Among our many generous supporters this year was high school student Preston Lilly, who paddled 21 miles during Coastal Cleanup Day 2025 to raise funds for Heal the Bay.
A message from Heal the Bay President and CEO Tracy Quinn:
As we head into the holiday season, I’ve been thinking back on 2025 — the challenges, the moments of hope, and the resilience this community showed.
The year started with a tragedy none of us will forget. Wildfires tore through our neighborhoods, destroyed homes, and left so many — including me — displaced.
As we tried to pick up the pieces, another wave of challenges emerged. Wildlife washed up on our shores, sickened by a toxic algal bloom. Environmental protections we fought so hard to win were rolled back. Funding for the work that protects our coast began drying up. And all of it amid mounting hardships on the people and communities that make Los Angeles home.
It would’ve been easy to give up. Accept defeat. No one would have blamed us. But time and time again, Angelenos showed us what strength and resilience look like.
And that’s why I want to say thank you to everyone who made a difference this year, not just for Heal the Bay, but also for our coast and the people and wildlife that call it home.
Thank you to our volunteers — nearly 20,000 of you — who cleared plastics and pollution from our beaches.
Thank you to the teachers across Los Angeles who joined our workshops and brought students to the Heal the Bay Aquarium for STEM field trips. With your help, we reminded thousands of young people that they have the power to rewrite the story of our oceans.
And thank you to our donors. Your generosity, in every amount, made it possible for us to lead the science, education, and advocacy that our community relies on.
You are the reason I’m honored to lead this organization. You are why we do this work. And you are what has kept it going for the past 40 years.
At Heal the Bay, we talk a lot about resilience, how we can bounce back when it feels like all is lost. We can’t know what 2026 will bring. We do know there are big challenges ahead. But I’ve seen the strength of this community, and I’m confident we have what it takes to tackle whatever comes our way.
Even with everything we’ve been through this year, there’s still so much to be grateful for. For me, it’s this: After nearly a year of living out of a suitcase, storing my groceries in the office fridge, and navigating never-ending insurance claims, I’m finally moving back home. And I know that makes me one of the lucky ones.
So today, when I reflect on what I’m thankful for, I’ll think about this incredible place we get to call home. And I’ll think of you, our dedicated Heal the Bay community. Here’s to what we’ve weathered, to what we’ve rebuilt, and to everything we’ll keep fighting for — together.
– Tracy Quinn, Heal the Bay President & CEO
P.S. You can ensure that Heal the Bay has what it needs to protect our coast in 2026 — and help us save endangered species from extinction. Donate through our Giving Tuesday campaign and your gift will have twice the impact.
Decades of toxic DDT and “forever chemicals” still linger in Santa Monica Bay, putting subsistence and recreational anglers at risk. Heal the Bay is urging the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to call for new testing and update safety standards to protect our local anglers.
California has a responsibility to protect its residents from toxic pollution. Sign the petition to urge OEHHA to take the necessary steps to keep our angler community safe.
The 2025 legislative session was a tough one for California’s environmental advocates. Against the backdrop of devastating wildfires, raids impacting California’s immigrant communities, severe budget constraints across the state, and federal rollbacks that weakened environmental protections, many of our state’s most important environmental bills faced uphill battles as legislators were forced to reshuffle their priorities. Still, amid the challenges, we saw meaningful wins for ocean health and waste reduction. And we’re hopeful that a number of bills still in the pipeline will pass next year.
Below is a breakdown of the environmental legislation we’ve been tracking this year and where it stands as we head into 2026.
Major Wins for Our Environment
AB 1056 — Phasing Out Gillnets for Good
We’re thrilled to share a major victory for ocean conservation, and one that Heal the Bay has proudly supported every step of the way through support letters and direct lobbying on California Ocean Day in Sacramento. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1056into law, which will phase out the last remaining set gillnets in California.
Set gillnets are mile-long nets anchored to the ocean floor that often entangle high numbers of marine wildlife. This destructive gear dates back to 1915, so this victory has been a long time coming. Congratulations to our friends at Oceana, Resource Renewal Institute, and the Office of Assembly Member Steve Bennett who sponsored and championed this milestone legislation. Read the press release here.
SB 279 — Scaling Up Composting Statewide
Another bright spot this session was the passage of SB 279, which takes a major step toward building California’s circular economy by expanding access to composting programs across the state. Composting not only curbs greenhouse gases but also enriches soils, conserves water, supports local agriculture, and helps reduce pollution by making it even easier to use and dispose of compostable products, making this a win for both people and planet. This law strengthens California’s ability to divert organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions and helping cities and counties meet their climate goals.
Missed Opportunities
AB 823 — Expanding the Microbead Ban
We were deeply disappointed to see AB 823, vetoed by Governor Newsom. This bipartisan bill that passed both the Assembly and Senate would have expanded California’s existing microbead ban to include cosmetics, further protecting our waterways from harmful microplastics. The governor’s veto cited procedural concerns, but this decision undermines years of progress toward a plastic-free future.
This was an important measure to stop microplastics at the source. Heal the Bay will continue to push for stronger action on this front next year.
SB 45 — Tethered Caps on Bottles
SB 45would have required tethered caps on beverage bottles, preventing loose plastic caps from polluting our beaches and waterways. This solution already exists in other parts of the globe, with producers adopting the tethered cap design. Unfortunately, the bill died earlier this spring. But it won’t stop our continued advocacy for targeted solutions and bigger, more comprehensive plastic-reduction policies that keep plastics out of our environment.
Bills Still in the Pipeline
Several promising bills didn’t cross the finish line this year but will return for consideration in 2026. We’ll be leveraging our advocacy efforts next year to ensure these proposals around pollution prevention, water justice, and waste reduction don’t stall out for good.
AB 762: Proposes a ban on disposable vapes to protect public health and reduce e-waste.
SB 561: Would create a manufacturer responsibility program for safely managing the disposal of unused emergency distress flares — explosives that poses serious safety risks.
SB 501: Would establish a producer responsibility program for household hazardous waste and require producers of that waste to provide a convenient collection and disposal system.
SB 350: Introduces the creation of a statewide water rate assistance program to ensure access to affordable, clean water.
SB 601: Would reaffirm California’s Clean Water Act protections following federal rollbacks.
AB 638: Was authored to provide state guidance for safely using stormwater as a non-potable water source.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges of this legislative season, our commitment to protecting our coast and communities remains as strong as ever. Every session brings new opportunities to advance policies that protect biodiversity, reduce pollution, safeguard clean water, and build a more sustainable Los Angeles.
We’ll continue advocating alongside our partners and community members to advance these bills that are still in the pipeline and ensure that California remains a global leader in ocean conservation and climate action.
Stay tuned for action alerts, local advocacy opportunities, and ways to raise your voice for clean water and healthy ecosystems.
