San Diego Coastkeeper

Campaigning for Clean Water The final session of our four-part series in the Clean Water Activist training program will take place next Tuesday (7/13), 6-7 p.m. PT. Our policy team will take a deep dive into the most pressing campaigns and issues we’re working on, right now. Attendees will learn about threats to San Diego’s clean water including:... Our failing stormwater infrastructure A proposed industrial fish farming project off Mission Beach The regional conveyance system Reserve your spot today. *Missed the first three events? You'll get access to our online event page to view past recordings and presentations.

TONIGHT: WATER & EQUITY More polluted waterways are often correlated with lower-income areas. Our advocacy team recently launched the Clean Water Activists volunteer program. Tonight, we're discussing strategies for building equity and resilience when it comes to water.... Sign up below to join ocean-minded San Diegans in support of clean water and healthy beaches

We recognize the value communities play as an extra set of eyes and ears in and around our waters. Thank you to everyone who contacted Surfrider Foundation San Diego and us this week regarding the oily slick off San Clemente Island. We are investigating the situation and are in contact with the Navy. The latest information we have is available in the Union-Tribune article linked in the comments below. We'll provide an update with any conclusive knowledge we learn. Please cont...inue to contact the Coast Guard for more information. : Daniel Olah for Unsplash @danesduet

The beach belongs to everyone. Join our friends Surfrider Foundation San Diego and Paddle for Peace this Saturday, June 19 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), for a special Juneteenth and International Surf Day celebration. "It is important to provide representation in the water not only on this special day but everyday. Juneteenth celebrates FREEDOM and we want to send a message that waves are for everyone!" - Paddle for Peace Founder Risa Event details and registration.

Our education staff led Marston Middle schoolers on a year-long exploration of watershed and plastic pollution. They conducted research, collected data, met with experts, and created explainer videos on the impacts of microfibers on people and the planet. Watch the videos and learn more: https://bit.ly/2RYWXNH

Are you curious about making change happen in your community? We can help. Join us for our second Clean Water Activist online workshop tonight! Community Policy Coordinator Lucero Sanchez and Staff Attorney Patrick McDonough will help guide you through best practices and strategies for effective advocacy. Wondering how to speak to your representatives or elected officials?... Need tips on making a public comment? Speaking to friends and family about important issues? Register for tonight's Advocacy 101 online workshop at 6 p.m. Pacific

Jesse and Spencer, two Pacific Beach Middle School students, created a unique way to spread awareness about marine debris's impacts. As part of their eighth-grade community service project, Jesse and Spencer researched the sources and consequences of marine debris in the environment. They also created an awareness and fundraising campaign for Coastkeeper. The students hosted a logo contest, selected a winner, sold and printed T-shirts, hosted their own local beach cleanup, an...d raised over $350. Thank you, Jesse and Spencer, for your inspiring creativity and support! #MarineDebrisMonday

Happy World Oceans Day! #DidYouKnow Marine protected areas along California's coast are like underwater state or national parks? They are off limits to fishing, drilling, & other environmental stressors. Although #MPAs help safeguard our ocean, only about a third have water quality protections in place. Increasing #cawater protections will help these ocean hope spots thrive in the face of climate change. Learn why MPAs deserve water quality protections too ... Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area in Carlsbad ( Getty Images)

The impacts of marine debris are both visible and invisible. We feel the influence of trash, seen or unseen, in many ways. Marine debris affects the quality of our food chains and the critical ecosystems that sustain life. It can damage sensitive habitats and affect the local economy of communities like San Diego. Monitoring and addressing the impacts of marine debris is critical to every aspect of life in San Diego - from tourism to traffic. You can help protect our beaches ...and waterways by registering for the Six Cleanup Challenge. How does marine debris impact your quality of life? Image by NOAA Marine Debris

Our San Diego Quality of Life Coalition partners authored an explainer on Stopping Sprawl Development - #SB743. Continue reading: https://bit.ly/3yTOn3k

Protect what you love Join the first cohort of our new Clean Water Activists volunteer program. Register for this free, four-part series of training sessions to learn how you can effectively advocate for clean water issues in San Diego County. Sign up link in the comments below

Do you ever wonder how trash gets onto San Diego's beaches and into the ocean? Watch FLOW for a quick 1-minute recap on #marinedebris.

