on track to achieve 90% sustainability through aquaculture and animal donation within the next five years.

Speakers Bureau and Beach Programs (through the Adopt a Beach Program) gave 195 talks this year to educate the public on all Heal the Bay’s amazing and impactful work.

Cheers to 2024

As we look back on 2024, Heal the Bay celebrates a year of accomplishments, resilience, and collaboration. These achievements underscore the collective efforts of our dedicated team, volunteers, and supporters who positively impact the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems.

Here’s to a future with even more significant strides toward a sustainable and thriving planet!  

Looking to the Future with 2025 in our sights

In 2025, Heal the Bay will celebrate its 40th Anniversary, marking four decades of dedicated environmental work. Since its founding, the organization has been a powerful advocate for clean water, coastal protection, and environmental justice across California. Through education, outreach, and policy efforts, Heal the Bay has significantly improved local ecosystems, making beaches, rivers, and communities safer and healthier. The organization remains committed to addressing climate change, promoting sustainability, and protecting the region’s natural beauty for future generations.
Thank you to all our supporters, both past and present.

Thank you for all our supporters both past and present.

SUPPORT HEAL THE BAY

Want to support our work for years to come? There is still time to make your big impact for Heal the Bay with Year End Giving. Give a gift for good to protect our precious watershed and help keep our coastal waters safe and clean all year round. Whether it be Corporate and Foundation Giving, Partnerships, Stock Donations, Donor Advised Funds, Estate Plans, Donations and Sponsorship Opportunities, you can make a lasting impact with your year-end contribution today. Contact Us.

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Capture King Tides to Understand Sea Level Rise

12.12.2024 | Annelisa Moe

California Climate Change

Join community scientists in California to observe and document the King Tides on December 13, 2024. This extreme high tide event provides a glimpse of what we face with climate-driven sea level rise. Your images will contribute to a better understanding of how to adapt to and combat the climate crisis. Get a glimpse of last winter’s King Tide.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Capture the King Tide this December!

King Tides are a wave phenomenon that can only be witnessed a few times a year when the high tide is at its highest and the low tide is at its lowest. These extreme tides only come to shore when the moon is closest to the Earth and when the Earth is closest to the Sun. King Tides can teach California so much about the changing coastline, if their impact can be captured.

This February, Heal the Bay is calling on all local beach lovers to hit the sand and help us document these extreme tides. Taking pictures and recording this natural phenomenon can help climate scientists predict the future of California’s coastline in preparation of impending sea level rise, which is the first step toward adapting for and combating the climate crisis. Last year your observations were vital to prepare Los Angeles for a future affected by climate change and we need your help once again.

The second King Tides event of this season will occur on:

December 13,2024 at : 9:30 AM

December 14,2024 at : 7:25 AM.

December 15,2024 at : 8:07 AM.

Once again, we are calling on all those who love the California coast to help capture the King Tide.

Not in Los Angeles?

Check out this list of 2024 King Tide Events with the California King Tides Project to observe and help capture the impact of these waves wherever you are on the CA coast.

Our Guide to Capturing the King Tide Guide

How to capture the King Tide on your own!

Instructions from the CA Coastal Commission:
1) Find your local high tide time for one of the King Tides dates.
2) Visit the shoreline on the coast, bay, or delta.
3) Be aware of your surroundings to ensure you are safe and are not disturbing any animals.
4) Make sure your phone’s location services are turned on for your camera and then take your photo. The best photos show the water level next to familiar landmarks such as cliffs, rocks, roads, buildings, bridge supports, sea walls, staircases, and piers.
5) Add your photo to the King Tides map either by uploading it via the website or by using the Survey123 app.

Sea Level Rise

Before we get into the details of this year’s King Tides event, let’s begin with the larger context of sea level rise. Humans are polluting Earth’s atmosphere with greenhouse gases (GHGs) like CO2, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels, driving average global temperatures up at an unprecedented rate.

Oceans have helped to buffer this steady pollution stream by absorbing 90% of our excess heat and 25% of our CO2 emissions. This, among myriad impacts, has increased sea temperatures, causing ocean water to expand. The combination of ocean water expansion and new water input from the melting of landlocked glaciers results in rapid sea level rise.

: Santa Monica Beach Current

: Santa Monica Beach Sea Level Rise 2ft

: Santa Monica Beach Sea Level Rise 7 Ft

: Ports Current Sea Level

: Ports Sea Level Rise 7ft

: Marina Del Rey Current Sea Level

: Marina Del Rey Sea Level Rise 7ft

Take a look at images from the NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer. Light blue shows areas expected to flood consistently as sea levels rise. Bright green shows low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding from groundwater upwelling as seawater intrusion increases.

According to the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, sea level will rise 2 feet by 2100 even if efforts are made to lower GHG emissions, and possibly as much as 7 feet by 2100 if we continue with “business as usual” (i.e., burning fossil fuels at the current unsustainable rate). Rapid sea level rise threatens beach loss, coastal and intertidal habitat loss, seawater intrusion into our groundwater supply (which could contaminate our drinking water supply and cause inland flooding from groundwater upwelling), as well as impacts from flooding or cliff erosion on coastal infrastructures like roads, homes, businesses, power plants and sewage treatment plants—not to mention nearby toxic sites.

Here's a sea level rise problem we should all think more about: Toxic sites that could flood + expose nearby residents to dangerous chemicals.
A new study by @UCBerkeleySPH @UCLAFSPH found that *more than 400 toxic sites* in California could flood by 2100 https://t.co/Y0N75ZTDnJ
— Rosanna Xia (@RosannaXia) November 30, 2021

King Tides: A Glimpse of Future Sea Levels

Ocean tides on Earth are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon (and the sun, to a lesser extent) on our oceans. When the moon is closest to Earth along its elliptical orbit, and when the moon, earth, and sun are aligned, gravitational pull compounds, causing extreme high and low tides called Perigean-Spring Tides or King Tides. These extreme tides provide a glimpse of future sea level rise.

Image courtesy of NOAA National Ocean Service.

In fact, King Tides in Southern California this December and January are expected to be 2-3 feet higher than normal high tides (and lower than normal low tides), providing a clear snapshot of what the regular daily high tides will likely be by 2100.