United Nations led talks in Geneva aimed at crafting the first legally binding treaty to stop plastic pollution ended in deadlock last week. Oil-producing nations including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait blocked proposals to limit plastic production and control toxic additives, advocating instead for voluntary measures focused on waste management and recycling. Meanwhile, over 100 countries and their community members, scientists, and most impacted citizens pushed for legally binding reductions in plastics production, the elimination of hazardous chemicals, and financial support for frontline communities.
This was the third attempt at reaching an agreement. With global treaty efforts stalling yet again, what happens in our own backyard becomes even more critical.
What Heal the Bay is Doing
Advocating for bold plastic reduction policies: Heal the Bay continues to lead the charge for comprehensive plastic-waste reduction in Los Angeles. We have successfully expanded LA’s polystyrene ban, a policy we first helped pass in 2022. We are now championing the “Reuse for Dine-In” law, which mandates reusable foodware and drinkware across restaurants, cafes, and event venues.
Pushing for stronger legislative action on plastic pollution: We are at the forefront of efforts to strengthen SB 54 regulations, holding corporations accountable for the plastic pollution they produce, and shifting the burden of cleanup to manufacturers instead of our communities.
Leading beach cleanups and data collection: Through our flagship beach cleanups, thousands of volunteers remove millions of plastic items from beaches before they reach our oceans. These cleanups also serve as data collection opportunities, which aid our scientists in informing stronger environmental laws.
How You Can Get Involved
Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day on September 20, our largest day of volunteer action! Help remove thousands of pounds of trash and plastic from coastal areas, rivers, and inland sites.
The failure in Geneva may feel like a setback, but it’s also a reminder: Collective global action is vital. But local leadership is where transformation begins. By driving change here at home, Heal the Bay is helping shift the tipping point toward a circular future one bottle, one cup, and one policy at a time.
Heal the Bay’s CEO, Tracy Quinn, co-chaired on the Commission’s Water Working Group, leading the effort to design critical water protection and reliability measures that will curb climate-related water impacts and pollution and increase fire resilience in high risk communities. This includes solutions focusing on the protection of waterways and infrastructure from climate pollution, the implementation of robust water safety testing plans, the creation of climate-resilient water infrastructure, and the ways to ensure firefighters have the water they need.
The next step will be working with decision-makers at the local, state, and federal levels to implement these solutions. Details below.
The independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery released a final report today outlining ways to ensure a resilient and sustainable recovery from the devastating 2025 LA wildfires and make the region better prepared for future climate disasters. The report assesses a range of recovery and preparation issues, providing important recommendations for efficient and climate-smart rebuilding, equitable recovery, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Water safety and resilience is also a key focus of the report. Heal the BayCEO, Tracy Quinn, served as a co-chair on the Commission’s Water Working Group, driving forward the development of critical water protection and reliability measures in the face of increased climate-related water impacts and pollution.
“Like so many, these fires forced me to learn firsthand about the recovery, remediation, and preparedness steps we, as individuals, need to take to better protect our homes and families from the impact of climate change,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO of Heal the Bay. “This report provides a broader community-wide lens, seeking to improve our building standards, address our infrastructure needs, and provide equitable funding approaches for recovery and resilience.”
“It also takes a look at how to preserve our most precious resource: water,” Quinn continued. “We need our water resources to be readily available during any crisis and we need the ability to deliver it. We need our waterways and water reserves to be protected against disaster-related toxic contamination. We need to have the tools in place to comprehensively test water safety before we drink or recreate in it after a disaster strikes. And we need to ensure our wastewater systems are built to withstand disaster – and not become part of the problem. This report outlines essential steps we need to take to keep our most precious resource abundant and safe from climate harm.”
Some of the key water quality and safety recommendations found in the report include:
Protecting Waterways and Infrastructure from Climate-Related Pollution
Implement erosion control measures and nature-based solutions to safeguard watersheds and water infrastructure from post-disaster sedimentation, runoff, and debris flows.
Establish buffer zones to help protect communities, reducing potential for secondary harm to waterways.
Implementing Robust Water Safety Testing Plans
Update state legislation to require water systems to test for a broad array of contaminants before lifting health notices.
Improve and implement communication protocols for post-disaster water testing results.
Ensuring Water Infrastructure is Climate-Resilient
Conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of water and sewer infrastructure.
Site new systems outside of high-risk areas.
Ensure rebuilding along the Pacific Coast Highway properly assesses wastewater treatment and conveyance alternatives to avoid sewage overflow and leakage into the ocean.
Ensuring Water Infrastructure Maintains Pressure for Firefighting
Utilize low impact development (LID) stormwater capture strategies to increase water supply redundancy
Upgrade systems to meet modern fire flow requirements.
Test flow rates and system capacity under peak demand and emergency conditions.
Detailed Water Recommendations can be found in the Chapter entitled WATER SYSTEM RESILIENCE AND SAFETY on page 60 of the report.
The Commission was created on February 13, 2025, in the wake of the LA fires, to develop a set of policy recommendations to promote a safe, resilient recovery for Los Angeles. The Commission includes a broad cross-section of volunteer technical experts and professionals from governmental, academic, public interest, and other civic institutions. Implementation is critical to the impact of these recommendations and will require engagement with decision-makers at the local, state, and Federal levels.
Getting a water-smart recreation area built in marginalized South L.A. was no walk in the park. But Heal the Bay persevered.
Seventeen years ago, residents of South L.A. began working toward a vision: to transform a long-overlooked lot into a vibrant community space. Heal the Bay’s Meredith McCarthy joined that effort as a committed partner, supporting the neighborhood’s leadership and helping to navigate the challenges of funding, permitting, and environmental planning. Together, they turned a neglected space into a thriving public park rooted in community vision and care.This June, Inell Woods Park officially opens—named in honor of a beloved local activist. The quarter-acre, multi-benefit park is designed to improve the quality of life for historically marginalized residents while enhancing the health of the surrounding watershed. Meredith’s persistence, creativity, and patience made this park a reality, despite major hurdles with funding, permitting, construction, and a global pandemic.
Read the full breakdown from Meredith on the story behind her, Heal the Bay, and the community’s shared labor of love, and how this space can serve as a model of hope and smart environmental planning across greater L.A.
So, how did Heal the Bay get involved in building a park in inland L.A.?
In 2008, Heal the Bay was working deep inside Compton Creek watershed, the last major tributary to enter the Los Angeles River before it enters the Pacific Ocean. We understood that the health of our rivers and coastal ocean cannot be separated from the health of our inland neighborhoods. We were committed to showing the interconnection of communities, green space, and public health, particularly in under-resourced neighborhoods. Our goal was to invest in areas where parks were most needed – in historically marginalized areas lacking green space, shade, and clean waterways. Through our community work, we identified a site in South L.A. that could potentially serve as a pilot for our Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Environments Initiative. The idea was fairly simple: build a small multi-benefit park that could achieve two goals simultaneously: make life better for residents while improving water quality in the watershed. Getting it done would prove to be much more complex. But we did it.
