Governor Signs Legislation to Enhance State�s Oil Spill Prevention and Response

On September 29th, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a comprehensive package of oil spill legislation that will improve both inland and marine oil spill prevention and response, enhance oiled wildlife search and rescue efforts, and increase enforcement and fines for polluters. Read the Governor's press release here. The package was precipitated by the November 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill into San Francisco Bay, which created a 50,000-plus gallon slick that extended into the Pacific Ocean. AB 2911 (Wolk), which CCKA co-sponsored, helps address the 500,000 gallons of oil spilled every year into the state's inland waterways; see press release as well as press release for AB 2935 (Huffman). Visit CCKA's legislative tracker page to learn more about the oil spill package signed into law and other important water legislation.

Support Marine Protected Areas

California is taking steps to restore our ocean ecosystems by creating a network of marine protected areas. These underwater state reserves will protect important habitats and help ocean life recover and thrive. On October 2-3, the Fish and Game Commission will meet in Santa Rosa, CA to discuss the proposed network of marine protected areas for the North Central Coast, from San Mateo to Mendocino County. We need your help to make sure they choose a plan that is strong enough to succeed. Please send an email message to the Commissioners and attend the meeting in person to speak in support of the highest protection for precious natural ecosystems.

For more information visit: the CalOceans and Marine Life Protection Act Initiative websites.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

The 24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, September 20th, 2008 from 9am to noon. Since the program started in 1985, over 800,000 Californians have removed more than 12 million pounds of debris from our coast. Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way to join with your friends, neighbors and greater community to protect our shared ecosystems, to learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent it, and to have fun! Several Waterkeepers are sponsoring local cleanup events in their area including: San Diego Coastkeeper, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, and San Francisco Baykeeper. Visit the California Coastal Commission's website for a comprehensive list of volunteer beach cleanup sites.

Coastal Cleanup Day is also the kick-off event for Coastweeks - three weeks of coastal and water related events throughout the state. To learn more about what you can do everyday to help protect our coast and ocean visit the Thank You Ocean website.

Conservation and Fishing Groups Rally in Statewide Opposition to Water Bond

On August 12th, Conservation and fishing groups representing over 180,000 Californians, including the California Coastkeeper Alliance, submitted a petition to Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Feinstein and rallied at events throughout the state, calling for an end to the proposed $9.3 billion water bond, which is based heavily on ineffective and environmentally destructive dams. The groups instead challenged their elected officials to distribute hundreds of millions in existing bond funds toward cost-effective water strategies (such as conservation and stormwater capture and reuse), and to overhaul the state’s failed water supply and water quality policies. As illustrated in CCKA’s map of impaired waters throughout California, and in CCKA’s maps of fish barriers, the health of the state’s waterways is precarious and declining, and ecologically and economically important species like wild salmon are suffering. Population increases, climate change and other factors similarly are creating serious water supply challenges. California’s current patchwork of regulations, created based on the false assumptions that the state’s snowpack would always be there and that our waterways could tolerate significant pollution, need to be thoughtfully and comprehensively revised. The petition includes the groups’ 10 Principles for Comprehensive California Water Policy. CCKA and others also have drafted an op-ed calling for the creation of a sound water policy foundation before California spends billions more on water programs that perpetuate past mistakes.

Read a press release about statewide opposition to a new water bond.

Watch KTVU news coverage of the proposed water bond.

Read Green California’s newly updated list of priority environmental legislation.

Governors Launch Ocean Action Plan

On July 29th, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger joined Governor Gregoire of Washington and Governor Kulongoski of Oregon in unveiling the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health Action Plan. The Governors’ Plan will implement an ambitious vision of clean coastal waters and sustainable coastal ecosystems and communities. Also on July 29th, California’s Ocean Protection Council released a draft proposal recommending a ban on plastic bags and containers statewide; read the press release. Tens of millions of Californians rely on the state’s coastal watersheds for drinking water, livelihood, and recreation. However, California still suffers from seriously polluted waterways, and critical habitats for key fish populations, such as Coho and Chinook Salmon, remain blocked by man-made fish barriers. CCKA commends the efforts of the West Coast governors to address these and other important threats to the health of California’s magnificent coast and ocean.

Read a joint press release about the Governors’ Action Plan.

CCKA Launches Interactive Water Pollution Maps on World Environment Day

CCKA commemorated World Environment Day by officially launching interactive maps of seriously polluted waters throughout California. The United Nations sponsored the 26th annual World Environment Day on June 5th to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourage political action to protect and restore the environment. Sunday, June 8th marked the 16th annual World Ocean Day. CCKA’s launch of new pollution maps and these world environment events coincide with Governor Schwarzenegger’s announcement and Executive Order on the serious drought facing California, which further stresses our waterways. CCKA’s maps aim to educate the public about water pollution in the state and to inform decisionmakers on how to improve the health of California’s polluted waterways.

Listen to a podcast on California's polluted water bodies by CCKA's Executive Director, Linda Sheehan.