: Surfider Beach Third Point, Malibu (Photo by CA Coastal Commission)

: Broad Beach, Malibu in 2016 (Photo by LA Waterkeeper)

: (Top to bottom) Low, Medium, High Tides at Carbon Beach, January 8-10 2013

What is being done

Many coastal cities in California have developed Local Coastal Programs in coordination with the CA Coastal Commission to address sea level rise. The Coastal Commission is also developing new sea level rise guidance for critical infrastructure, recently released for public review. Unfortunately, if we continue with “business as usual,” the rate of sea level rise will occur much more quickly than we can adapt to it, which is why we need bold global action now to combat the climate crisis and limit sea level rise as much as possible.

What you can do

Motivated people like you can become community scientists by submitting King Tides photographs the weekend of December 23 and 24, 2022 to contribute to the digital storytelling of sea level rise. These photos are used to better understand the climate crisis, to educate people about the impacts, to catalog at-risk communities and infrastructure, and plan for mitigation and adaptation. Join the Coastal Commission in their CA King Tides Project!

Get involved in #KingTides events

In the Los Angeles area? Here are some areas we expect will have noticeable King Tides:

In Palos Verdes, we recommend: Pelican Cove, Terrenea Beach, White Point Beach, and Point Fermin. In Malibu, we suggest: Paradise Cove, Westward Beach, Broad Beach, El Pescador State Beach, and Leo Carrillo State Beach.

ACTION LINK(S)

FIND LOCAL KING TIDE TIMES

SEE PREVIOUS KING TIDE PHOTOS

SUPPORT OUR WORK

Written by Annelisa Moe. As a Coastal and Marine Scientist for Heal the Bay, Annelisa works to keep our oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong legislation and enforcement both locally and statewide. She focuses on plastic pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and climate change related issues.

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Rising Tides: Is LA Ready for Sea-Level Rise?

04.29.2024 | Heal the Bay

California Coast Climate Change

Our South Bay town hall detailed how coastal cities can best protect themselves.

Remnants of a bluff-top apartment building in Pacifica that crumbled to the beach, where rocks form a barrier against the rising sea. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times).

The ocean is moving in. But unlike most unwanted guests, sea level rise is here to stay.

Because of the carbon emissions already emitted since the Industrial Revolution, sea level rise (SLR) is inevitable in our region. California’s oceans are expected to rise 1 foot by 2050. Although this number may appear small, this rise in sea level will result in devastating impacts – from severe coastal flooding to widespread loss of cherished beaches. But that does not mean all hope is lost. With proper resilience planning at the state and local levels, our region can escape the most cataclysmic effects. But we need to start acting right now.

Tracy Quinn (left), Rosanna Xia (center), and Warren Ontiveros (right) in conversation at Heal the Bay’s Sea Level Rise panel in Hermosa Beach.

That was the stark assessment of panelists gathered Sunday, April 28, for Heal the Bay’s “Rising Tides” town hall at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn moderated a lively conversation with Rosanna Xia, L.A. Times coastal reporter, and Warren Ontiveros, chief planner for L.A. County’s Beach and Harbors division. Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey welcomed the audience.

Xia, author of the acclaimed book “California Against the Sea: Visions for a Vanishing Coastline,” urged policymakers to reframe SLR as an opportunity rather than a disaster. California can mend its “fractured relationship with our shoreline,” she argued, by adopting the mindset of the region’s first settlers. The Chumash, guided by a spirit of balance and reciprocity, looked to care for and heal the shoreline rather than command and control it. Our state has seen rising and falling seas for millennia, Xia noted. Centuries ago, California’s northern Channel Islands formed a single land mass until the Pacific Ocean rose and created five separate islands. The coast is not static, it is always changing.

But today’s challenges are starker given human-made emissions. Melting polar ice caps and increased expansion of water through rising ocean temperatures are the primary SLR drivers.

The California coastline (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

And those rising tides could prove disastrous. California could lose nearly 70% of all beaches and all its wetlands by 2100 if we fail to act. That loss would truly be a doomsday scenario, with 70M annual day visits to beaches annually and $1.3 billion in economic stimulus from the coastal economy.

Ontiveros shared some of the steps the County is taking to build greater resilience to the SLR onslaught. His division has created a scorecard for identifying the two dozen LA County beaches most vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and lack of public access. According to the County, the 10 beaches most at risk, in order of vulnerability, are Zuma, Redondo Beach, Malibu Surfrider, Point Dume, Dockweiler, Dan Blocker, Las Tunas, Topanga, Nicholas Canyon, and Will Rogers.

County engineers are readying several so-called beach nourishment projects to help preserve sand and public access in these threatened sites. In a hybrid mechanical-natural adaptation move, engineers hope to take tons of sand from the deep sea and “transplant” it on the Zuma and Point Dume shorelines. They would use the reclaimed sand to create “living shorelines,” where installed dunes and plant life would retain sand longer and provide natural buffers to flooding. The plans, which face many permitting and logistical challenges, would add 25 feet of sand to these iconic beaches.

Xia then encouraged the audience to think of the shoreline not so much as a place but as a process. Everything is always shifting, she said. Trying to fix straight lines and immovable objects on the shorelines is a fool’s errand.

The panelists agreed that buffering our coast and building resilience will require both engineered concrete solutions, such as relocating highways, and nature-based solutions, such as wetlands restoration, to accommodate increased flooding. Coastal residents will have to accept change. Their neighborhoods and the larger coastline will look different, panelists said.

Gleason Beach realignment bridge construction (Michael Sweeney Photography)

Xia described a recent project in Sonoma County that saw Caltrans rebuild an arterial coastline highway that once snaked along Gleason Beach as an overpass further inland. Underneath the roadway, engineers designed a series of natural buffers and floodplains. Some residents called the new project an eyesore, Xia noted, while others saw it as a boon to a threatened community.

“The ‘my way or the highway’ mentality can’t work,” Xia said. Communities need to compromise and be realistic.