Tell us about the site before it was a park?
The park sits on what once was a vacant half-acre parcel of land at 87th Street and McKinley Place, owned by CalTrans. The site was riddled with broken concrete and asphalt, with only a few spindly trees. On any given day you could find abandoned desks, sofas, appliances and worn-out clothes littering the site. It was basically a trash dump. Not only a safety hazard, the eyesore became a magnet for crime and a symbol of civic neglect.
And what challenges does the surrounding community face?
The lot is surrounded by residential homes and apartments, including a large public housing complex to the southwest called Avalon Gardens. Almost 40% of residents live at or below the poverty level. In the State’s CalEnviroScreen, the neighborhood scored in the highest-impacted ranking of 91-100%. Recognizing the environmental and social challenges the community faces, we partnered with local residents to reimagine and revitalize the long-neglected lot into a space that serves their needs.
What are some of the features of this park? What makes it special for this community and the region as a whole?
The park serves as a green space, fitness area, a meeting spot, an environmental education site, and a water quality improvement project, bringing lasting benefits to a resilient and historically underserved neighborhood in Greater L.A. With exercise stations, a tot lot, shaded seating, biodiverse gardens, and a system that captures and reuses stormwater, the park is a prime example of smart water design—using green infrastructure to support both community well-being and cleaner waterways. It’s a valuable space for play, learning, and connection for kids, teens, and seniors alike. The project creates multiple benefits and distinct open spaces designed for active and passive recreation. Equally important, it serves as a beacon of hope for the hard-working families that live in a neighborhood that hasn’t received a lot of infrastructure love or funding.
Why is this project important to Heal the Bay from an overall water quality perspective?
It’s pretty simple: Creating more green space in individual neighborhoods improves water quality throughout all of Los Angeles County’s interconnected watersheds. In addition to providing recreation areas and wildlife habitat, green spaces can function as essential stormwater solutions by capturing and naturally cleansing polluted runoff. These multi-benefit parks improve local water quality, increase water reuse and supply, reduce carbon, and mitigate the heat island effect.
For all the “stormwater wonks” out there, can you explain how the park has been engineered?
The park is designed to capture water when it rains. This prevents polluted runoff from reaching Compton Creek and the Los Angeles River. The stormwater treatment component is the Permavoid system and has been used in several other City of L.A. parks. Permavoid is a multi-functional stormwater management system engineered to create functional and appealing stormwater capture. This system treats stormwater as a resource, rather than a waste product. The captured water will be filtered and used to irrigate the native plants and trees at the park.
How much water can the park capture and reuse?
For LID (low impact development) compliance, the requirement is to capture the 85th percentile storm, which is approximately 1 inch in 24 hours. Based on the design calculations, each storm event of 0.98 inches or more will yield approximately 20,800 gallons of captured runoff for storage in the Permavoid Planter for eventual use. We assume that five or six rain events will meet or exceed the 85th percentile storm in an average year. This would result in approximately 104,000 to 124,000 gallons of rainwater captured for reuse over the rainy season between October and April.
How did the project come together in the beginning?
In 2012 Heal the Bay won an initial $1.3 million grant to design and build the park. But the logistics of remediating an abandoned lot became far more complicated than we had ever imagined. Leasing the land from CalTrans and getting the necessary permits became almost insurmountable, but we stuck to it. Construction costs began to mount, and then the pandemic stalled the park for two years. Councilmember Curren Price Jr., who represents the neighborhood, kept the park on track though. His office helped us secure additional funds from a federal Community Block Grant. Through the efforts of L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Accelerate Resilience LA, the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Bonneville Environmental Fund, we finally secured the $3.1 million to get the park built. After years of delays, we started construction on Feb. 12, 2024.
Meredith, what was the hardest part about getting this park built?
The city bureaucracy can be mind-numbing. There isn’t a rule book or an air traffic controller to help navigate the permitting process. If it weren’t for our amazing project manager, Erin Jones, at Griffin Structures, and engineer Barbara Hall, we wouldn’t be here today.
What’s next? Can these types of projects be replicated at scale?
Inell Woods Park is a good example of how the County’s Safe Clean Water Program aims to increase local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health by focusing efforts on multi-benefit projects in marginalized communities. Multi-benefit projects are the most efficient and effective use of our taxpayer dollars because they are cost-conscious solutions that serve both community and environmental needs. Heal the Bay has spent decades working on smart infrastructure policies and funding measures like Measure A and W to create community-centered improvements. With commitment, we can build more parks like this throughout our region. It’s critical as climate impacts intensify and imported water supplies become more unreliable and expensive.
Why is this project important to you personally?
Inell Woods is proof that multi-benefit projects work. We can use infrastructure dollars to improve the quality of life and clean up stormwater. We aren’t going to support the environment without involving the people, too.
Who motivated you? Who did you meet along the way?
Over the 10 years it took this project to come together, we watched the neighborhood kids grow up. So many amazing families came out to support and share their hopes and dreams about this space. Jimmie Gray, Inell Woods’ daughter, was a tremendous force of love and action. She became our greatest cheerleader.
There were a couple of people that really stuck with us that made the park possible. Darryl Ford at Parks & Rec, who I really believe is the smartest man in the city, never let us down. Sherilyn Correa and Xavier Clark from CD9 sat through hours of meetings and were always willing to go the extra mile and fight to make this happen. Michael Scaduto from LA Sanitation came in later in the process but was keen on streamlining and finding solutions to our permitting and construction frustrations. The vision of this park, however, really belongs to Kendra Okonkwa at the Wisdom Academy for Young Scientists. She made us believe that change could happen in her neighborhood. Finally, I have to honor my partner through most of this, ex HTB-staffer Delaney Alamillo. Her deep love of community and commitment to “listening first” is tattooed on my heart.
Make Your Impact
Your donation to Heal the Bay helps keep our watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for all.
Summer is officially here – the peak season for swimming outdoors. Heal the Bay releases its annual scientific report on bacterial-pollution rankings for hundreds of beaches in California.
For more than 30 years, Heal the Bay has assigned annual “A-to-F” letter grades for 700 beaches from Washington State to Tijuana, Mexico, including 500 California beaches in the 2024-2025 report, based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean measured by County health agencies. The public can check out the updated water quality of their local ocean beaches at beachreportcard.org or by downloading the app on their smartphone.
BEACH BUMMER LIST
Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List ranks the most polluted beaches in California based on levels of harmful bacteria in the ocean.
BEACH HONOR ROLL LIST
This year, 62 out of over 500 monitored beaches in California earned a spot on the Honor Roll, a significant improvement from just 12 beaches last year and only two in 2022–2023. This return to a higher Honor Roll count reflects levels more consistent with the reporting five
years ago. The increase in beaches on the Honor Roll this year is likely attributed to less overall rainfall during the 2024–2025 winter season, leading to substantially improved overall coastal water quality.
