Heal the Bay is committed to rebuilding greater L.A. to be more resilient to climate extremes after the devastating 2025 wildfires. As a valued environmental partner for nearly 40 years, Heal the Bay will have a key seat at the table as decision-makers formulate plans on how to rebuild the areas impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recently appointed Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn as one of the leaders on the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery.
“Los Angeles County cannot afford to simply rebuild what was lost—we must build for the future,” said Supervisor Horvath. “This is our opportunity to rethink how we design communities, fortify infrastructure, and protect lives from the growing threats of the climate crisis. The Blue Ribbon Commission will ensure that we lead the way in creating fire-safe, climate-resilient communities that will stand for generations. Our communities are invited into this process led by Los Angeles’ leading experts across academia, urban design and sustainability, environmental justice, housing, and finance.”
Quinn’s appointment ensures that Heal the Bay can provide guidance on how to rebuild devastated communities in a way that balances the needs of residents, ecosystems and coastal waters. She is one of only two people on the commission representing ocean, coastline and watershed interests. You can see the full list of commission members here.
The Commission will provide expert-driven recommendations focused on:
• Fire-safe reconstruction: Implementing fire-resistant materials, defensible space strategies, and climate-smart building standards.
• Resilient infrastructure: Undergrounding utilities, expanding water storage and conveyance, and hardening power grids.
• Faster rebuilding: Identifying resilient home designs and systems that could be pre-approved to expedite reconstruction and financial incentives to support rebuilding.
• Equitable recovery: Reducing the risk of displacement, ensuring affordable insurance, and prioritizing support for vulnerable communities.
The Commission will hold its kick-off meetings Friday, February 28, 2025, and Saturday, March 1, 2025, and release its first set of recommendations within three months, outlining proposed steps for fire-safe reconstruction and long-term climate adaptation strategies. The Commission meetings will engage community voices to help shape the resilient rebuilding and recovery recommendations.
“By working together with local decision-makers, environmental leaders, and the communities of Los Angeles, I believe we can recover from this terrible climate event and begin to heal L.A., coming back even stronger,” said Quinn. Heal the Bay is committed to working tirelessly to renew the region with resilience.”
Heal the Bay strongly disagrees with the selection of State land in close proximity to Topanga Creek and Lagoon as the US EPA’s Palisades Fire hazardous material staging area, where materials will be sorted and repackaged before they are sent to permitted waste collection facilities. The site chosen is an area of cultural and ecological significance, and we stand with the surfers, swimmers, and local communities concerned about the potential for harm to this precious ecosystem.
UPDATE: January 31, 2025 – Initial Takeaways from the EPA Hazardous Waste Site at Topanga Beach & FAQ (below)
For the record, Heal the Bay was NOT consulted on the site selection ahead of time.
Soon after we learned about the site selection, we asked to meet with US EPA officials to express our concerns and learn what measures were being taken to protect Topanga Creek and Lagoon. That meeting occurred on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
At our meeting with EPA, we learned that operations have already begun on the Topanga site, reducing the likelihood that we can get EPA & FEMA to select a different location (although we still pushed). Between the Palisades and Eaton fires, this is the largest operation the EPA emergency response team has had to clean up since they began this work in 2015. In addition, they have been tasked by the current Federal Administration to complete the work in 30 days, a time constraint that has left the region with few options.
We are fighting to ensure that the EPA implements sufficient measures to prevent contaminants from coming into contact with the bare soils or leaving the site and impacting critical waterways. In addition to what the EPA has proposed (see EPA’s FAQ), Heal the Bay asks for water testing in Topanga Creek and Lagoon. We have also asked to be permitted access to the site to observe operations and the implementation of measures meant to prevent harmful chemicals from leaving the site. We are waiting to hear back on both of these.
Although we strongly disagree with the site EPA and FEMA have chosen, speedy removal of hazardous wastes from the burn areas IS ESSENTIAL. Right now, the hazardous waste in the burn areas is uncontained and exposed to the elements, with almost no measures in place to prevent it from being blown by the wind or entering our ocean when it rains again. There are no good choices here, but in our opinion, hazardous materials left exposed at burned structures pose a greater threat to water quality and ecosystem health than they will at an EPA sorting site where multiple containment measures are in place. If the EPA will not or cannot move the hazardous waste staging area from the Topanga location, we demand that they take extra precautions to prevent stormwater from running onto the site, contaminated runoff from leaving the site, and contaminated dust from being blown from the site into waterways. Please join us in asking for water quality sampling to be added to the BMP protocol.