Ontiveros singled out the threatened Cardiff Beach in northern San Diego as an example of residents and planners working together to successfully adapt to rising seas. Nearly five acres of dune habitat have been restored in a multi-benefit project that will help protect a vulnerable section of PCH and increase public access to local beaches.

The Cardiff Living Shorelines Project (Resilient Coastlines)

Xia noted that statewide resilience will be achieved through a series of iterative projects like Cardiff. There will not be one master document that solves all the many challenges in one fell swoop. Planning means envisioning and building continually over decades, where knowledge gained can be applied to the next challenge.

Panelists did not delve into the tricky question of how we find funds to pay for all this resilience work, which could hit $1 trillion statewide by the century’s end. Capitol lawmakers have made more federal funds available as part of a renewed push to protect the nation’s infrastructure.

While legislators and scientists have led the push to battle SLR, Xia urged decision-makers to widen the idea of who is an expert. Indigenous communities and frontline neighborhoods must be part of finding solutions, she said. Ontiveros echoed her comments, noting that millions of inland beachgoers depend on the sea for recreational and therapeutic relief. Hearing from inland communities is critical and will require proactive outreach, he said.

The session ended with thoughts on how everyday residents can best help their communities prepare for the ravages of sea-level rise. Coastal city residents should get involved in local city planning, Xia urged. By 2034, every beachside municipality must submit a Local Coastal Plan to state officials, with SLR vulnerability assessments and resilience recommendations.

To get a copy of Rosanna Xia’s book, please click here.

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Capture King Tides to Understand Sea Level Rise

01.31.2024 | Annelisa Moe

California Climate Change

Join community scientists in California to observe and document the King Tides on February 9, 2024. This extreme high tide event provides a glimpse of what we face with climate-driven sea level rise. Your images will contribute to a better understanding of how to adapt to and combat the climate crisis. Get a glimpse of last winter’s King Tide.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Capture the King Tide this February!

The second King Tides event of this season will occur on February 9,2024 at : 8:16 AM. Once again, we are calling on all those who love the California coast to help capture the King Tide.

Let’s Capture the King Tide Together

Don’t want to face the big wave alone? Come capture the King Tide with other climate community members during the February phenomenon.

FREE King Tides EVENT @ Heal the Bay Aquarium with Climate Action Santa Monica

Date: February 9, 2024

Time: 7:30 am -9:30 am

Address: Heal the Bay Aquarium 1600 Ocean Front Walk Santa Monica, CA 90401 – Base of Santa Monica Beach Pier (by the bike path)

Head to Heal the Bay Aquarium for a King Tide community science event lead by Climate Action Santa Monica. Hit the beach and help document the King Tide by capturing pictures of this ocean phenomenon alongside community and climate scientists as part of the California King Tides Project. This phenomenon will be FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMLIY! Join in the community discussion and discover the relationship between sea level rise and climate change alongside students and other climate community members.

RSVP to save your spot!

Not in Los Angeles?

Check out this list of 2024 King Tide Events with the California King Tides Project to observe and help capture the impact of these waves wherever you are on the CA coast.

Our Guide to Capturing the King Tide Guide

How to capture the King Tide on your own!

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 13, 2022

Sea Level Rise

: Santa Monica Beach Current

: Santa Monica Beach Sea Level Rise 2ft

: Santa Monica Beach Sea Level Rise 7 Ft

: Ports Current Sea Level

: Ports Sea Level Rise 7ft

: Marina Del Rey Current Sea Level

: Marina Del Rey Sea Level Rise 7ft

Here's a sea level rise problem we should all think more about: Toxic sites that could flood + expose nearby residents to dangerous chemicals.
A new study by @UCBerkeleySPH @UCLAFSPH found that *more than 400 toxic sites* in California could flood by 2100 https://t.co/Y0N75ZTDnJ
— Rosanna Xia (@RosannaXia) November 30, 2021

King Tides: A Glimpse of Future Sea Levels

Image courtesy of NOAA National Ocean Service.

: Surfider Beach Third Point, Malibu (Photo by CA Coastal Commission)

: Broad Beach, Malibu in 2016 (Photo by LA Waterkeeper)

: (Top to bottom) Low, Medium, High Tides at Carbon Beach, January 8-10 2013

What is being done

What you can do

Get involved in #KingTides events

In the Los Angeles area? Here are some areas we expect will have noticeable King Tides:

ACTION LINK(S)

FIND LOCAL KING TIDE TIMES

SEE PREVIOUS KING TIDE PHOTOS

SUPPORT OUR WORK

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New Year Super Surf Pounds Coast: Crushing the Stoke

12.30.2023 | Meredith McCarthy

California Coast Climate Change News Take Action

“Large waves at the Manhattan Beach Pier draw onlookers on Saturday. The pier was closed to the public due to the high surf.” (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Waves of Waves in a Future of Climate Change

From the Desk of Meredith McCarthy, Director of Campaigns & Outreach and a Heal the Bay leader for over 20 years.

With almost macabre curiosity my boys and I head to Manhattan Beach last week to get a peek at the recent monster swell and watch the “gnarly” waves roll into Santa Monica Bay. I try to see the 10-foot sets through their eyes. The waves pound the beleaguered shoreline, a rolling thunder, an epic echo of Mother Nature’s raw power. The crunching swell is a formidable challenge for surfers struggling to paddle out. But as countless YouTube Nazare videos have shown, big waves are a challenge that can be tamed by humans.

LA Times image: A person standing on a sand berm watches as high surf breaks near Manhattan Beach on Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press)

I want to cling to the surfer’s narrative that these waves are gifts, a rare occurrence to be treasured. But the recent swell demonstrates that these waves are as much to be feared as cherished.

They are a preview of the future ahead of us and a reminder that a disaster can happen over decades, not just seconds. And they beg the question: can we ever really tame these waves?

Rosanna Xia’s new book “California Against the Sea” opened my eyes as to why escalating impacts of climate change are intricately linked to the heightened severity of winter storms in the North Pacific, setting the stage for profound and harmful impacts to our beloved coast. (Purchase the book locally at Diesel Bookstore)

During my 20 years at Heal the Bay, protecting what you love has been our mantra. That mission will be harder to meet in the years to come. This recent swell is just one small harbinger of the many challenges ahead.

