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La Jolla ocean quality |
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Keeping our oceans clean:
Other pages:
These are my two boys
and the reason I'm so
passionate about water quality ...
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Organizations
and what they’re doing:
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The following
are groups that support our ocean habitat and
sustainable use of ocean resources like surfing and
swimming:
 | San Diego
Oceans Foundation – Made up of over 1,000
volunteers, two hundred members, and one staff
member. This group promotes “ocean stewardship
by leading community-supported projects that
enhance ocean habitat and encourage sustainable
use of ocean resources.” The foundation focuses
on enhancing water quality to balance the health
of both the natural habitat and the users of the
ocean. Volunteers contribute time feeding fish,
walking and monitoring San Diego canyons to
scuba diving and even technical web management.
H20 (Home to Ocean) is an educational link
provided by the SD Oceans Foundation to educate
both children and adults on the dangers of
hazardous runoff which pollutes ocean water. For
more information or to get involved, visit
http://www.sdoceans.org/
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| San Diego
Baykeeper – Working hard alongside regulatory
agencies, academic institutions, businesses,
non-profit organizations, and volunteers
Baykeeper has been designated as the Secretary
for the Harbor Safety Committee. They help to
prevent local oil spills, protect sensitive
ecosystems, find and eliminate pollution
sources, regulate effectiveness of their works,
and play a large role in altogether prevention .
Clean-up initiatives are also sponsored to
incorporate resident involvement. The San Diego
Harbor Safety Committee was established in 1992.
One of their missions is to “enhance vessel
safety with the ultimate goal of pollution
prevention and protection of the region's
valuable resources.” They encourage regulatory
enforcement and cooperation among the community
that uses the Bay. For more information or to
get involved, visit
www.sdbaykeeper.org |
| San Diego SierraClub - very
active in the legislative process, represented by
the
Conservation Committee, prioritizing
conservation issues, maintaining relationships with
government agencies and independent organizations.
Implementations such as the Ocean Pollution
Reduction Act, the Storm Water Permit, and the
Border Treatment Facility are all products of
members’ hard work, dedication, and diligence.
Volunteers help to monitor and protect natural
resources, support education and community
involvement, and maintain office functions. All
members are invited to monthly meetings where
issues, activities and legislation is discussed.
Form more information or to get involved, visit
http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/home/index.asp
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| Environmental Protection Agency –
Region 9 of the organization covers the Water
Division, responsible for “implementing programs to
protect the public and the environment by
preventing, reducing and regulating contamination of
surface and ground water.” Inspired by the Safe
Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, the EPA
has produced watersheds which reduce contamination
to lakes, rivers, estuaries, and the ocean,
encouraging public & environmental safety. For more
information or to get involved, visit
www.epa.gov
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| Southern
California Coastal Water Research Project – This
undertaking is called a Joint Powers Agency,
having the support and cooperation of several
government agencies. By pooling resources and
knowledge, Southern California marine
environmental research and damage prevention can
be better addressed in an effective and cost
efficient way. The project aims to educate
legislators, scientists and the general public
of new findings and previous research. The
website links readers to project reports and
parties that are involved. The site also
features FAQ, appealing to the general public,
links to additional resources, seminar
schedules, and the ability to ask scientists
questions regarding their studies.
For more information, or to get
involved, visit
http://www.sccwrp.org/
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| Think Blue
– This organization public education programs
regarding storm drain pollution. They aim to
emphasize that everything deposited on pavement
ends up in a storm drain and out to the ocean.
To report an illegal discharge within the city
of San Diego, during business hours, call (619)
235-1000. For discharges in other areas call the
regional hotline at (888) THINK-BLUE (844-6525
For more information or to get involved, visit
http://www.thinkbluesd.org/
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| Surfrider
Foundation San Diego Chapter – A committee
called the Blue Water Task Force monitors water
quality through high school involvement and
resident volunteers. Activists test ocean water
samples for bacteria and other pollutants, and
in turn share it through the website and in
publications all over the county. Surfrider aims
to emphasize the extreme dangers of near shore
pollution, raise public awareness, hold
polluters accountable for complying with
restrictions, and to encourage national
legislation and enforcement. Conclusive testing
can provide strong arguments to change
legislation and improve water quality. In
association with I Love a Clean San Diego
and The American Heart Association, the
Surfrider Foundation has helped to crack down on
cigarette-butt littering, getting the California
Highway Patrol involved with a successful
litter-reporting hotline. The site also provides
information on advisories, warnings, beach
clean-ups, and community meetings.
http:www.surfridersd.org
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| CALPIRG
(California Public Interest Research Group) – An
association that encourages public contribution
by performing beach clean ups, stream walks,
water testing, elementary education programs,
and political activism with legislators to
demonstrate public support. For more information
or to get involved, visit
http://www.calpirg.org/
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| Project
Clean Water – Designed to monitor watersheds
from the Tijuana river to Orange County,
covering approximately 1,750 miles. They uphold
current laws, regulations, and ordinances, and
provide resources for teachers, students, and
residents. The government has even formed grants
to help improve the water quality. The San Diego
Regional Water Quality Control Board is
responsible for regulating runoff along this 85
miles of coastline, in compliance with the new
Municipal Storm water Permit. For more
information or to get involved, visit
http://www.projectcleanwater.org/ |
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Runoff is Ugly
- it’s the excess water that carries pollutants
directly into storm drains which carry water out to sea.
Runoff can contain such pollutants as motor oil,
gasoline, soap from car washes, trash, cigarette butts,
leaves and plants. Runoff also contains copper & zinc
from car brake linings, pesticides, & fertilizers.
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