Here are the biggest takeaways from our meeting with the EPA:
What does the EPA look for in a staging site?
When looking for a hazardous material staging site, the EPA team needs at least five acres of flat land located near a roadway suitable for trucks to enter and exit.
The EPA could not start cleaning efforts until a space was selected and prepared.
Why was Topanga Lagoon chosen as the site location?
EPA did recon with Cal Fire, and the Topanga Lagoon site met the basic logistical requirements for space and access. The state approved EPA use of the Topanga location.
According to the EPA, other proposed sites were either rejected by City of LA and LA County officials or already used by other emergency response teams.
Heal the Bay has requested a list of other sites considered by the EPA.
Will additional locations be needed to remove all of the hazardous waste entirely?
For the Palisades Fire response, EPA anticipates the need for more staging areas, maybe an additional 25 acres.
The EPA is currently searching for other staging areas, and Heal the Bay has requested to be part of that decision-making process.
What has taken place on the site to date?
The property was burned, so EPA cleared it of burned debris, then built berms around it and added straw wattles to prevent water from entering or leaving the site.
Secondary containment and plastic lining have been implemented to prevent direct contact of hazardous materials with the soils on site.
The EPA took soil samples before the cleanup activity commenced and will sample again once the cleanup activity is complete. (NOTE: Heal the Bay has requested a list of contaminants tested to ensure the sampling plan is sufficient).
The cleanup team monitors the air for particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radiation, and wind indicators for weather tracking.
The cleanup team has started electric car battery recovery for the Palisades area, de-energizing them in the Topanga staging area to be recycled.
What safety precautions will EPA take to protect the environment?
Heal the Bay asked about additional BMPs (Best Management Practices) for the expected rain. EPA Public Information Officer Rusty Harris-Bishop has agreed to update us as more information becomes available.
Heal the Bay has also requested that the EPA conduct water quality monitoring in the nearby creek and Lagoon.
The EPA has explained that they have not had any issues with staging areas in past emergencies, including the Lahaina fires.
When will they start accepting hazardous waste?
As of January 30, they have already started collecting lithium-ion batteries (from electric cars).
Larger-scale work is scheduled to begin January 31, 2025.
When will they be done?
This is a temporary staging area, and although the Palisades Fire was an unprecedented event, the plan is for the site work to be completed by the end of February 2025 (30 days).
Where will the hazardous waste be sent?
Materials are taken to the staging area to sort and re-pack for final shipping to permitted hazardous waste facilities that are in good standing.
The facilities have not been determined yet.
Determining specific locations will depend on what the EPA team finds and how much material is collected. Still, our understanding is that the waste will likely be transported out of state.
Can EPA move the staging to another location?
Attempting to move locations would cause delays in removing the hazardous waste from within the burn zone where it is currently exposed to the elements, which is the biggest concern.
What is more dangerous to the environment: Creating the staging area near an ecologically sensitive area or slowing removal?
Slowing down removal is likely more dangerous for the environment because there are few measures to prevent the waste in the burn areas from entering waterways and the ocean.
Is the EPA planning to test the water quality?
No water quality testing is planned.
Does Heal the Bay have water quality testing recommendations?
Yes, our Water Quality Team recommends that the EPA test for the following:
Chronic and Acute Toxicity
Basic water quality parameters (e.g., turbidity, pH, dissolved Oxygen, and temperature)
Total Suspended Solids
Heavy Metals (e.g., lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium and cadmium)
Volatile organic compounds (e.g., Benzene)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Oil and Grease
Total Organic Carbon
FIB (i.e., E. coli, total coliforms, and enterococcus)
Dioxins
Ammonium
Phosphates
Sulfates
Asbestos
Microplastics
Radionuclides
Has the EPA started a cleanup operation in response to the Eaton Fire?
They have started cleanup operations in Eaton.
Will Heal the Bay continue to monitor the situation at Topanga Lagoon?
Yes, and Heal the Bay will continue to push for the opportunity to conduct a site visit in the coming days to observe the BMPs in action.
Polluters are being held accountable in the Upper LA River Watershed!
A recent legal victory for the Regional Water Board is a major win for the environment, helping to protect the Los Angeles River headwaters and the broader watershed from further pollution.
As a result of advocacy by groups like Heal the Bay, LA Water Keeper, and Parents Against SSFL, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) approved updated regulations for runoff from the Boeing Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) site in 2023. The new permit included strict water quality limits and additional monitoring requirements for contaminants like PFAS and PCBs, permit elements that are necessary to understand and control polluted runoff from this site. Boeing immediately filed a petition against the Regional Board opposing the permit.