The connection lies in the intricate dance between climate change and the dynamics of these storms. Warmer oceans provide the necessary energy for storms to intensify, amplifying wind speeds and precipitation rates. This, in turn, translates into more powerful and potentially devastating winter storms.

The implications for coastal areas, such as Santa Monica Bay, extend beyond the immediate visual spectacle of towering waves. We all were held in awe and fear as we clicked on videos of eight people being toppled over by a rogue wave in Ventura and winding up in the hospital.

The increased storm intensity poses a dual threat: First, the potential for more severe storm surges that can inundate coastal communities, and second, the exacerbation of sea level rise. As ice continues to melt and ocean temperatures climb, sea levels rise accordingly. The cumulative effect is a compounding threat to coastal communities and the regional economies they support.

The huge surf becomes a symbol not just of the immediate dangers but of a broader trend — one that demands strategic foresight and effective management. Addressing the impacts of climate change requires a holistic approach that encompasses significant efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation strategies to safeguard vulnerable coastal areas.

It can seem hopeless sometimes, but I look at my kids staring at the towering waves crashing on the sand. I wonder if they can hear the ticking of a time bomb amid the roar of the sea. I know we must act, take one small step and then bigger ones, facing this challenge head on.

Like our volunteers, the way to keep our legs under us is to rise each day in services of positive action. Our Heal the Bay volunteers are the village we rely upon to realize our mission – check out one of the opportunities below:

Become a Heal the Bay Volunteer – Orientation (Jan 11, 6p-8p): Take the first step toward helping Heal the Bay work for safe, healthy, clean coastal waters and watersheds. Come to our in-person Volunteer Orientation at Heal the Bay Aquarium.

Participate in the next King Tide’s Project on January 11 & 12, 2024, & February 9, 2024: The California King Tides Project helps us visualize future sea level by observing the highest tides of today. You can help by taking and sharing photos of the shoreline during King Tides to create a record of changes to our coast and estuaries. Observe and document King Tides on your own or join a scheduled group event.

Los Angeles King Tide Watch 2024 will be held at Manhattan Beach Pier – Jan. 12, 8:30-9:30am at Roundhouse Aquarium. Join nature enthusiasts and scientists to document the King Tide of 2024 at the base of the Manhattan Beach Pier. More information and RSVP

Join our January Beach Cleanup (Jan 20, 10 Am – 12 PM): Heal the Bay hosts cleanups every 3rd Saturday of the month (rain or shine)! This January’s storms are sure to make a mess of our beaches so kick-off your New Year’s Resolution by attending the next “Nothin’ But Sand Beach Cleanup” on January 20, 2024, at Tower 2, Zuma Beach, 10 am – 12 pm. Register today to reserve your bucket.

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Making Waves in 2023 and Celebrating All We Have Achieved Together

12.19.2023 | Heal the Bay

Angler Outreach Program Beach Report Card California California Bag Ban California Drought Climate Change Heal the Bay Aquarium News River Report Card Take Action Water Quality

Reflecting on a Year of Progress

Heal the Bay achieved significant accomplishments in 2023 in safeguarding our waters, preserving biodiversity, and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.  Through our collective efforts and with your unwavering support, we worked tirelessly to create cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable coastal waters and watersheds for Los Angeles and beyond from summit to sea. As we reflect on the achievements of this past year, we are thrilled to carry this momentum into the coming year, always aiming to make a lasting difference. Celebrate them with us!

2023 Highlights

Our expertise was sought after, and our work was celebrated.

In 2023, Heal the Bay was honored for decades of commitment to the environment.

The City of Los Angeles officially declared October 20, 2023 “Heal the Bay Day in LA” in recognition of nearly four decades of accomplishments including the 20th anniversary of our Angler Outreach Program as well as our Aquarium.

The 3rd Annual Heal the Bay One Water symposium was convened at Will Rogers State Beach, establishing Heal the Bay as a thought leader among civil engineers, water conservation experts, and local, county, and state legislators.

Heal the Bay was officially appointed to the LA 28 Environmental Sustainability Committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Heal the Bay Aquarium celebrated its 20th anniversary with an official ribbon-cutting of a new Welcome Center located on top of the historic and iconic Santa Monica Pier.

The future of our planet starts with better environmental policy.

Heal the Bay played a pivotal role in successfully advancing policies and legislation for the benefit of water quality, affordability, and coastal ecosystems to ensure a more sustainable Los Angeles region and climate-resilient California.

Heal the Bay, co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1572 (Friedman) alongside the NRDC and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District. This new law bans the use of drinking water to irrigate non-functional (purely ornamental) turf on governmental and commercial landscapes; and is expected to save the equivalent amount of water that 780,000 households use in a year.

Heal the Bay advocated for water quality protection at the Boeing Santa Susana Field Laboratory site in Simi Valley. The Los Angeles Regional Water Board voted in October to keep regulations on surface water that flows from this previous industrial site, keeping stringent water quality limits, adding more monitoring, and addressing the potential for surface water pollution to impact groundwater, a huge win in the ongoing battle for water quality protection.

Our policy team worked to legally strengthen and streamline fishing regulations to make fishery enforcement more equitable through Assembly Bill 1611 (Lowenthal). This new Heal the Bay sponsored law was supported by conservationists and fishery regulatory agencies alike as a win-win for both nature and the fishing community.

Heal the Bay co-authored a new (and well-received) Vision 2045 Report and shared it with LA County decision-makers who are tasked with overseeing the ambitious Safe, Clean, Water Program (SCWP). This collaborative “vision” laid out a roadmap of bolder goals, and recommendations to more quickly and definitively reach 2045 SCWP targets.

It Takes a Very Large Village.

This year Heal the Bay published its first Volunteer Impact Report highlighting the accomplishments of our 22,017 volunteers from the 2022 season, which paved the way for the many volunteer successes of 2023.

In 2023, Heal the Bay volunteers collected more than 22,000 pounds of trash and contributing 71,048 hours to protecting our precious watershed and coastal waters!

In September, Heal the Bay mobilized 7,337 volunteers on Coastal Cleanup Day, removing 16,211 pounds of trash (including 429 pounds of recyclables) from greater Los Angeles coastlines and waterways.

