Over twenty years ago, there was a square mile dead zone in the Bay where the ocean floor was nearly devoid of marine life.

Over twenty years ago, bottom dwelling fish from the Bay often had tumors and fin rot.

Over twenty years ago, coastal sewage treatment plants did not comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

Over twenty years ago, no one knew that markets were selling locally caught bottom-fish with health threatening levels of DDT and PCBs.

Over twenty years ago, there were no educational programs targeting the numerous diverse populations that were catching contaminated fish from our local piers.

Over twenty years ago, the Tapia Wastewater Treatment Plant discharged to Malibu Creek and Surfrider Beach on a year round basis.

Over twenty years ago, there was no California Beach Report Card or beach water quality standards.

Over twenty years ago, there were no multibillion-dollar environmental and water quality protection efforts like Propositions 12, 13, 40, 50, the Los Angeles City sewer, Hyperion Treatment Plant and Measure O bond measures.

Over twenty years ago, swimmers and surfers had no idea about the health risks from swimming in runoff polluted waters.

Over twenty years ago, there were no stormwater permits, polluted runoff education programs, or catch basin stencils in the region.

Over twenty years ago, developers in the region didn’t need to even consider the stormwater quality impacts from new development.

Over twenty years ago, none of the polluted runoff from stormdrains was diverted from the beaches to treatment plants.

Over twenty years ago, Ahmanson Ranch was privately owned and under the threat of massive development that would have destroyed the headwaters of Las Virgenes Creek.

Over twenty years ago, there was no Stream Team monitoring water quality, restoring habitat, and acting as a watchdog to protect the Malibu Creek watershed.

Over twenty years ago, there were no requirements with enforceable deadlines to make local beaches safe for swimming, to keep the trash out of the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek, and restore water quality in Malibu Creek.

Over twenty years ago, there were no tidewater gobies in Malibu Lagoon.

Over twenty years ago, there was little hope for making environmental education a requirement for all public school students in California.

Over twenty years ago, there was no local Speakers Bureau, Adopt a Beach, Coastal Cleanup Day or Key to the Sea educational programs.

Over twenty years ago, there was no Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

Over twenty years ago, there was no Heal the Bay.

Thanks to you, all of that has changed.

This year, help us celebrate twenty years of protecting natural resources, cleaning up polluted waters, and making the Los Angeles region and beyond a better place.

Help us celebrate twenty years of Heal the Bay.