Industrial fish farming, also known as finfish aquaculture, lacks regulations in the United States. Offshore commercial fish farming currently does not exist in U.S. federal waters. The Pacific Ocean AquaFarms is the most recent project proposed and would be located off San Diego’s Mission Bay. We have several concerns regarding current and future proposed offshore industrial fish farming projects. Including:... - Threats to local ecosystems - Increased disease transmission and chemical use - Degradation of water quality and increased nutrient pollution - Inefficient and wasteful feeding operations - Interruptions to local wildlife and economies If our region hopes to secure local food sources for our community, there are far more environmentally responsible and sustainable methods to pursue. Learn more on our website

Looking for an interesting read for your Wednesday afternoon? Check out this write up on the cellular therapy research out of UCSF that may help marine animals suffering the long term effects of toxic algae blooms. Come for the cutting-edge science, stay for the sea lion named Cronut. https://www.ucsf.edu//struggling-sea-lions-may-benefit-ucs

We're hiring! Coastkeeper is looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, environmentally minded person to join our team as education coordinator. If you know someone with a passion for educating kids and communities about environmental issues, send them our way.

Huge thanks to UPSTREAM for facilitating this important and impactful conversation - and for making it available on YouTube after the fact. Check it out, friends.

We're so excited to be partnering with our friends at eMpusle, a local sustainable clothing line, to give back to our beaches and marine life. Ten percent of sales from their newest collection of upcycled, one-of-a-kind pieces is being passed along to Coastkeeper to support our work protecting the ocean, advocating for clean water, and educating San Diego's youth. Head over to the Empulse page to check out these unique and sustainable styles and the piece that was made for you. By shopping the Save the Fishies collection, you'll also be doing your part for clean water in San Diego and helping protect the communities and habitats that depend on it. Visit eMpulse online here: https://empulseline.com/

Tomorrow is World Water Monitoring Day, so for our #ThrowbackThursday, we're reflecting on our decade-long volunteer-based water quality monitoring program. From 2008 to 2018, we ran California’s largest volunteer freshwater monitoring program, which trained more than 1,500 citizen scientists to monitor the health of the county’s rivers and streams, and created a community of informed individuals empowered with first-hand knowledge and hands-on experience to advocate for our most overlooked waterways. We are so grateful to the volunteers who showed up month after month, year after year. If you volunteered at one of our monitoring events, what is your favorite memory? #worlwatermonitoringday #volunteerwaterqualitymonitoring #citizenscience

Gray whales spend their summers feeding in Alaska and make a trip to Mexico each fall, passing through San Diego's coastal waters on the way. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of them while cruising near the mouth of San Diego Bay or keeping a lookout at Cabrillo National Monument. Gray whales have an interesting way of finding their lunch-- they swim along the ocean floor, gulping in soft sand and filtering it out through their baleen to feed on tiny shrimp-like amp...hipods. This feeding behavior makes them unique, but puts them at risk of ingesting debris on the ocean floor. So what can we do to help gray whales? The less plastic we use, the less plastic that accidentally enters the ocean (and whales' diets). Especially with the use of disposable plastics on the rise again due to PPE and other COVID-related precautions, we are curious to know, how are you navigating balancing personal safety and plastic use? Photo Credit: Merrill Gosho/NOAA via Wikimedia Commons

"$5 billion to build, hundreds of millions more over time to operate and the project likely wouldn’t produce a drop more water than San Diego already gets." Does that sound like a good reason to dig up sensitive desert and mountain ecosystems, tunnel through state parkland and national forest land, and encroach on tribal land? We think not.