Governor Signals Support for 3 Oil Spill Bills

On June 11th Governor Schwarzenegger signaled his support for oil spill bills. Read the Governor's press release here. One of the bills, AB 2911 (Wolk), includes language co-sponsored by CCKA and Defenders of Wildlife to create an inland oil spill cleanup and penalty program. In 2007, the amount of oil spilled into the state’s creeks, rivers and lakes was over nine times the volume of the Cosco Busan oil spill into San Francisco Bay, with only a small fraction of the cleanup effort. Oil spilled into our local waterways has significant and long-term effects. AB 2911 takes on this problem by increasing penalties on inland oil spills and making the chain of command for enforcement and cleanup clear. Click here to read CCKA's press release. CCKA will continue to work to secure passage of all the pending oil spill bills.

Coast Guard Final Report on Oil Spill Response

California Coastkeeper Alliance was appointed as the Environmental Coalition Representative to the U.S. Coast Guard's "Incident Specific Preparedness Review" of the overall response to the November 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay. As a member of the Review Team, CCKA assessed spill preparedness and response, and worked to develop recommendations to prevent spills and improve spill response in the future. The Coast Guard released two phases of the report. The final Part II Report was released in May 2008, and addresses beach and commercial fishery closures, oiled wildlife and clean-up equipment. The Part I Report was released in January 2008.

CCKA Calls for Improvement in Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (click to read press release).

Interactive Maps of CA Water Pollution

The Clean Water Act requires states to identify all seriously polluted, or "impaired," water bodies every two years. Many of California’s lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, estuaries and bays have been identified as impaired by pollutants such as mercury and other toxic metals, nutrients from fertilizers and sewage, sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants. Over 35 years after the creation of the Clean Water Act, many of California's waterways are contaminated, and the problem is getting worse. CCKA has launched a project to inform Californians about the health of the waters in their local communities. Explore the interactive maps to learn about pollution in your area, where it comes from, how it can affect your health and the environment, and how you can help stop the pollution!

CCKA�s Giant Kelp Restoration Project

Giant kelp forests in Southern California have declined by nearly 80 percent in the last 100 years. In 2001 CCKA and participating Southern California waterkeepers launched the Southern California Giant Kelp Restoration Project to restore these ecosystems that are home to approximately 800 different types of marine species. Through the six year project, CCKA and participating Waterkeepers restored 18,500 square meters of kelp, trained hundreds of volunteer divers, and reached out to over one million community members. CCKA and its member Waterkeepers continue to build upon the success of the Kelp Project through sharing our knowledge and expertise in other cooperative management efforts such as the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative and continue to advocate for marine ecosystem restoration in Southern California.

Speak Out to Protect the Ocean

Over 40 percent of the world’s oceans are heavily affected by human activity - we must act now before it is too late. California is taking steps to restore our ocean ecosystems by creating a network of marine protected areas. These underwater state reserves will protect important habitats and help ocean life recover and thrive. Let your voice be heard! Send a public comment letter to decision-makers encouraging them to choose the strongest plan to protect California’s North Central Coast. On April 22-23, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force will recommend a network of protected areas for California’s North Central Coast, from San Mateo to Mendocino County. We need your help to make sure they choose a plan that is strong enough to succeed. Please send a public comment email and attend the Blue Ribbon Taskforce meeting on April 22-23 to show your support for strong ocean protection!

AP Probe Finds Drugs in Water Supplies

An Associated Press investigation reveals that the drinking water supplies of 41 million Americans are polluted by a “vast array of pharmaceuticals.” In California, sex hormones were detected in San Francisco’s drinking water, while anti-anxiety and anti-epileptic medications were detected in Los Angeles. Scientists have found that humans, fish and wildlife all may be affected, even at low concentrations.

These reports came as the California State Water Board considered a recycled water policy at their March 18th meeting. The State Water Board’s proposed policy ignored the potential impact of these contaminants in the environment. CCKA recognizes that reuse and recycling of California’s limited water resources will be essential to meet the ever-growing demand for water in the state, but this laudable goal must be tempered by a vigorous commitment to protect and enhance water quality in the process. The state water board declined to take action on recycled water at their March 18th meeting, instead granting the request of the regulated community and environmental organizations to initiate a stakeholder process that will develop a strategy for achieving the state’s recycled water goals. CCKA was instrumental in ensuring this outcome and will continue to play a significant role in this stakeholder process. CCKA is taking the lead to ensure that recycled water is used in a way that protects public health and the health of the state’s waterways.

Marine Protected Areas Restore Depleted Seas

A recently released UN Report warns of a dire ocean future including the potential collapse of commercial fish stocks globally within decades. With over 40 percent of the world's oceans heavily affected by human activity, we must act now before it is too late. California is taking steps to restore our coast and ocean through the Marine Life Protection Act, which calls for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along California’s coast. Scientists recently presented evidence that MPAs in the Channel Islands have restored biodiversity and ocean health. As a member of the MLPA Initiative Statewide Interest Group, CCKA is engaged in the public process to establish a network of MPAs. The Initiative is currently working in the North Central Coast of California, and will move to Southern California later this year. The MLPA Initiative is a public, stakeholder driven process - visit the Get Involved page to find an upcoming meeting and speak out.

