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Online Resources: Heal the Bay is a supporting member of the Earth Spirit Online BBS, a non-profit network
of local and regional environmental groups. Information on current issues, background fact sheets and
research papers can all be found on the BBS. Our Sixth Annual Beach Pollution Report Card (and monthly
updates) are posted as soon as they are completed. Comments, suggestions and questions can be emailed to
any member of Heal the Bay's staff.
Founded in 1985 to fight for a "swimmable, fishable Bay," Heal the Bay is a non-profit advocacy group of
more than 10,000 members working for a safe and healthy Santa Monica Bay. A clear track record of
scientific evidence shows that the overall health of the Bay has improved due to Heal the Bay's actions. We
use research, education, community action and policy programs to achieve this goal. Now in our second
decade, Heal the Bay continues to fight to enhance and restore Southern California beaches and coastal
waters for people and marine life. Used by almost everyone in Southern California, the beaches and coastal
waters are one of the region's most important natural resources. We consider our constituency to be
everyone who fishes, jogs, bikes, swims, picnics or simply comes to enjoy the ocean view -- millions of
visitors in 1995 alone.
Projects: Works with local and federal government, industry and the public to clean up Santa Monica Bay.
Sewage: The County Sanitation Districts must reduce pollution discharge from the Carson facility by 50%
by 2002 as a result of a lawsuit brought by Heal the Bay, et al.;
Santa Monica Canyon: The mouth of the
Santa Monica Canyon (sub-marine) has demonstrated a remarkable ability to recover. The sediments are
less toxic, and marine animals are returning to the area. Most of this is due to the fact that the City's
sludge (sewage solid) discharge into the Bay stopped in late 1987;
Cleaner Beaches: Santa Monica beach
near the Pico-Kenter storm drain has gone from being closed to the public to receiving consistent "A's" on
Heal the Bay's Beach Pollution Report Card, in part due to Heal the Bay's work with the cities of Los
Angeles and Santa Monica;
Public Health: Heal the Bay and other environmental groups spent four years
working with the County Health Department to approve the area's first Beach Closure and Health Warning
Protocol in 1992, which, among other things, closes beaches when bacteria levels exceed certain levels;
Clean Water Act: Heal the Bay generated approximately 10,000 letters and postcards to Washington DC,
demanding that the Clean Water Act not be dismantled by the current Congress in the last session. We will
continue this work in future congressional sessions;
Forty Day Fight: On July 15, 1996, Heal the Bay led a
successful campaign to unanimously pass a Los Angeles County stormwater permit. It will result in cleaner
and safer beaches, cleaner streets, more open green space in our area and a healthier Santa Monica Bay;
White Croaker Study: This year we will complete a long anticipated study on commercially caught DDT and
PCB-contaminated White Croaker, which is predominantly sold as Kingfish and Tomcod in local markets in
low-income communities;
Gutter Patrol: We plan to stencil 62,500 catch basins and educate 600,000 of
our neighbors about storm drain pollution. In the fall of 1996, the program grew to encompass
neighborhood cleanup and beautification;
Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-A-Beach.: Heal the Bay is the L.A.
County coordinator of International Coastal Cleanup Day, which attracted 7,500 volunteers to County
beaches in 1995. We are also the new coordinators of the County's Adopt-A-Beach program, which allows
groups to keep a portion of the coastline clean all year long;
Coastal Habitat Restoration: Volunteers in our
restoration program at Point Dume Natural Preserve in Malibu learn about native and non-native plant
systems, pull invasive plants and plant native seedlings. Heal the Bay has already helped to restore over
20 acres of endangered habitat at the El Segundo Dunes;
Resources: Our Speakers Bureau reaches 25,000
children and adults each year; Heal the Bay reaches an additional 80,000 at community events and millions
more with radio and TV public service announcements; quarterly membership newsletter; a monthly
activities newsletter; research papers on coastal pollution issues; monthly Beach Pollution Report Card
which grades coastal water quality; holiday cards; caps, T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Volunteer Opportunities: Coastal Cleanup Day -- a countywide beach cleanup; Adopt-A-Beach Program --
local groups can adopt a beach and keep it clean throughout the year; Habitat Restoration projects --
volunteers get to do some hands-on work helping the natural California coastal environment; internships;
fundraising -- Annual Dinner; office help.
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American Oceans Campaign