Over this past year, Heal the Bay, LA Water Keeper, and Parents Against SSFL supported the Regional Board as interested parties, filing an amicus briefing, or “friend-of-the-court” briefing, to provide useful information to the court as they weighed their decision. The Los Angeles Superior Court recently ruled in favor of the Regional Water Board, rejecting most of Boeing’s arguments, and upholding the new permit terms.
This significant legal victory for the Regional Water Board is a major win for the environment, helping to protect the Los Angeles River headwaters and the broader watershed from further pollution.
Small amounts of rain may be headed to greater Los Angeles this weekend, according to the latest weather forecasts. If precipitation comes it will be welcome relief for firefighters still battling low humidity and lingering hot spots. But the rain poses another challenge – erosion. Washing away the top layer of soil can move pollutants into the ocean, threaten water supplies and harm local ecosystems.
The first significant rain of the wet season is called the “first flush.” It washes all the pollution that has accumulated on surfaces in urban areas during the dry season into storm drains and waterways, eventually making its way to the ocean. Following the unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles, the first flush will be amplified – 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. Immediate mitigation strategies must focus on proactive actions to reduce environmental damage and improve water quality. Erosion control measures such as mulch, silt fences, straw wattles, and contour log placement help minimize sediment runoff, while debris removal efforts, coordinated with city and county agencies, prevent further contamination.
Here’s a quick look at how rains affect recently burned areas of the region.
There is a chance of a few showers on Friday, but an increased likelihood on Saturday.
Predicted rainfall totals are only about a quarter-inch. But even that relatively small amount can lead to significant runoff, given that scorched soil has a harder job holding rainfall. February is typically the rainiest month in greater L.A., so volumes then will be heaviest. But these weekend drizzles could be harbinger of the damage to come.
There are multiple causes of erosion after wildfire.
Flames destroy the plant material that support and protect the soil.
Intense heat weakens the soil structure, further harming already susceptible hillsides.
Fire can create conditions that make the soil less likely to absorb water, which increases surface runoff.
Erosion after a wildfire can be very harmful.
Ocean-bound sediment can be filled with PCBs, asbestos, heavy metals and other toxins
Debris flows can choke local rivers and streams, depriving wildlife of oxygen.
Sediment-filled runoff can damage flood control infrastructure, fill reservoirs and threaten neighborhoods.
Growing Erosion Risks After Wildfires in Los Angeles.
Wildfire-affected areas in Los Angeles will face intensified erosion, as the fires have destroyed vegetation that normally prevents erosion by stabilizing soil and slowing water runoff, and left hazardous materials behind. Scientists last year documented a tenfold increase in post-fire hillside erosion in parts of California from the late 1980s to the 2010s. However, wildfires are not the only factor, and the effects are amplified by other impacts of a changing climate. Prolonged droughts delay soil recovery, while intense rainfall increases runoff, creating a high risk of erosion. This see-saw effect will dramatically increase the amount of harmful runoff, debris and sediments that reach our oceans, shorelines, and local habitats.
Immediate Actions and Long-Term Strategies for Recovering and Stabilizing Fire-Scarred Hillsides
Erosion is usually worse one to two years after a fire, but there are steps we can take now to help minimize impacts. Immediate actions include assessing burn severity and stabilizing soil through methods such as mulching, silt fences, straw wattles, and straw-bale dams that can help reduce erosion and prevent further damage.
Monitoring watershed and coastal health will be crucial to understand immediate impacts, to address emerging issues, and to identify appropriate long-term strategies, which should include revegetating the area with native plants to stabilize soil (avoiding non-native grasses that hinder native growth and increase fire risks) and rebuilding with climate resilience in mind to reduce future wildfire risks. Partnerships between government agencies, environmental organizations, and local communities can help coordinate resources and strategies.
To safeguard Los Angeles’ water resources and combat erosion, it is essential to address the root causes such as climate change and unsustainable land management. This requires reducing fossil fuel emissions, utilizing the Coastal Act to guide rebuilding practices, and re-integrating traditional ecological practices for land and water management. In addition, investment in nature-based stormwater capture solutions can help reduce runoff and pollutants, while prioritizing the health of ecosystems and the sustainable water management.
The latest news about the Palisades fire and its impact on ocean-water quality and beach access in L.A. County.
During natural disasters, residents seek three things: community support, goodwill, and up-to-date information. To that end, Los Angeles County leaders invited Heal the Bay science and outreach staff to attend an emergency meeting Thursday morning at the Palisades Fire incident command center at Zuma Beach.
