AB
1548
Passed in 2003, the Environmental Education Bill requires the development of environmental standards and a model curriculum for grades K-12. In 2004, Heal the Bay helped to develop the environmental principles on which to base those environmental standards and to next create curriculum, and to solicit state and private funding for implementation.
TMDLs
In 2004, four important Total Maximum Daily Loads (or TMDLs, a type of pollution limit) were passed. The Malibu Creek, Port of LA and Marina del Rey bacteria TMDLs will limit the amount of fecal bacteria in these water bodies. Also, the LA River nutrient TMDL will cut down on the amount of harmful nutrients (leading to excessive algal blooms and cutting down the amount of oxygen in the water) in the river.
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
In June 2004, Heal the Bay celebrated our first anniversary of operating the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. In its first year, the Aquarium brought in over 40,600 visitors and 10,600 students came through our education programs. We also rehabilitated the Aquarium exhibits, making them more representative of habitats in the Santa Monica Bay.
Pier Outreach Program
In our first complete year of the program, Heal the Bay outreached to almost 20,000 people fishing on local piers to educate them on the dangers of eating contaminated fish. Much of our effort centered around white croaker, a bottom dwelling fish with high levels of DDT and PCBs.
Coastal Cleanup Day
10,000 people came out to clean the beaches with us on Coastal Cleanup Day in 2004—an increase from the 9,000 who came out in 2003. Our first year of focusing on inland cleanups resulted in great cleanups in Compton Creek, Southgate, and Malibu Creek, along with many others. Volunteers picked up over 75,000 pounds of trash and recyclables, which is especially amazing considering that most of the trash on our beaches is Styrofoam and plastic.
Key to the Sea
In the 2003-2004 school year, over 8,500 students were educated through Key to the Sea, our K-5 marine science education program. Key to the Sea includes teacher training, curriculum, and naturalist-led education during a field trip to our own Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, or one of our three partner aquaria: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium, S.E.A. Lab.
Speakers Bureau
Our Speakers Bureau program continued to outreach to all Los Angeles area communities, and this year especially focused on inland communities. New multi-lingual Speakers Bureau members have been part of our effort to educate everyone on the impacts we have on our ocean environment. We’re currently piloting new programs for inland area issues, Spanish speakers, and high school students.
Proposition O
In a huge victory for water quality, Heal the Bay helped make sure City of Los Angeles voters passed Proposition O by a large margin. Proposition O will raise $250 million to clean rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and the ocean; $100 million to improve water quality and stop polluted runoff; $75 million for water conservation projects; and $75 million to clean and reuse storm water.
Model Beach Monitoring and Public Health Protection Report
In 2004, Heal the Bay released its report “A Model Program for Marine Beach Monitoring and Public Notification” which provides comprehensive guidance for designing a standardized beach water quality program that effectively protects public health. The Model Program was developed over a 5-year period, and is based on the culmination of Heal the Bay’s decades-long experience with beach water quality issues and the latest research and developments on fecal bacteria pollution.
Inland Outreach
Heal the Bay’s continuing focus on moving up the watershed led to the development of a pilot program in Compton Creek. We worked with the community to forge relationships and partner with community leaders and stakeholders, and also held cleanups on Coastal Cleanup Day and Earth Day.
Dry Weather Diversions
In 2004, approximately 10 diversions were put in place to prevent polluted stormwater from entering the Santa Monica Bay during dry weather. Heal the Bay worked to help secure funding for the diversions.
20 Years of Progress
Since
1985, Heal the Bay has been working to make Santa Monica Bay and
Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for people
and marine life. As such, our progress spans over 20 years!
Be sure to check out our many accomplishments by selecting other
years (top of page in title).