Avoid shallow, enclosed beaches with poor water circulation.
Swim at least 100 yards away from flowing storm drains, creeks, and piers.
Stay out of the water for at least 72-hours after a rain event.
Follow all local health and safety regulations, including all local pandemic-related regulations.
Check in with the lifeguard or ranger on duty for more information about the best places to swim.
Stay in the know! This year, the annual reports received state and national coverage – appearing in the New York Times, LA Times, and Associated Press.
ACCESS TO WATER RECREATION
The COVID-19 pandemic, record-setting wildfire seasons, and extreme heat have compounded the already dire need for equity in our recreational waters, and exposed major systemic failures; open spaces, including beaches and rivers, are not equally accessible to all people. Low-income communities of color tend to be the most burdened communities, bearing the brunt of environmental pollution, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to safe, healthy, and clean water recreation. Heal the Bay is committed to expanding the user base of our Beach Report Card and River Report Card. We have started by working with local community-based organizations that are taking down barriers to water recreation for communities of color. Through this work, we will amplify what “safe, healthy, and clean access to water recreation” means in the communities where it is needed the most.
About Heal the Bay: Heal the Bay is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985. They use science, education, community action, and advocacy to fulfill their mission to protect coastal waters and watersheds in Southern California with a particular focus on public health, climate change, biodiversity, and environmental justice. Heal the Bay Aquarium, located at the Santa Monica Pier, welcomes 100,000 guests annually and hosts a variety of public programs and events that highlight local environmental issues and solutions. Learn more at healthebay.org and follow @healthebay on social media or watch this short video.
The Beach Report Card Heal with NowCast, in partnership with SIMA Environmental Fund, and SONY Pictures Entertainment, is Heal the Bay’s flagship scientific water quality monitoring program that started in the 1990s. For more than thirty years, the Beach Report Card has influenced the improvement of water quality by increasing monitoring efforts and helping to enact strong environmental and public health policies. Learn more at beachreportcard.org and download the free app on Apple and Android devices. The Beach Report Card is made possible through generous support from SIMA Environmental Fund and SONY Pictures Entertainment.
About River Report Card: Currently, there is no statewide water quality monitoring mandate for rivers and streams in California, like exists for the ocean as a result of the Beach Report Card. Heal the Bay started the River Report Card in 2017 to push for new public health protections for freshwater areas in addition to serving the immediate need for increased public awareness about the risks at popular freshwater recreation areas in Los Angeles County. Learn more at healthebay.org/riverreportcard. The River Report Card is supported by Environment Now.
As of April 21, harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring by SCCOOS has detected elevated levels of saxitoxin-producing dinoflagellate (Alexandrium) in the waters off Santa Monica. Meanwhile, the algae responsible for producing domoic acid (Pseudo-nitzschia) are still being detected off our coast and show significant spikes in March and April. This dual bloom event may intensify the impacts on marine wildlife, contributing to the recent surge in animal distress and mortality along our coast.
If you see a distressed or deceased marine mammal, it’s important to stay safe and protect the animal by working with local authorities, including lifeguards. Never approach, touch, or attempt to move an impacted animal. Read on to learn more about this algal bloom, how to report marine mammals in need, and how to stay safe.
Southern California is currently experiencing a significant harmful algal bloom (HAB) that poses serious threats to marine life and public health.
You may have recently seen disturbing reports of disoriented sea lions or deceased dolphins along the California coast. These marine mammals are experiencing the effects of harmful neurotoxins due to a toxic algal bloom. As the number of beached and injured animal cases rises, so does the spread of misinformation about their cause, their impact on marine life, and whether it’s connected to recent wildfires. Heal the Bay’s science team is here to break down the facts about this bloom and share what beachgoers, anglers, and coastal communities need to know to stay informed and safe.
The Bloom Below the Surface
Current Status of the Algal Bloom
The recent bloom was first detected in San Diego in December 2024, but the toxic algal bloom intensified in mid-February as it moved into Los Angeles County. It has now spread along the entire Southern California coastline and into Baja, affecting all Southern California counties from San Diego to Santa Barbara, and is now being detected along Central California waters as well.
What type of algae is this?
This bloom is primarily caused by the algae species Pseudo-nitzschia, a type of phytoplankton that produces domoic acid, a potent neurotoxin that causes domoic acid poisoning, also referred to as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. However, this is a unique and somewhat unprecedented bloom as we are also seeing another plankton, a type of dinoflagellate, blooming and producing saxitoxin, a different and yet equally dangerous neurotoxin that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. Marine life has been severely impacted, with reports indicating that hundreds of sea lions, dolphins, whales, and seabirds have been affected. These toxins accumulate in shellfish and small finfish such as sardines and anchovies, which are common prey for these marine animals, leading to neurological symptoms such as disorientation, seizures, and death.
Red-hued algal bloom appearing in SoCal waters. Photo by Laura Rink, Associate Director of Operations for the Heal the Bay Aquarium.
Are these types of algae blooms natural or unnatural?
While harmful algal blooms are natural occurrences in California’s marine ecosystems, their frequency and intensity are exacerbated by climate change and pollution. Warmer waters, increased nutrient runoff, and increased winds leading to increased upwelling (a natural occurrence that brings nutrient-rich water up to the surface from deeper water) create an ideal environment for algae to bloom. This is the fourth consecutive year that Southern California has experienced a severe, harmful algal bloom.
Did the January 2025 Wildfires cause this event?
We cannot definitively link this bloom to the wildfires, considering that high algal levels were detected before the fires began, and impacts from domoic acid have been observed for the last four years. However, it is possible that the post-fire conditions contributed to the algal bloom’s intensity this year.
The same high winds that intensified the firestorm also may have increased nutrient upwelling. After the fire, heavy rains washed nutrients such as sulfates, nitrates, and phosphorus found in ash and fire retardants onto the coastline. This influx of nutrients into coastal waters can stimulate the growth of algae, including harmful species. Additionally, wildfire ash can introduce iron into marine ecosystems, further promoting algal proliferation, but we do not yet have sufficient scientific evidence to see a definitive correlation between this year’s megafires and this year’s harmful algal bloom.
Wildlife Encounters & Seafood Warnings
What do I do if I encounter sick or injured marine life on the beach?
Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP / Getty Images
While we have experienced serious, harmful algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks for the past few years, this particular bloom affects even more animals than we have seen recently, including sea lions, seals, and dolphins. If you are visiting the beach, you may come across wildlife that is affected by domoic acid poisoning. The public is urged to exercise caution when encountering marine animals that appear sick, injured, or deceased. DO NOT APPROACH ANY ANIMALS.