Department officials from L.A. County Fire and Beaches & Harbors asked Heal the Bay to help disseminate accurate updates to the public about how the catastrophic fires affect beach access and ocean water quality.
Here’s what we learned:
Stay away from burn zones and evacuated areas in the Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu areas.
Residents and those who love these areas are naturally curious about the status of homes, commercial structures, and favorite natural places. Command officials understand that people want to return to the areas as soon as possible. However, public safety dictates that fire and evacuation zones remain off-limits until emergency crews clear neighborhoods of downed power lines, roadway debris, lingering hot spots, and other hazards. Officials were unable to give a timetable for when residents may return or when PCH will reopen, but a brief tour by Heal the Bay staff indicates it will be weeks until residents can go back.
There is no public access to any L.A. County beaches in the fire or evacuation zones, roughly north of the Santa Monica Pier to County Line.
If you are a surfer looking to score empty waves, don’t even think about it. Multiple National Guard checkpoints are in place, ensuring that only emergency responders, utility workers, media, and essential workers are allowed on PCH. If you think you might be able to talk your way past checkpoints to tour impacted areas, you are mistaken. All beach parking lots from Will Rogers to Zuma are unavailable to the public, as they are being used as staging areas for emergency crews. All other beaches in L.A. County remain open to the public. But caution is urged, given compromised air quality along County shorelines.
Avoid water contact at any beaches from Malibu’s Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler State Beach near LAX.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean advisory that warns residents to avoid any water contact at these beaches. The firestorms and efforts to beat them down have created massive amounts of runoff, which may contain toxic chemicals and dangerous debris. All that polluted water eventually sloughs off to the Bay. The advisory will remain in effect until three days after fire-fighting operations end.
As of Thursday morning, the Palisades Fire was only 22% contained. Heal the Bay has not determined yet if the County’s Public Health unit will be posting warning signs at impacted beaches. To view a map of impacted locations and get more information, click here. We advise the public to visit Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card to get updated information on beaches, as well as the Department of Public Health to learn about the latest water-quality details.
Water quality testing of local beaches will continue at sites that are still accessible to sampling agencies.
Water quality samples for fecal indicator bacteria are collected and tested by three government agencies every week at 85 sites in Los Angeles County. Once the results have been processed (after 24 hours), the public is notified when a beach exceeds pollution standards by warnings, advisories, or closures of the affected beaches. These weekly samples form the basis of Heal the Bay’s weekly A-to-F Beach Report Card.
Due to the fires, access to some beaches has been restricted, and some water-quality sampling has been interrupted until further notice. However, local departments will continue their testing to the best of their ability, including many of the 41 beaches where the Department of Public Health has advised beach users to avoid water contact—assuming these sites remain accessible in the weeks to come.
Water quality testing needs to expand beyond monitoring fecal bacteria to include testing for heavy metals, PCBs, nitrates, and other harmful compounds.
Water quality degradation following a fire varies greatly depending on the intensity and duration of the fire and the characteristics of the affected ecosystem. One of the primary effects is the alteration of vegetation coverage, which reduces the natural barriers that slow water runoff after a storm event. This leads to increased soil erosion and sediment transportation into nearby water bodies.
Rainfall can exacerbate these effects by compacting the soil and increasing overland flow, amplifying erosion and pollutant transport. With many homes, businesses, cars, and other manufactured items burning so close to the coast, we are particularly concerned about sediment, trash, and debris washing into the ocean.
During our tour, Heal the Bay staff saw hundreds of burned-out structures on the ocean side of PCH, with high tide waves surging within feet of the twisted, charred wreckage. Sediment can contain high levels of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that, in excess, are harmful to marine ecosystems and can create algal blooms. They may also contain chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances that burned in the fires. Recent reports indicate that the presence of so much plastic in modern homes has significantly contributed to more toxic infernos.
Heal the Bay does not have the capacity to conduct any water quality testing aside from compiling bacterial data and informing the public when it is safe to enter the water.UPDATE 1/30/2025
Not only did we test for bacteria and turbidity (which we can process in-house), but we also collected 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.
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.
We strongly urge the County of L.A. and any other municipalities to test for the presence of additional contaminants, such as heavy metals, PCBs, nitrates, and other unhealthy compounds. These pollutants can be harmful to humans and aquatic species, and given the extensive firefighting that has occurred directly adjacent to the coastline, these pollutants will be present for months to come.
In theinterview below with USA Today, Annelisa Moe, Associate Director of Science, Policy, and Water Quality, discusses some of the long-term risks to coastal ecosystems and water quality.
We will continue to provide water quality information each week on the BRC website, so beach users and freshwater recreational users can make informed decisions.