To Learn more about the Channel Island studies, visit the CA Fish & Game Commission website.

Coast Guard Report on Oil Spill Response Released

The California Coastkeeper Alliance has been participating in the Coast Guard's "Incident Specific Preparedness Review" of the overall response to the November 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay. As the Environmental Coalition representative on the Review Team, CCKA assessed spill preparedness and response, and worked to develop recommendations to improve spill response in the future. The Coast Guard's Phase I Report was released on January 28, 2008.

CCKA Calls for Improvement in Oil Spill Prepararedness and Response, click to read press release

Senator Feinstein calls for ban on single-hulled vessels in US ports, click to read article

The Severely Polluted Waters of California

The Clean Water Act requires states to identify all seriously polluted, or "impaired," water bodies every two years. Many of California’s lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, estuaries and bays have been identified as impaired by pollutants such as mercury and other toxic metals, nutrients from fertilizers and sewage, sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants. Thirty-five years after the creation of the Clean Water Act, many of California's waterways are contaminated, and the problem is getting worse. CCKA has launched a project to inform Californians about the health of the waters in their local communities.

Investigation Reveals Second SF Bay Sewage Spill

An investigation uncovered a second massive spill of 2.45 million gallons of sewage on January 25th by a Mill Valley treatment plant that previously was not reported to state emergency officials. Combined with the 2.7 million gallon spill on January 31st, more than 5 million gallons of partially treated or nearly raw sewage was released into Richardson Bay in a six-day period. The California Environmental Protection Agency is demanding a complete independent review.

Click here to read related article.

Loss at Sea: Fishermen Question Small Role in Oil Spill Cleanup

When they got word of the Cosco Busan oil spill, commercial fishermen at Pillar Point Harbor figured their training as certified oil-spill responders meant they would be called into action.

They emptied their boats of crab pots to make room for oil booms. But the call for help never came...

Click here to read the rest of this article

MLPA Moves to Southern California

The California Fish and Game Commission announced that the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative will next move to the southern region of the State. This announcement begins the third of five phases of the State’s effort to protect California’s ecologically important coastal habitats and marine life. Click to read CCKA's Press Release

Feds Launch Criminal Investigation into Cause of San Francisco Oil Spill

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the 58,000-gallon oil spill that occurred after a container ship crashed into the Bay Bridge on November 7, killing wildlife and staining Bay Area beaches. CCKA has urged top state officials since 2005 to dedicate more funds to oil spill prevention; the Bay and the ocean are now paying the price for their failure to do so. Read the Finance Audit. CCKA represents the public on the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Technical Advisory Committee, and is working hard to ensure proper steps are taken to avoid future oil spills. Want to help join our fight? Donate to CCKA, join your local Waterkeeper, or join SF Baykeeper to help with oil spill cleanup.

Congress Enacts $23 Billion Water Bill

On Thursday November 9, 2007 the Senate joined the House to override a Bush veto for the first time. Passage of the Water Resources Development Act marks only the 107th time in U.S. history that both houses of Congress have gathered the two-thirds majority required to override a presidential veto. This sent a clear message to the White House that they cannot continue to starve out programs that promote clean water and healthy aquatic ecosystems. The bill authorizes 900 projects nationwide, designating $1.3 billion for dozens of projects in California including $25 million for Los Angeles River revitilization and $100 million for levee repair in the Delta. Funds will in part help address the continuing problems from seriouisly polluted waters around the state.

35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act

October 2007 marked the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. While implementation of this law has not been perfect, it has been successful in cleaning up pollution sources that impair our waters. Unfortunately many of California's waterways still are contaminated, and the problem is getting worse. The Clean Water Act is the backbone of water law in our country, with the goal of ensuring fishable, swimmable, and drinkable waters for all. In the thirty-five years since it was enacted, some have called for weakening pollution controls, asserting that the costs of preventing further contamination of our waters is too high. Senator Muskie said it best in 1972 when he addressed his colleagues and asked: "Can we afford clean water? Can we afford rivers and lakes and streams and oceans which continue to make life possible on this planet?... These questions answer themselves." CCKA and its member Waterkeepers fight for clean water and the enforcement of the Clean Water Act every day. Want to help join our fight? Donate to CCKA today or join your local Waterkeeper.

Learn about wastewater recycling: Water Everywhere, but not a Lot That's Reycled

Read an Op-Ed by CCKA Executive Director Linda Sheehan: Clean Water Act Anniversary an Opportunity for Environmental Leadership

CCKA 2006 Annual Report

The California Coastkeeper Alliance 2006 Annual Report highlights our statewide accomplishments and outlines our member Waterkeepers’ key victories in their local watersheds. Statewide successes include stricter controls on sewage spills and a new law that will increase public information on water health. All of our victories put us one step closer to our goal of clean water and a healthy coast for all Californians, but there is still much work to do. CCKA continues to build on past success and to take on new emerging challenges that threaten our water.