Heal the Bay’s work is powered by everyday heroes and Spectrum News highlighted one of our dedicated volunteers.

Sticking a Fork in Plastic at the Source

Recognizing the urgent need to combat plastic pollution, Heal the Bay continues impactful campaigns encouraging individuals and businesses to adopt sustainable practices. For several years, staff has been working with LA City and County to help create legislation aiming to break the harmful plastic cycle.   By advocating for reducing single-use plastics and promoting responsible waste management, we took significant steps toward a plastic-free future.  

Our “No Bag November” campaign reaffirmed Heal the Bay’s commitment to a plastic-free Los Angeles.  Through partnerships and community activations, No Bag November urged Angelenos to say “no” to single-use plastic bags and encouraged everyone to grab their reusable bags instead.

In 2023, the implementation of THREE new laws made big waves for the environment as a means to reduce plastic in our oceans.

As a leader in the Reusable LA Coalition, we co-launched the “Hold the Plastic, please,” campaign to educate businesses and the public about LA City and County plastic bans that Heal the Bay and partners advocated to pass.

Environmental Health IS Public Health

In 2023, Heal the Bay continued its relentless commitment to ocean water and freshwater quality from summit to sea.

Since its launch in 2003, Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program (in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency) has educated more than 190,000 anglers about which fish are contaminated, and which are safer to eat.

Our annual Beach Report Car d released this year remains the gold standard, providing access to the latest water quality information based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean at over 700 beaches. For more than 30 years, our annual report has assigned “A-to-F” letter grades and ranked the “Best and Bummer” lists across beaches from Washington State to Tijuana, Mexico.

The 5th annual River Report Card was also released, ranking freshwater quality and providing grades for 35 freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County tested during the summer of 2022. This summer we debuted our upgraded River Report Card with an intuitive letter grading system and celebrated the achievements of our 2023 Summer Stream Team. These two programs are at the forefront of our efforts to keep LA’s waters safe and enjoyable for all.

Conservation and Marine Protection Are Key to Our Mission

Heal the Bay reaffirmed its commitment to biodiversity through both volunteer activations and the tireless efforts of our husbandry, operations, and education Aquarium teams.

Heal the Bay Aquarium plays a pivotal role in species conservation through research, breeding programs, and public awareness campaigns. In 2023, sixteen fish, three swell sharks, and dozens of moon jellies were born at the Aquarium; and our animal care team released five species of protected and rehabilitated marine life including a keystone species, the California Sheephead fish, and a critically endangered Giant Spotted Bass into the Santa Monica Bay. By releasing these animals back into the wild, Heal the Bay continues its mission to protect and support the biodiversity of wild fish populations.

As part of our collective commitment to successful conservation efforts, Heal the Bay Aquarium officially joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Wildlife Trafficking Alliance. As an official member of US Fish & Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Confiscation Network pilot program, the aquarium is certified to care for the well-being of wildlife confiscated from illegal trade.  
Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Team successfully advocated for state funding to research DDT in 2022-23 and is now working as part of a coalition to lead public meetings and educate Californias on the impacts of DDT on public health and biodiversity.

As a watchdog for Marine Protected Areas, Heal the Bay’s MPA Team is actively contributing and analyzing critical data on California’s first decade-long review that began in 2023. One of the biggest conclusions of the review highlighted the fact that protecting these precious estuaries for the past decade has worked, allowing for flourishing biodiversity, larger populations, and bigger individual animals in these safeguarded areas.

Environmental Justice is a pillar of environmental health.

This year Heal the Bay stood up to big oil and continued to advocate for communities that experience the worst systemic and often immediate impacts of environmental injustice and climate change.

For decades Heal the Bay has advocated alongside organizations like Stand Together Against Neighborhood Drilling to oppose oil drilling in Los Angeles neighborhoods, a practice long seen as an environmental injustice and a public health crisis. In October of 2023, the LA County Regional Planning Commission voted in support of phasing out oil drilling in the Inglewood Oil Field, one of the largest neighborhood oil fields in the country.

In 2023 Heal the Bay publicly endorsed the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California and will work alongside public health groups, community and faith organizations, and environmental justice leaders from across California to “KEEP THE LAW” (SB 1137) on the November 2024 ballot. This law prohibits new oil wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, day care centers, parks, healthcare facilities, and businesses.

Environmental Education, Outreach and Sharing our Passion to Protect What We Love

Education remained a cornerstone of our mission. In 2023, Heal the Bay expanded our outreach program, teaching schools and communities to understand the importance of environmental conservation and the role each individual can play.

Through innovative approaches and interactive science-based programs, educational efforts continued to inspire and inform diverse audiences. The Heal the Bay Aquarium field trip program sponsored 10,285 students from 22 school districts in LA County— 79% were Title 1 schools.

This year, “Coastal Cleanup Education Day” at the Aquarium hosted more than 250 3rd-5th grade students from across Los Angeles County for a day of beach exploration, scientific excursions, pollution education, and hands on learning while having some fun in the sun.

Heal the Bay Science Camp is an opportunity to foster a deeper connection with marine life in early educational development. In 2023, Spectrum News featured the program. There are still a few spots available January 2-5 “Extreme Winter” Science Camp. Register your future scientist here.

Cheers to 2023

As we look back on 2023, Heal the Bay celebrates a year of accomplishments, resilience, and collaboration. These achievements underscore the collective efforts of our dedicated team, volunteers, and supporters who made a positive impact on the health of our oceans and coastal ecosystems.

Here’s to a future filled with even greater strides toward a sustainable and thriving planet!  

Looking to the Future with 2024 in our sights

In 2024, Heal the Bay will enter a bold five-year strategic plan with a focus on protecting and restoring the Los Angeles environment and water. The plan aims to improve water quality, increase access to clean water, and advocate for policies that benefit the environment. We have outlined specific goals and initiatives, such as reducing plastic pollution, restoring wetlands, and engaging communities in environmental education and action.

Thank you for all our supporters both past and present.