Domoic acid poisoning can cause marine mammals to exhibit unusual or aggressive behavior, posing potential risks to human safety. As many Angelenos have probably heard, there have been recent incidents of sea lions exhibiting aggressive behavior towards humans, likely due to domoic acid exposure. These animals are also very sick and need space to avoid harming them further. While it is always illegal to approach a marine mammal due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is critical to exercise caution now. If you come across such animals:
Do Not Approach: Maintain a safe distance to avoid potential injury to you or the animal. Do NOT touch the animal.
Contact Authorities: Report the sighting to local marine mammal rescue organizations or wildlife authorities.
To report a live marine mammal in need, call the Marine Mammal Care Center’s hotline at 1-800-399-4253
To report a deceased marine mammal from the Southern Border of LA County to the City of Malibu line, call the OARRA hotline at 949-276-2237
To report a stranded marine mammal in Malibu, call NOAA’s Malibu hotline at 866-767-6114
Follow Instructions: Provide accurate information about the animal’s location and condition, and follow any guidance provided by authorities.
Is it safe to swim in the algae-abundant waters?
When the “red tide” comes in, some surfers won’t hesitate to risk the pungent waters for the perfect break. But is it safe to be in the water during a visible algae bloom? While domoic acid and saxitoxin are generally only dangerous to humans when consumed in affected seafood like shellfish, they don’t pose a significant risk to swimmers. That said, the marine life impacted by this outbreak may behave erratically, which can pose a risk to recreators. Risk is a personal choice, however we at Heal the Bay don’t recommend swimming in affected waters out of an abundance of caution.
Can I eat locally caught shellfish?
Humans can get very sick from eating shellfish that have been contaminated with domoic acid and/or saxitoxin. In response to the elevated levels of these toxins in samples, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued multiple shellfish advisories in the past month.
The advisories warn against the consumption of recreationally harvested mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties due to the risk of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).
Symptoms of ASP can range from gastrointestinal distress to severe neurological issues, including memory loss. Symptoms of PSP begin with tingling around the mouth and fingertips, followed by loss of balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings from either ASP or PSP, death can occur.
What does this mean for seafood lovers? Stay away from locally caught shellfish for now to stay safe until this bloom dissipates – cooking does NOT eliminate these toxins from food.
Should I stay away from commercial shellfish products?
Commercial shellfish products remain safe for consumption, as they are subject to rigorous testing before reaching the market.
Heal the Bay’s Initiatives and Resources
Heal the Bay remains deeply committed to safeguarding the health of our coastal waters and marine life and the public health of all Angelenos. In light of recent wildfires and their potential impact on ocean health, we have launched the “Ash to Action” initiative, focusing on monitoring and mitigating wildfire-related pollutants in our waterways. Our dedicated water quality scientists have worked around the clock to collect, test, and analyze water samples from in and around the burn zone and we recently published those results to keep the public informed. We will continue to work with local County and City officials and other scientists to gather and disseminate information about post-fire water quality. To stay up to date, follow us on social media @healthebay, subscribe to our newsletters, and bookmark the Ash to Action splash page.
For more information, watch our recent webinar with the Marine Mammal Care Center where we answer questions about this harmful algal bloom. Click here to watch. Password: WELOVE0URBAY! (the “O” in “OUR” is a Zero)
Note: This information is based on the latest available data as of April 24, 2025. For real-time updates and advisories, please refer to official sources such as the California Department of Public Health, SCCOOS HAB Bulletin, and local wildlife authorities.
In late January, Heal the Bay’s staff scientists began collecting ocean-water samples from 10 shoreline sites along the Bay to test for heavy metals, PCBs, asbestos, and other toxins. See our water quality testing timeline
The ocean water advisories along LA’s coast have been lifted, and based on recent data, Heal the Bay is cautiously optimistic that chemical contamination from the fires no longer poses a major risk for beachgoers. Post-fire debris is still a danger.
Is it finally safe to swim and surf? This week the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lifted the ocean water advisories along LA’s coast. Based on data collected in January and February, Heal the Bay is cautiously optimistic that the chemical contamination from the fires does not pose a significant risk for recreation at our local beaches or in our coastal waters. However, the burn area may still pose some risks to beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers. Here’s what we know:
Physical debris is still being observed in the water and along the shore, primarily off the coast of the burn area from Las Flores to Will Rogers Beach. The good news is that LA County Beaches and Harbors is reporting a decrease in the volume of debris washing onto our shores. But because debris can include sharp objects, everyone should continue to use extra caution to avoid anything that looks like wildfire reminants, whether on the sand or in our coastal waters.
Debris removal has begun on the 300 homes along PCH that were tragically lost in the fires. While this is great news for the bay, there may be a risk to human health within 250 yards of debris removal activity. The LA County Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory stating that it is not safe to reside within 250 yards of debris removal because the activity can disturb contaminants and send them into the air and water. Out of an abundance of caution, Heal the Bay would like to highlight that recreating within 250 yards of debris removal may also pose additional risk to beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers.
If you choose to visit our beaches or get in the water, HTB recommends the following safety precautions:
Avoid areas within 250 yards of active debris removal.
Wear closed-toe shoes if walking on wet sand, as debris such as broken glass and structural fragments may still wash ashore.
Never touch trash or debris with bare hands.
Keep children and pets away from debris, especially in wet sand or high tide areas, where contamination risk may be higher.
Do not approach injured or distressed wildlife. If you have concerns about a marine mammal, contact the Marine Mammal Care Center at (1-800-39-WHALE).
Heal the Bay continues to urge beachgoers to recreate south of Santa Monica at Montana Avenue or north of the fire boundary in Malibu, where impacts are significantly lower.
Avoid eating seafood caught in Santa Monica Bay. Contaminants in the ocean water exceed safe levels for fish consumption. Additionally, the SoCal coast is experiencing a harmful algal bloom, which may pose a risk when consuming locally caught shellfish.
Please use this information to make informed choices for your safety and the well-being of your family and pets. The LA Regional Water Quality Control Board has also published risk-based recreational thresholds and a tool to help beachgoers decide how often they can safely enjoy the coastal waters.
While the beaches are open to the public now, the long-term impacts of wildfire contamination continue to raise concerns. Our January data shows elevated levels of heavy metals in the bay, posing risks to marine life. Heal the Bay continues to investigate the effects of wildfire-related pollutants and bioaccumulation in our coastal ecosystems, but we can’t do it without you. Visit healthebay.org/donate to support our science, safety, and post-fire recovery work. Together, we can protect what we love.
UPDATE MARCH 27, 2025
**New data has become available since March 27. An update is coming soon.
According to water-quality testing results released today by Heal the Bay, local marine life faces significant and ongoing threats from heavy metals that leached into Santa Monica Bay after January’s Palisades wildfires.