Note: We will continue to consult with County officials on a daily basis to update this post. We will send alerts on our social media platforms when we receive new information about water quality, public health and beach access.
Reimagining the Ocean and Protecting the Planet with Heal the Bay’s Aquaculture Program
Pollution, climate change, and over-fishing have all played a role in the dramatic decline of marine life in our oceans, contributing to food scarcity and poverty in coastal communities across the globe that rely on fishing for food and their local economy.
And while organizations like Heal the Bay work to address the causes of the decline, we also have another tool in our toolbelt. Aquaculture is the controlled growing of aquatic organisms and can be used for sustainable food production, habitat restoration, and species conservation.
At Heal the Bay, we are taking a groundbreaking step in reimagining the modern aquarium. We are working to become the nation’s first fully sustainable aquarium by exclusively exhibiting animals that have been produced through aquaculture.
Heal the Bay is currently culturing swell sharks, moon jellies, giant spine stars, Pacific sand dollars, and brand new baby pipefish.
The AquaLab at Heal the Bay Aquarium give the public a chance to learn about our work.
By sourcing our exhibits through aquaculture, we reduce the environmental impact of traditional collection methods, support marine ecosystem restoration, and contribute to the conservation of endangered species—making our aquarium a model of sustainability in the field.
But we aren’t stopping there! We are also helping develop the so-called “blue economy” by mobilizing local students to steward this paradigm shift through our Aquaculture Training Program in partnership with Santa Monica College. Heal the Bay experts, in partnership with SMC, have developed a program to ensure the next generation of aquaculture professionals is equipped to responsibly, sustainably, and ethically grow aquatic species. Our aquarium serves as a hands-on training facility, providing students with real-world experience in sustainable aquaculture practices in our AQUA lab, and our Associate Director of Aquarium Operations, Laura Rink, serves as an instructor for the class.
The Students from Santa Monica College recieve hands-on education from Heal the Bay expert aquarists.
Our fertile lobster eggs are thriving as Heal the Bay attempts to be the first aquaculture program to successfully settle this species of Spiny Lobster.
And our moonshot for Heal the Bay’s aquaculture program is to raise and release local endangered species back into Santa Monica Bay to restore balance in our marine ecosystem. One species we are focused on is the Sunflower Sea Star which plays a critical role in the health of our giant kelp forests, like the one off the coast of Palos Verdes. Sunflower Sea Stars eat urchins which eat kelp. A severe decline in sea star populations has led to a proliferation of urchins which are devastating kelp forests across the west coast of the U.S. Currently, Heal the Bay’s aquaculture research also contributes to endangered species recovery through our role in the Sunflower Sea Star SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) initiative.
The sunflower sea star is critically endangered, but Heal the Bay Aquarium is licensed to care for one, allowing us to educate the public about this vital species and the importance of its conservation.
Looking ahead, Heal the Bay envisions expanding our impact by creating a dedicated aquaculture education and research facility. With increased funding, we aim to build a state-of-the-art space that supports both hands-on learning for students and innovative research in marine conservation and sustainability. This facility would help foster the next generation of aquaculture professionals while contributing to global efforts to restore marine ecosystems.
Help Heal the Bay reimagine the ocean and protect the planet when you support our work and DONATE!
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 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 volunteerscollected 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 Card 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.
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.
(Los Angeles) – Heal the Bayis proud to announce it has been selected as a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of District 42.
Heal the Bay is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
“Nonprofit organizations touch the lives of millions of Californians in ways that can often go unrecognized. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter – nonprofits improve the lives of all Californians and make our communities stronger,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a partner for this initiative. “Nonprofits are also a key economic driver in our state, accounting for 1 in 14 jobs. It’s important to recognize all they do.”
According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year
Now in its ninth year, the Californian Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year is June 5.
The program is sponsored by the CalNonprofits in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, the leading policy voice for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.
According to the California Coastal Commission, more than 250,000 pounds of trash was removed on the 2024 California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event took place on September 21, 2024, and nearly 29,000 volunteers participated.
Thank you to all who joined Heal the Bay in Los Angeles County on Coastal Cleanup Day 2024, and a special thank you to our 2024 Coastal Cleanup Day Sponsors:
Heal the Bay co-authored the 
Heal the Bay advocacy supported major wins for state and local plastics regulation this year, including the passage of 
They were also featured as experts in the Los Angeles Times documentary “Out of Plain Sight.”. 
In 2024, Heal the Bay built a blue economy, providing professional training on sustainable aquaculture practices in partnership with Santa Monica College. 
