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Action Alert

Support AB 1998 – Help Fight Plastic Bag Pollution

Updated: July 6, 2010
AB 1998 has been moving forward in the Senate with a floor vote expected by the end of August. With your continued support, California could be the first state in the country to adopt a landmark policy to reduce plastic bag pollution. Take Action »
Playa del Run logo
Benefit Event

The 2010 TYR Playa del Run Beach Festival Series – Next Event is Aug 15

Updated: July 26, 2010
Join this year's TYR Playa del Run Beach Festival at some of the top beach cities along the Southern California Coast. As a participant in this summer-long 4 event series, you can help support Heal the Bay through the event raffle or participate in the one mile sand sprint. The next event is Aug 15, 2010 in Solana Beach. .Find out more »
Distance Swim Challenge
Benefit Event

OptimisSport Distance Swim Challenge – Oct 16

Posted: July 26, 2010
This is the inaugural year of the OptimisSport Distance Swim Challenge, an open-water endurance swim competition being held in the Santa Monica Bay on October 16, 2010. The competition has been designed to promote active and healthy lifestyles and to raise awareness about protecting water quality in our oceans. All net proceeds from this event will go to Heal the Bay and other local charities. Learn more »
Snoopy license plate
CAM logo

Put Snoopy On Your License Plate – Support the Aquarium!

Posted: June 11, 2010
The California Association of Museums has embarked on a program to establish a special California Snoopy license plate. Proceeds from sales of the plates will establish a grant program to support California museums, which includes the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. To make this happen, at least 7,500 California drivers need to raise their hands for a Snoopy license plate. So don’t hesitate! Register your interest today, and ask your friends and family to join you in supporting California's museums, science centers, zoos, and aquariums! Learn more »
Oil rig off the coast of California

Offshore Oil Drilling – FAQs

Posted: June 8, 2010
Is a BP type oil spill disaster possible on the rigs in California? It’s hard to know the risk, but the rigs off our coast are a threat. We don’t have any rigs in the Santa Monica Bay, but depending on how large a spill is, the impacts can be wide-ranging. There are 27 different offshore platforms off the coast of California, with the closest located off the Santa Barbara and Seal Beach coasts. And, with the Chevron refinery near LAX, oil tankers regularly come into the Santa Monica Bay and caused a spill in the Bay in 1991. More »
2010 Annual Beach Report Card
Report & Press Releases

2009-10 Annual Beach Report Card Shows Dry Weather Water Quality Grades on Rise

Posted: May 26, 2010
California beachgoers enjoyed very good-to-excellent water quality in 2009-10 during dry weather, according to Heal the Bay's 20th annual Beach Report Card, released on May 26, 2010. Heal the Bay assigned A-to-F letter grades to 326 beaches along the California coast, based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution reported from April 2009 through March 2010. Some 294 beaches, or 90%, received A or B dry-weather grades, a 5% jump from the reporting period in 2008-09. Only 20 beaches (6%) monitored statewide received D or F grades during dry weather. High bacteria counts at these sites are linked to such potential illnesses as stomach flu, ear infections and major skin rashes. Los Angeles County leads the annual Beach Bummer List, with five locations in the ranking of the state’s most polluted beaches.

Report

PDFFull Report (PDF:2MB)

PDFExecutive Summary (PDF:121kb)

PDFExecutive Summary - Spanish (PDF:95kb)

Press Releases (by region)

PDFCalifornia (PDF: 122kb)

PDFSan Francisco (PDF:97kb)

PDFLos Angeles (PDF:81kb)

PDFLos Angeles - Spanish (PDF:100kb)

PDFSan Diego (PDF:108kb)

PDFSan Diego - Spanish (PDF:65kb)

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Key to the Sea Registration Opens for the 2010-11 School Year

Posted: June 1, 2010
Registration for Key to the Sea is now open for the 2010-2011 school year for Veterans and Workshop participants. Important! ALL teachers participating in the Key to the Sea program, including veterans, must submit their own Registration Form. More »
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Heal the Bay Earns Charity Navigator’s Highest Rating for Fifth Consecutive Year

Posted: February 23, 2010
For the fifth consecutive year, Heal the Bay has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities. Only 5% of the 5,400 charities rated by Charity Navigator have earned the 4-star rating for 5 consecutive evaluations. Receiving four out of four stars indicates that Heal the Bay excels in successfully managing the organization's finances in an efficient and effective manner (view Heal the Bay's rating page at Charity Navigator). Thus, when you give to Heal the Bay by joining, donating or shopping, you'll know that your contribution directly supports activities to restore precious Southern California coastal waters and watersheds and protect public health at the beach.
More News »
HtB President’s Blog
Spouting Off
Spouting Off
Mark Gold, President of Heal the Bay, shares his insights on environmental issues.
Marine Protected Areas

Fish & Game Commission Deciding MPA Maps for Southern California

July 26, 2010

The next Fish and Game Commission meeting is October 20-21 in San Diego where public comments will be heard on the proposed MPAs. Join other MPA supporters and attend! We anticipate only one more meeting in December 2010 (date TBD) for the final decision.

Heal the Bay will be following the Fish and Game Commission meetings closely to ensure a high standard of protection is upheld for Southern California's coastal marine ecosystem.


Take Action
Send a Letter of Support for Map 3 and Strong Protection of Southern California’s Coastal Ecosystems


Marine Protected Areas

Video by MPAsWork.org  |  Press Release

Heal the Bay, along with other organizations and agencies, is participating in the process to extend the state's network of Marine Protected Areas into Southern California. Learn more.

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Upcoming Events Calendar Go to the Calendar to view all events
Aug 9 Micro Biologists Kids' Class
Aug 9 Volunteer Orientation & Training
Aug 15 Benefit Event: The 2010 TYR Playa del Run Beach Festival Series in Solana Beach
Aug 16 Micro Biologists Kids' Class
Aug 21 Nothin' But Sand Beach Cleanup
Aug 21
Aug 22
Ocean Appreciation Celebration
Aug 23 Micro Biologists Kids' Class
Oct 16 OptimisSport Distance Swim Challenge
See the Calendar for all Volunteer, Stream Team and Aquarium events.
In Loving Memory of Dorothy
Dorothy Green

Her spirit lives on in the light on the water and in the way she inspires all of us each day to make the world better.

Please see our Dorothy Green page.




This page last updated on Monday, July 26, 2010


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