SUPPORT HEAL THE BAY

Want to support our work for years to come? There is still time to make your big impact for Heal the Bay with Year End Giving. Give a gift for good to protect our precious watershed and help keep our coastal waters safe and clean all year round. Whether it be Corporate and Foundation Giving, Partnerships, Stock Donations, Donor Advised Funds, Estate Plans, Donations and Sponsorship Opportunities, you can make a lasting impact with your year-end contribution today. Contact Us.

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Heal the Bay’s 2023 Legislative Wrap-up Guide

12.18.2023 | Emily Parker

California Climate Change Marine Protected Areas News Plastic Pollution Take Action Water Quality

Heal the Bay closely monitors the progress of bills that impact California’s ecosystems and communities each legislative calendar year, and this season has been a rollercoaster ride ranging from game-changing victories in water conservation to ongoing waste and toxin battles. Let’s take a deep dive into the outcomes of key legislation and what it means for healthy, safe, clean water.

Major Wins led by Heal the Bay for Water & Biodiversity

When Heal the Bay sponsors a bill, we take on the responsibility of introducing, advocating for, and shepherding a proposed new law through the legislative process. This year, Heal the Bay co-sponsored two bills that were signed into law.

Assembly Bill 1572 (Friedman): Irrigation of Non-functional Turf, co-sponsored by Heal the Bay, NRDC, and Metropolitan Water District

a.k.a the “lawn-be-gone” solution for a more water equitable and climate resilient California.

Heal the Bay sponsored AB 1572 which is all about using water more efficiently. The bill bans the use of drinking water to irrigate “non-functional turf” on government and commercial properties. See a patch of grass and wondering if it’s non-functional turf? If the only time a person walks on the grass is to mow it, it’s probably non-functional turf. This bill doesn’t impact landscapes around people’s homes, but it does mean no more watering fancy lawns with precious drinking water at public agencies, restaurants, and corporate campuses. When it goes into effect, AB 1572 is expected to save the same amount of water 780,000 households use in a year! Even major water suppliers supported it. This bill is a huge win toward a more sustainable and water-efficient California. While the bill excludes single-family residential lawns, everyone is encouraged to do their part. To learn about how you can transform your landscape, check out LA Department of Water and Power and Metropolitan Water District’s turf replacement programs.

Assembly Bill 1611 (Lowenthal): Fishing Violations, co-sponsored by Heal the Bay and Resources Legacy Fund

a.k.a the “win-win” for fish and anglers.

AB 1611 simplifies and clarifies fishing regulations in California by allowing Fish and Game wardens to cite certain administrative commercial fishing violations as either a misdemeanor or an infraction. This change ensures that wild fishery enforcement is more equitable.

This smart approach ensures that the punishment fits the crime by striking a balance between fairness and strong governance. This bill had strong backing from fishery regulatory agencies and its passing means California is taking essential steps to safeguard its fisheries and continue its tradition of leading in environmental protection. It’s a win-win for both nature and the community.

Want to help Heal the Bay monitor our precious Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)? Become an MPA Watch Volunteer and learn how to identify and report violations – the first step to becoming an MPA Watch volunteer is to attend our next Volunteer Orientation on January 11, 2024, at 6 PM (Heal the Bay Aquarium).

Want to learn more about the bills Heal the Bay helped sponsor? 🔴 WATCH our 2023 Legislative Wins Break-Down on Instagram.

Other Exciting Legislative Wins

Senate Bill 244 (Eggman): Right to Repair

a.k.a “Don’t waste it, fix it”.

Dubbed the “Right to Repair Act”, the passage of SB 244 will have a powerful impact on reducing electronic waste by giving consumers more accessibility to the parts and pieces needed to fix electronics and appliances. Beginning July 1, 2024, manufacturers will have to provide you, their customer, with documentation, parts, and tools for repairs, even if the warranty has expired. This law is all about making repairs more accessible, reducing waste, and promoting a fair marketplace for fixes. Heal the Bay supported this bill through our Clean Seas Lobbying Coalition.

Tough Losses: Vetoed Bills

Not every bill makes it through the process, Governor Newsom vetoed several bills that Heal the Bay would have preferred to see signed into law:

Assembly Bill 1628 (McKinnor): Microfiber Filtration

a.k.a “Microfiber filters could make massive impacts on the environment”.

AB 1628 was focused on microfiber pollution, a major contributor to microplastic pollution around the globe. It would have required every new washing machine sold in the State, whether for homes or industrial use, to come with a special microfiber filter. This filter is like a lint trap that catches tiny microfibers as small as 100 micrometers, preventing them from getting into our environment. The bill was vetoed by Governor Newsom who expressed concerns about increased costs to consumers and instead suggested the exploration of alternative, incentive-based approaches. Heal the Bay does not agree with his false narrative, and, in fact, bill analysis still favors a legislative approach showing that increased costs would have actually been minimal for both consumers and manufacturers.

Assembly Bill 1423 (Schiavo): PFAS in Artificial Turf

a.k.a A “turf” loss for the environment.

AB 1423 would have prevented California public entities, schools, and certain colleges from buying or installing artificial turf or synthetic surfaces containing harmful PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly called “forever chemicals,” which are highly toxic compounds persistent in the environment and linked to a myriad of public health concerns. The bill would have also encouraged manufacturers to choose safer alternatives when replacing PFAS in these surfaces. Unfortunately, Governor Newsom vetoed this bill citing a lack of regulatory oversight to enforce the ban. Heal the Bay continues to seek opportunities to educate the public about the dangers of PFAS and encourage alternatives wherever possible.

It’s Not Over Yet: Bills to Revisit

While some bills came out on top and others met their downfall this year, a few were set on a two-year track that may potentially be reintroduced in 2024 (also known as part two of the two-year legislative session). Below are some standout bills that Heal the Bay is excited to work on when they arise again:

Assembly Bill 1290 (Rivas): Plastic Additives

AB 1290 sought to adopt new plastic regulations by putting restrictions on certain plastic products and additives. The bill aimed to ban making, selling, offering for sale, or distributing especially toxic items like colored plastic bottles and plastic packaging with toxic substances in California. These restricted substances include colorants that make plastic hard to recycle, additives that make plastic break down into tiny pieces, and harmful PFAS chemicals. This bill was extended to a 2-year bill and Heal the Bay continues to support its passage.