PRESS RELEASE 3/27/2025 –Test results from 10 collection sites along the entire length of Santa Monica Bay show that immediately after the fires, water quality at LA’s beaches was much better than expected, diminishing fears about human health impacts from polluted runoff in fire-scarred areas. We cannot definitively say that the water is safe until we have additional data and information about risk-thresholds for recreational contact, but based on the data we have seen to date, we are cautiously optimistic.
However, our analysis indicates that marine mammals, multiple fish populations, and other species further down the food chain are at serious risk from elevated levels of beryllium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead, and other harmful heavy metals and nutrients.
Silver, arsenic and zinc were also detected above average marine-health limits. Aluminum, iron, and manganese also showed elevated levels, though no marine health limits exist for these metals. In all, Heal the Bay staff scientists and a regional water agency tested for 116 known pollutants at multiple sites in January and February. (Please click here for a detailed analysis of the results, our data spreadsheet, and raw data from the PHYSIS lab.
Following heavy seasonal rains, toxic pollutants washed into the intertidal zones from burned structures and scorched earth in the Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu. Waves lapping onto fire-ravaged buildings along Pacific Coast Highway continue to sweep harmful metals into the sea.
Even at low concentrations, heavy metals can disrupt vital biological processes, damage cells, and impair reproductive and immune functions for marine life. Metals can also be transferred and magnified through the food chain. This impacts the entire food web, which inevitably impacts humans. In short, when animals get sick, humans can get sick, particularly from consuming seafood that has a bioaccumulation of metals in their systems.
Heal the Bay is urging authorities to expedite the removal of burned-out structures and other fire-related debris from PCH as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some homeowners have been slow to respond to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ offers to facilitate debris removal. Roughly 45 shoreline homeowners have opted out of the program, while nearly 100 have not responded at all. Whether or not a homeowner decides to use the US Army Corps of Engineers or a private contractor, it’s imperative that debris removal happens quickly.
“Every day that hazardous debris remains along the coast, more harmful contaminants flow into the sea,” says Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay. “If we want to give our marine life a fighting chance, we need that debris removed as soon as possible.”
The most concerning findings come from the hardest-hit fire areas, including Topanga Beach, the Big Rock section of Malibu, and Will Rogers State Beach near Pacific Palisades. However, the waters around Santa Monica Pier and Dockweiler State Beach also spiked for heavy metals — suggesting that more studies are needed to understand the movement of contaminants offshore or identify other sources.
Because it is now March, these data do not tell us the current conditions in Santa Monica Bay, but they do provide valuable insight into the impacts of the Palisades Fire on marine life and the potential impacts on human health.
Risk tolerance is a personal decision. Here is some information that can help beachgoers decide if, when, and where they may want to enter the ocean.
The contaminants tested seem to be below human health limits for recreational contact for the data where limits could be identified. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is still assessing risk-thresholds, including those for PAH, a harmful organic compound related to fire-scorched debris.
PAHs, the group of contaminants that may be above human health limits, are unlikely to sicken people who swim or surf a few times, but frequent or prolonged exposure may contribute to an increased risk for future chronic health issues.
Beachgoers should also be careful about walking on the sand, which may contain sharp fire-related debris like nails and broken glass. For the time being, Heal the Bay recommends avoiding beaches within the fire-impacted areas and as far south as Montana Ave in Santa Monica. The Regional Water Quality Control Board has already posted some sand and sediment data for LA’s beaches. We are waiting for the complete test results to post our analysis. Stay tuned.
The fire and recent marine mammal deaths
It’s also worth noting the recent uptick in marine mammal beach stranding and deaths in Santa Monica Bay related to domoic acid poisoning. Elevated levels of runoff-related nutrients can contribute to the development of algal blooms in the Bay and accumulate in shellfish. When mammals consume shellfish, they can get sick and die from the neurotoxins produced by certain algae.
This is the fourth consecutive year of domoic acid outbreaks. The recent fires did create a significant dump of nutrients like sulfate and phosphorous into the ocean, but there is no evidence, yet, of a correlation between the wildfires and the domoic acid outbreak.
About the testing
On Jan. 24-25, before the first winter storms came, Heal the Bay staff collected ocean-water samples at 10 shoreline sites across Santa Monica Bay. From Paradise Cove to Malaga Cove, they tested for 116 pollutants. They took samples again on Jan. 28, after heavy rainfall, to better understand how stormwater might carry toxins from the burn zone.
Processing samples took multiple weeks due to the complexity of sample preparation, the need for precise instrumentation, and the rigorous quality control required. It also took several weeks to receive the data results back from Physis Lab. Then, additional time was needed for Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Team to analyze and assess the data.
Staff members from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health collected water samples on Feb. 18, which Heal the Bay also analyzed for its report. After the intense Feb. 13 storms, testing showed elevated levels of contaminants that do not have established risk-thresholds for recreational contact. Further analysis is required and will be included in an upcoming post.
Heal the Bay is part of a collaborative task force working with government agencies, researchers, and other nonprofits to better understand the extent of the contamination and how to clean it up efficiently. We will be updating our analysis and sharing the findings in the weeks to come as soon as new data becomes available.
Heal the Bay is the only organization providing this kind of in-depth analysis of water quality data.
But to continue this important work, we need your support. If you’d like to see more of these efforts, please consider donating.
Watch the Webinar for today’s latest Heal the Bay Ash to Action Updates.
Learn about the critical work that Heal the Bay and its academic partners are doing to protect the environment and monitor water quality in Santa Monica Bay.
UPDATE MARCH 13, 2025
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has released its 2025 Post-Fire Water Quality Monitoring results.
“The board has been working with Los Angeles County to monitor ocean water quality since Jan. 22, 2025. Samples are collected regularly at 12 beach sites from La Costa Beach to Dockweiler Beach by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. They then are analyzed by the board for metals, nutrients, polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are chemicals that may be found in water runoff based on previous California wildfires.” (Waterboards.ca.gov)
Post-Fire Water Quality in Santa Monica Bay: We reviewed results from the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH).
Recent wildfires in Los Angeles that started on January 07, 2025, have impacted water quality in Santa Monica Bay. To understand the extent of these water quality impacts, we looked for contaminants that are likely to be mobilized after a wildfire, and that pose a risk to human and ecological health when concentrations are elevated; this includes heavy metals, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), nutrients, bacteria, and solids that decrease water clarity. Right now, Heal the Bay has data that our staff collected for bacteria and water clarity (referred to as “turbidity”), which have faster processing times and which we can test on-site in the Heal the Bay lab, while other contaminant samples were sent to a contracted lab to process.
While we wait for Heal the Bay’s results for the other contaminants, we reviewed results from the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH), which took samples on January 22, 2025, and January 27, 2025, at beaches from Las Flores State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach. These data points are representative of water quality before and after the first flush rain event, over a month ago. Since then, we have had additional significant rainfall, including nearly two inches of rain on February 13, 2025, which, unfortunately, was not tested by DPH in time to provide wet weather data. Data that are more recent will provide needed insight into overall conditions in our coastal waters. Heal the Bay will continue to provide updates as new data become available.