Art and conservation collide under the (virtual) paintbrush of Santa Cruz-based artist Colleen Flanigan. But her work isn't limited to the virtual realm - she has also installed a sinuous steel structure on the seafloor that is becoming a living coral reef. #oceanart

Every year, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Waterman’s Gala brings together members of the surf industry to celebrate the ocean and support organizations working to protect it. Because an in-person gathering isn't possible this year, many SIMA members are instead donating 10% of their online sales this weekend (August 28-30) to SIMA's Clean Oceans for Surf. We are thrilled to be a SIMA Environmental Fund beneficiary, and are excited to turn their grant into more w...ork protecting our coast and keeping our waves safe to surf. By shopping with one of the participating brands this weekend, you are participating in this great event. Click below for more details! https://sima.com/clean-oceans-for-surf/ Participating brands include: Adventure Journal Creatures of Leisure Facialworks Firewire Haloha Jewelry Hobie Humblemaker Coffee O’Neill Clothing Otis Eyewear Reef Roark Simbi Sisstrevolution Slater Designs Surfhardware Vissla

We feel grateful to be part of a community of so many great non-profit organizations full of people who care deeply about the well being of San Diego's communities and environment. Collaborating with like-minded organizations is both a fulfilling and effective way to work. Recently, we've been partnering with our friends at San Diego Canyonlands to create nature-based virtual learning resources. This morning, Coastkeeper's education team met up with Canyonlands Outreach & Edu...cation Coordinator Kindra to film a virtual field trip through Manzanita Canyon, which we'll be incorporating into our distance learning resources for students, teachers, and home educators. Here, Coastkeeper Education Video Specialist Jenny gets ready to film Kinda talking about all the amazing native plants and wildlife our urban canyons are home to. #bettertogether See more

In this beautiful short film created by our friends at Textured Waves in collaboration with SEEA, African American filmmaker Bethany Mollenkof takes viewers on a journey of inspiration and exploration that pays homage to the style and grace of Black beach culture in the 50-60’s - married with the art of wave riding. In the words of the film's creators, "We hope this film serves as an inspirational piece to future generations. Despite history we can forge ahead to create pathways for what we want to see for ourselves now and in the future." You can find out more about the film and the work and vision of Textured Waves at www.texturedwaves.com/ https://vimeo.com/430492987

Wishing you a happy Swimmable California Day, from our favorite swimming holes to yours. This day celebrates our great state’s rivers, streams, lakes, beaches, and bays and the water-based activities that form such a strong part of our identity as Californians. San Diego Coastkeeper - along with our fellow California Waterkeepers up and down the state - works hard all year long to keep California waters clean, healthy, and accessible for all. We hope you get out safety into the water this weekend to celebrate. #SwimmableCA #SwimmableDay California Coastkeeper Alliance

Friends, there are two great opportunities coming up to actively engage with the momentum building locally at the intersection of climate justice and social justice. First up, San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition is hosting a virtual Climate Ambassador for Environmental Justice certification program over the next two Saturdays (July 18 and 25) from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Click through to their Facebook page to learn more. Next, SanDiego350 is hosting a virtual Just Recovery panel on July 21 at 7:00 pm to discuss how we can tackle climate and social justice issues simultaneously. There are some incredible speakers lined up, and we are really looking forward to the conversation. We hope to (virtually) see you there!

Did you know that the name La Jolla comes not from Spanish phrase la joya, meaning the jewel, but rather from the Kumeyaay name for the area, Matlahuayl, meaning place of the caves. The Kumeyaay people have lived in this region for over 10,000 years. Today, the marine protected area that encompasses the caves of La Jolla cove is named Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, and provides sanctuary to a wide array of marine species and habitats, in honor of the legacy of stewardship the Kumeyaay began and continue. #nativecalifornia #lajolla #placeofthecaves