Senate Bill 552 (Newman): Reuse for Dine-In

SB 552 was a tough loss for Heal the Bay and our partners along with bill sponsors at the Clean Seas Coalition. This bill would have prohibited food facilities from providing a dine-in customer with any single-use foodware accessory or single-use food packaging. LA County recently passed a similar law thanks to Heal the Bay and Reusable LA, and we know just how effective this law would be at reducing harmful single-use plastic waste from the source. Unfortunately, thanks to logistical challenges, this bill never really took off this year, but Heal the Bay is really excited to push even harder for this legislation next year.

For a great summary of outcomes on climate and other environmental bills, check out the recap from LA Times reporter, Sammy Roth.

While this year was peppered with heartbreaks and an unusually high number of bill vetoes, Heal the Bay is still celebrating our wins and looking forward to next year. From equitable fishing regulation to water conservation and waste reduction, our state is at the forefront of safeguarding our precious ecosystems. As we move forward, Heal the Bay will continue to fight for healthy, safe, clean water for all. Keep following along to stay in the know and learn how you can help us support the next round of California environmental bills!

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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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A post shared by Heal the Bay (@healthebay)

@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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Heal the Bay Hosts ONE Water Day Event

12.10.2021 | Heal the Bay

California California Coast California Drought Climate Change Events News Water Quality

On December 3, 2021 our local water agency leaders gathered together to discuss the major water challenges impacting Greater Los Angeles and how to solve them at Heal the Bay’s first-ever ONE Water Day event.

ONE Water Day at Will Rogers State Beach

The sun was shining, the DJ was playing the hits, and our Heal the Bay team was setting up for a cleanup (while dancing in the sand) as we welcomed over 200 attendees to a first-of-its-kind networking opportunity at Will Rogers State Beach. ONE Water Day brought together many prominent heads of local government agencies and engineering companies to meet and discuss the future of water in Los Angeles. There were more than 26 different organizations represented at this networking event, sparking countless partnerships, and raising over $120,000 for Heal the Bay.

The Cleanup

ONE Water Day attendees participated in a scavenger hunt to clean the beach and experience what trash and debris ends up at our beaches from all over our local watersheds.

After guests had time to mix and mingle, the day started off with a land acknowledgement to recognize the Tongva and Chumash tribal ancestral lands where the event was being held. Then attendees were invited to participate in a Heal the Bay scavenger hunt for trash. This hands-on and team-oriented beach cleanup was an opportunity for individuals from different organizations to collaborate and observe first-hand the realities of pollution.

In just 30 minutes, 19 teams collected 200 buckets of trash along two miles of the Pacific Palisades coastline. Amongst an eclectic array of waste, more than 600 cigarette butts were collected, with Team 12 taking home first place prizes for the most items captured.

After the cleanup, a panini lunch was served by the fantastic team of Critic’s Choice Catering, giving attendees a chance to recharge and enjoy the many event exhibitors and perfect beach weather on a winter day.

The Panel

ONE Water Day Panel, guest speakers from left to right; Martin Adams, Robert Ferrante, Adel Hagekhalil, Dr. Shelley Luce (host), Mark Pestrella, Barbara Romero, Dave Pedersen.

Next on the agenda was a panel conversation hosted by Dr. Shelley Luce, Heal the Bay CEO and President. The panel guest speakers included six influential leaders speaking on the topic of Los Angeles water. All were eager to discuss systemic water quality issues, the impacts of climate change, and the cooperative solutions they envision for Los Angeles.

Speakers included: Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Barbara Romero, Director and General Manager, LA Sanitation and Environment; Robert Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts; Dave Pedersen, General Manager, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District; Martin Adams, General Manager and Chief Engineer, LA Department of Water and Power; Mark Pestrella, Director of LA County Public Works.

Energy was high and the feeling was hopeful as the ONE Water Day panel shared their visions for the future. Guest speakers from left to right; Adel Hagekhalil, Dr. Shelley Luce (host), Mark Pestrella, Barbara Romero.

Takeaways from the ONE Water Panel from Dr. Shelly Luce

ONE Water Day was a unique event. The panel was a rare honor and opportunity to question each of the guest speakers on their plans for building a sustainable water supply for Los Angeles in this time of extreme drought and climate change.

We learned so much from our panel speakers at the event. The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation and the Department of Water and Power are collaborating to recycle treated wastewater for drinking water. The LA County Sanitation Districts and the Las Virgenes Metropolitan Water District are doing the same in their respective areas, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. And, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is collaborating with cities throughout the region to capture and treat urban runoff, aka stormwater, so it can be infiltrated into groundwater or reused for irrigation.

This massive shift to conserving and recycling our water has taken place incrementally over decades. It requires a level of collaboration among agencies that has never occurred before.

Adel Hagekhalil, the General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District, stated it perfectly:

“We take water for granted, and we forget that water is essential to firefighting, to drinking, to our health and our safety; hospitals don’t run without water. Fire cannot be fought without water. Businesses cannot run without water Schools cannot be schools without water. Homelessness cannot be addressed without water. So, water is life,” Hagekhalil said. “Sometimes we’re willing to pay $200 for our cell phone, but are we willing to pay that money for the future of our water?”

To demonstrate this commitment, Hagekhalil asked everyone at the event to stand and pledge to work every day toward the ONE Water goals. All did so, willingly and enthusiastically. It was a great moment for all of us who care deeply about our sustainable water future to affirm our commitment.

Thank You

A huge thank you to the amazing ONE Water Day Sponsors, our proud partners of Heal the Bay, and organizations that are leading the way in their commitment to environmental sustainability:

AECOM, WSP, Metropolitan Water District, LA Sanitation and Environment

Thank you to all the guests in attendance. Your initiative and dedication are vital toward building a bright and equitable future for water in Los Angeles.

See Event Pictures

Los Angeles has major water challenges to solve, and Heal the Bay sees events like this as an opportunity to upload the value of collaboration and accountability, to continue conversations that lead to solutions, and to create opportunities for partnerships like never before. This Heal the Bay event is the first of its kind for our organization, but is certainly not the last.