Water contact limits do not exist for most of the contaminants of concern associated with wildfires, so to understand potential health risks, we compared results to limits in the CA Drinking Water standards, the CA Ocean Plan (for both human health and marine life), and the Hawai‘i Department of Health Surface Water Action Levels for Marine Habitats (used to assess impacts of the Lahaina Fires). Our initial findings show elevated heavy metals, bacteria, nutrients, and other organic compounds, along with a decline in water clarity, all of which indicate that wildfire runoff does pose a risk to human and ecological health and that contamination is traveling beyond the immediate burn zone.
Key Findings from January 22 and 27, 2025:
Heavy Metals and Metalloids: Aluminum, iron, selenium, and manganese were elevated above drinking water standards, sometimes as much as 10x the limit. This is not an immediate human health threat,but we urge caution if there is the possibility of ingestion. These four metals, in addition to arsenic, copper, and zinc, also exceeded safety thresholds for marine health, particularly at Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach, posing a health risk to marine life. Even at low concentrations, these metals can disrupt vital biological processes, damage cells, and impair reproductive and immune functions for marine animals.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons): PAHs were detected at unsafe levels, based on human health standards in the CA Ocean Plan, at Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach and were not detected at other sites. This poses a site-specific risk to human health within the burn zone.
Nutrients: Elevated phosphorus levels have increased nutrient concentration in Santa Monica Bay, leading to the formation of a persistent brown foam along the shoreline and increasing the risk of algal blooms.
Turbidity & Solids: While turbidity may not pose a direct risk to public health, it can disrupt biological processes for marine life, and water clarity can help to show how far runoff from the burn zone traveled along the coastline. Water clarity declined significantly after rain from Surfrider Beach down to at least Dockweiler Beach, indicating wildfire runoff spread beyond the burn zone. Turbidity levels were consistently good at Paradise Cove (north of the burn zone) and Malaga Cove (just north of Palos Verdes Peninsula), indicating boundaries on the extent of pollution traveling up and down the coastline, but that boundary is not yet clear.
Bacterial Contamination: High bacteria levels were observed near storm drains, worsening after rainfall, following the typical pattern for bacterial pollution in Santa Monica Bay.
What You Need to Know:
A day at the beach should never make anyone sick. Heal the Bay is dedicated to protecting public health by sharing water quality information, and we remain concerned about the potential risks associated with post-fire contamination in ocean water and sand. Additionally, hazardous debris, such as nails and pipes, continues to wash ashore, posing a physical risk to beachgoers.
At this time, Heal the Bay recommends avoiding beaches and ocean water from Las Flores to Santa Monica State Beach and exercising caution at beaches further south, at least to Dockweiler State Beach. While water clarity does improve further south at Malaga Cove, we do not yet have comprehensive data for beaches south of Dockweiler State Beach, so we cannot determine potential health risks. If you visit the beach anywhere in Santa Monica Bay south of Surfrider Beach:
Stay vigilant; look out for sharp debris and avoid picking up objects with bare hands.
Keep children and pets from touching or ingesting water or wildfire debris.
Refrain from full-body submersion into the coastal waters in the designated areas, which can lead to accidental ingestion.
Heal the Bay has collected additional sand and water samples throughout Santa Monica Bay from Paradise Cove down to Malaga Cove. We will share results on our website as soon as those data become available. We urge the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to enhance transparency in decision-making and ensure all relevant data is made publicly accessible in a timely manner. Until further testing is completed and more information on current water conditions is released, we advise the public to remain cautious when visiting affected beaches.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 26, 2025
On Monday, February 24, 2025, Heal the Bay learned that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) had stated beachgoers may recreate on the sand in the fire-impacted areas. We also learned that this determination is likely based on only two debris samples taken by Los Angeles County Public Works, one at Topanga Creek and the other at Will Rogers State Beach. These samples were collected to determine the disposal method required to remove the debris, not to determine if it is safe for people to be on the sand. It is alarming that DPH would make this proclamation based on only two data points. While preliminary debris and ocean water quality testing have not shown elevated levels of harmful contaminants attributed to burned household items, the sample size for both water and sand thus far is quite small. At this time, we simply do not have enough information to determine if the sand or water at beaches where debris is present is safe for recreation. Furthermore, dangerous debris such as nails, screws, and pipes continue to wash up on shore, often concealed in sand or near-shore waves, increasing the risk to people playing on our beaches. This is an unprecedented event, and we must wait for the results of additional testing before declaring our beaches safe. We ask for increased transparency from the LA County Department of Public Health in decision making going forward, data used to protect our public health should be available to the public.
For now, Heal the Bay recommends that people avoid beaches (both sand and water) from Las Flores to Santa Monica State Beach and use extra caution on beaches south of Santa Monica. If choosing to go to the beach, watch out for sharp debris, do not pick up debris with your bare hands, and keep a close eye on children and pets to ensure they do not touch or ingest debris.
Heal the Bay and the Regional Water Quality Control Board have each collected sand samples from throughout the burn area, and we are awaiting results. We will share our ocean water and sand testing results on our website as soon as they are available.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s full statement on beach safety: “The ocean water advisory due to fire impacts from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice. Beachgoers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory.”
UPDATE FEBRUARY 18, 2025
We expect results this week from Heal the Bay’s first round of expanded ocean-water quality testing.
In late January, Heal the Bay’s staff scientists began collecting ocean-water samples from 10 shoreline sites along the Bay to test for heavy metals, PCBs, asbestos, and other toxins. These harmful pollutants are flowing unchecked to the sea from recent heavy rains and other runoff from burn zones. We expect results from before and after the “first flush” storm during the week of February 17th and will post them here.
UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2025
We present the updated timeline detailing our recent water quality assessment activities in the coastal regions affected by the Palisades fire.
January 24-25, 2025
Heal the Bay conducted initial pre-rain water quality testing at 10 locations throughout Santa Monica Bay: five within the burn zone, three outside of the burn zone but within the beach advisory zones, and two control sites (one north and one south of the beach advisory zones).
Our water quality scientists tested for temperature, turbidity, Fecal Indicator Bacteria, PAHs, PCBs, PFAS, benzene, mercury, and other heavy metals. This sampling involved coordination with the Fire Department and Lifeguards to gain access to the closed burn zone.
January 28, 2025:
After the January 26 rainstorm, staff took water quality samples again for the same pollutants and at the same locations tested on January 24-25, to compare pre- and post-rain results.
Jenny Jay from UCLA joined us for the six northernmost sampling sites to test for metals, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and nutrients.
February 3, 2025:
Heal the Bay staff examined the Beach Report Card on Friday, January 31, 2025, and identified data gaps within the burn zone.
