Santa Monica

Overview

Santa Monica is a world-famous city, known for its beautiful beaches and the historical pier—an iconic part of Los Angeles culture. Locals are proud of Santa Monica’s forward-thinking environmental and social philosophies, and tourists from all over the world flock to this one-of-a-kind beach city.

Water Quality

Santa Monica has some sparkling clean beaches, like much of Will Rogers. Unfortunately, some of the most popular beaches have storm drains or creeks that can pollute the water, so watch out for any water crossing the beach. Many of the storm drains in Santa Monica have been diverted to the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Reclamation Facility, or SMURRF, so those beaches are pretty clean during dry weather. Santa Monica Pier used to have serious water quality problems, due to a combination of broken storm-drains and sewage pipes and stagnant water under the pier. In 2010 the water quality at the pier began to turn around.

Heal the Bay Gets Local

Heal the Bay began in Santa Monica, and our offices are still located in our hometown city. We work with the city on a daily basis, on things from a polystyrene (or Styrofoam) ban, to helping solve the problematic water quality at the Santa Monica Pier. Many of our volunteers live in Santa Monica, and our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium attracts visitors from all over the world.

Riding Waves, Breaking Barriers

"The myth that surfing is a white boy sport is absurd.” So say the filmmakers behind White Wash, a documentary focused on shattering the surfer-dude stereotype.
White Wash screens July 7 at California African American Museum

Take L.A. by Storm This Summer

Municipal stormwater permits regulate all urban runoff discharge from separate storm sewer systems, so-called MS4s. Because stormwater is the No. 1 source of coastal pollution in California, these permits are a big deal for ensuring public health …
Join the Take L.A. by Storm campaign to fight for clean water

Recycling Champs Take the Hula Pie

Filling up blue bins definitely pays off, as more than 100 Glassell Park Elementary fifth graders recently discovered, having recycled their way to the beach and a seaside lunch at Duke’s Malibu.
education program Glassell Park Duke's Malibu Hula Pie

Calif approves new marine protected areas off north coast, finishing statewide network

California created another group of ocean protection zones on Wednesday, putting the finishing touches on a vast network of protected areas that dot the sea from Mexico to the Oregon border. The Fish & Game Commission voted unanimously to approve…
California ocean protection Mexico Oregon Fish & Game commission

A Gift to California's Coast

June 7, 2012 Today's guest blogger is Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bay's coastal resources director
Cobalt Forest MPA Melvin Moncrieff Marine Protected Area Oceans Garibaldi

Debris Check: What’s in the Waves?

Today’s guest blogger is Dana Roeber Murray, a marine and coastal scientist with Heal the Bay. A little more than a year after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Heal the Bay is conducting our first tsunami debris monitoring of Los An…
Japan tsunami debris NOAA Heal the Bay marine debris Los Angeles County cleanup

Mariposa School Holds Creative Cleanup

At a time when most schools are focused on fundraising to support their own libraries and arts programs, one local school decided to share some of the money their families raised at a beach cleanup event to help further Heal the Bay’s mission. …
Heal the Bay Mariposa Elementary beach cleanup donation Agoura Hills education
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