Want to support our ongoing efforts for for One Water? Donate Here

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Environmental Wins (and Losses) from the California Legislature in 2021

12.01.2021 | Emily Parker

California Climate Change Plastic Pollution

2021 was a turning point for environmental legislation in California.

Following a legislative season of major challenges for the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our assemblymembers and senators were able to push through some exciting new laws and regulations this year to tackle plastic pollution, water quality, and climate change. Despite some successes, there is much more work to be done. Our team of scientists and advocates breaks it down for you below so you can stay in the know.

A Big Win for Water Quality: AB 1066 (Bloom)

This year, Heal the Bay sponsored Assembly Bill 1066 which passed with flying colors through the legislature. We firmly believe that inland water recreation areas, where people swim, boat, and wade in the water, should have the same health protections as coastal areas. AB 1066 takes the first steps toward addressing water quality monitoring disparities between ocean and freshwater sites by requiring that the California Water Quality Monitoring Council develop recommendations for a uniform statewide freshwater monitoring program. Learn more about this bill and what it means for freshwater quality monitoring.

The California Circular Economy Package: Wins for Fighting Plastic Pollution

This year, a suite of bills dubbed the California Circular Economy Package was introduced by a variety of California decision-makers. While not all of the bills made it through the harrowing process to become law, these five did, and they mark some major wins for tackling plastic pollution and toxins in California.

✅ SB 343 (Allen) expands on California’s truthful labeling law and limits the use of the “chasing arrows” symbol to products and packaging that are actually recycled in California, reducing consumer confusion and recycling contamination.
✅ AB 881 (L. Gonzalez) reclassifies mixed plastic exports as disposal instead of recycling while still allowing for truly recyclable plastics to be counted towards our state’s recycling goals.
✅ AB 1276 (Carrillo) requires foodware accessories to only be given to customers upon their explicit request, reducing the waste of “zero-use” plastics like utensils and condiment packets.
✅ AB 1201 (Ting) also requires truthful labeling for compostable products, only allowing the word “compostable” to be used on products and packaging that are truly compostable in California, increasing effective composting and reducing toxic chemicals in packaging materials.
✅ AB 962 (Kamlager) paves the way for refill systems in California by allowing reusable glass bottles to be returned, refilled, and reused as part of California’s Beverage Container Recycling Program.

Climate Wins (and losses)

The climate crisis is here. In 2021, numerous extreme weather events across the world brought increased urgency to the issue along with the realization that these “extreme” events will become increasingly more common and will affect each and every one of us. Let’s take a look at the big wins of 2021.

✅ SB 1 (Atkins) formally recognizes sea level rise as an urgent need to be addressed by the California Coastal Commission, establishes cross-agency coordination to tackle sea level rise, and establishes a $100 million grant program for local governments to prepare for rising seas.
✅ Climate Resilience Package included in this year’s state budget invests $15 billion – the largest investment to date – in addressing an array of climate change concerns, including wildfires & forest resilience, rising heat, and sea level rise.

California is leading the charge for addressing climate change in many ways, but still has a long way to go. Let’s take a look at the places where California fell short on addressing the climate crisis.

❌ SB 467 (Limon and Weiner) would have banned oil and gas production across California and required a 2,500-foot buffer between drilling sites and sensitive receptors such as homes and schools. We were devastated to see this bill die in the Senate this year but are working closely with environmental justice groups across the state to tackle this issue with creative solutions.
❌ AB 1395 (Muratsuchi and C. Garcia), also referred to as the California Climate Crisis Act would have set ambitious climate goals for the state, including strict emissions standards and accelerated efforts to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.

Other Environmental Wins of 2021

Plastics and Climate Change aren’t the only challenges our communities and environment face. The legislature had a few other successes this year in tackling pollution.

✅ AJR2 (O’Donnell) calls on Congress and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to take action on the recently uncovered dumping of DDT and other waste into the deep ocean between the coast of Los Angeles and Catalina Island. This resolution is a great first step and Heal the Bay looks forward to continued work in 2022 on securing state funding for work on DDT and pushing for a community oversight committee on the issue to ensure transparency and accountability.

✅ SB 433 (Allen) expands the authority of the California Coastal Commission to enforce the 1976 Coastal Act through fines. Previously, the Coastal Commission could only levy fines for violations related to public access but now, with SB 433, the Commission can impose fines for violations related to impacts to wetlands, beaches, and coastal wildlife and waters. Coming on the heels of the devastating oil spill in Orange County, we are thrilled to see increased accountability for those who cause damage to our precious coastal resources.

✅ AB 818 (Bloom) requires clear and conspicuous labeling on disposable wipes that states “DO NOT FLUSH”. All too often, disposable wipes that are not intended to be flushed end up down toilets and in municipal wastewater treatment facilities where they can wreak havoc and cause blockage and spills. Especially after the disastrous sewage spill at the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Center in Los Angeles earlier this year, legislation like this is important to both reduce consumer confusion and protect our local water bodies and wastewater treatment workers from harm.

Looking Forward: 2022

As we plan for the year ahead, we are hoping for a much stronger and more progressive year in passing regulations to tackle the climate crisis and water pollution issues, and we already know some items on the table. Heal the Bay will be strongly supporting these measures:

SB 54 (Allen) is a bill you have heard us mention before – a massive plastic pollution reduction bill that would comprehensively tackle plastics through reduction measures and recycling reform. Next year will be the 4th year this bill is attempting to make its way through and we are committed to supporting it.
The California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Initiative is an initiative eligible for the November 8, 2022 ballot that would enact a massive plastic pollution reduction program, including a “pollution reduction fee” holding producers financially accountable for the pollution they create. Keep an eye out for it on your ballot next year!

With the COVID-19 pandemic still creating a massive public health crisis in California and globally this year, environmental legislation once again struggled to make significant progress. Heal the Bay is prepared and ready to help make up for lost time next year by pushing as hard as we can to pass regulations and laws that reduce production and pollution of plastics, end oil and gas drilling both onshore and on land, and protect our communities, waters, and watersheds from the climate crisis. Stay tuned for how YOU can help us get there.

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