Staff went out on Monday, February 3, 2025, to sample the five locations within the burn zone for temperature, turbidity, and Fecal Indicator Bacteria (which we can process ourselves in our lab) to fill those data gaps.
On this sample day, journalists from NPR and Spectrum News and the Fire Department’s photography team joined us to document and report on our testing.
Heal the Bay staff attended the Post-Fire Coordinated Water Quality Testing Meeting hosted by SCCWRP. While this group aims to establish a working group to coordinate long-term post-fire water quality monitoring (which Heal the Bay will participate in), this meeting addressed urgent needs arising from the weather conditions by identifying who would be conducting sampling that week, where the sampling would occur, and which contaminants would be tested.
February 10, 2025:
Heal the Bay returned to the field one last time to support ongoing research, visiting six of our ten original sample sites, from Surfrider Beach at Malibu Lagoon to Will Rogers State Beach at Santa Monica Canyon.
An assessment of the BRC on Friday, February 7, 2025, indicated no remaining data gaps, so we did not collect Fecal Indicator Bacteria samples.
Instead, this trip was intended to gain access to the burn zone one more time and show our sampling locations to researchers from the Proteocean Lab at USC. They plan to build on our initial testing with weekly sampling for heavy metals, microbial health, and nutrients.
Staff from Surfrider also joined us so that we could show them where there is safe access to their regular testing locations within the burn zone.
We also collected sand samples at each site from below the high tide line and above the high tide line where the sand was dry (where possible). These samples have been delivered to CSU Northridge, where researchers will test them for heavy metals and PAHs. They will also compare the results from our sand samples to soil samples that they collected within the Eaton Fire burn zone.
UPDATE JANUARY 29, 2025
Our fire response has just begun.
Over the past six days, the Heal the Bay Science and Policy Team has been testing water in and out of the burn zones along Santa Monica Bay impacted by the Palisades Fire.
The Palisade Fire has increased sedimentation and introduced harmful pollutants into our coastal waters, and Heal the Bay is dedicated to understanding the impacts, which is why we are testing for key pollutants that may be transported into Santa Monica Bay due to runoff from the Palisade Fire.
Not only are we testing for bacteria and turbidity (which we can process in-house), but we are also collecting samples to test for Heavy metals, Mercury, PAHs/PCBs, Benzene, and PFOS/PFOA (two types of PFAS). We collected samples before and after the rain event on January 26, 2025, which will provide a comparative analysis of initial pollutant levels and stormwater runoff effects.
During a typical rain event, stormwater runoff is considered the most significant source of water pollution. Following the unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles this past weekend, the “first flush” amplified the pollution – carrying not only higher levels of typical pollutants like oil and grease, trash, plastic, bacteria, and heavy metals but also wildfire debris and other hazardous materials including ash, fire suppressant, household chemicals, car batteries, and more. These contaminants pose significant risks to water quality, marine ecosystems, and public health.
The team collected water samples from 10 key locations, including areas within the burn zone, adjacent impacted areas, and control sites.
(NOTE: We were joined in the field by Professor Jennifer Jay of UCLA, and there may be additional data from agency offices like the LA County Department of Public Health, that will also contribute to the very limited water quality dataset for understanding the impacts of the Palisades Fire.)
Heal the Bay is one of only a few organizations doing this water quality testing in the wake of these devastating fires. Still, great science is collaborative, and our team is excited to be one of the only nonprofits contributing to this initial and limited data set. Every bit of data will help us understand the long-term impacts of this unprecedented fire season.
Our findings will be shared as soon as possible to inform the public about potential environmental and public health risks. We will also contribute to coordinated monitoring efforts that will inform policymakers and guide future mitigation and response efforts.
While our samples are being processed to help us understand what is in our coastal waters, we strongly urge everyone to avoid contact with ocean water and to refrain from walking on the beach, as fire debris runoff may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals. The LA County Department of Public Health has issued Ocean Water Closures from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach, with additional Beach Advisories issued as far north as Surfrider Beach at Malibu Lagoon and south to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way, all of which will remain in effect until further notice. Your health and safety are our top priority—thank you for doing your part to protect yourself and our environment.
PCBs = Polychlorinated biphenyls, chemicals used in industrial / commercial products (PCBs stopped being produced in the 70s, so a legacy chemical)
PFASs = Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals (manmade chemicals that do not breakdown ) used to make waterproof, nonstick, and flame-resistant products.
State Water Resources Control Board: Investigate Health Impacts of Southern California Offshore DDT Dumpsite
We, the undersigned, urge the State Water Resources Control Board to take immediate action to protect the health of California’s communities by studying the impacts of the Southern California offshore DDT dumpsite as new standards are developed for waters that support subsistence fishing beneficial uses.
Decades ago, thousands of barrels worth of the toxic forever-chemical DDT were dumped off the coast of Southern California, creating an environmental and public health hazard that persists to this day. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of DDT contamination in marine sediments and marine life, raising serious concerns about exposure risks, particularly for communities that rely on subsistence fishing. To date, the extent to which the contamination has spread and the impact on marine food webs remains largely unknown, and further research is urgently required.
Many subsistence anglers come from vulnerable communities that face food inequity and other systemic challenges. According to a 2020 study using data from Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program, the top five zip codes of anglers on the piers include Hawthorne, Rosewood, North Long Beach, South Gate, and South El Monte. Many of these communities are classified as environmental justice communities, with populations disproportionately affected by pollution burdens. Fishing on piers itself is an environmental justice concern as it is the most accessible location to fish because it does not require a fishing license, which can present a barrier both through language and finances. As the State Board works to develop water quality standards that account for the needs of subsistence fishers, the long-term health impacts of the DDT dumpsite must be thoroughly studied and addressed. Without this research, policies may fail to protect those most vulnerable to contamination adequately.
We call on the State Water Resources Control Board to:
Commit to studying the human health impacts of DDT contamination considering the full context of the Palos Verdes Peninsula superfund site and the offshore DDT dumpsite.
Ensure that new water quality standards for subsistence fishing consider these health risks, including findings on which fish species are being caught and consumed by at-risk communities. Consider the demographics and practices of anglers from Santa Monica to Seal Beach and re-assess the structure, reach, and efficacy of existing intervention programs.
Prioritize public engagement with impacted communities, including multilingual angler surveys and focus groups with Indigenous community members, ensuring their voices are heard in the policymaking process.
Engage in government-to-government collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Fish Contamination Education Collaborative, as well as with local Public Health offices, to address public health in the context of superfund site remediation and update and enhance seafood consumption advisories to better protect vulnerable populations.
California has a duty to protect its residents from toxic pollution. By committing to this research and incorporating its findings into new standards, the State Water Board can help safeguard public health and ensure environmental justice for affected communities.
The independent 
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Silver, arsenic and zinc were also detected above average marine-health limits. Aluminum, iron, and manganese also showed elevated levels, though no marine health limits exist for these metals. In all,
