Baykeeper Staff Attorney Ben Eichenberg recently took representatives from the San Francisco Department of the Environment and the Mayor's Office on an aerial patrol of the Bay. The aerial perspective helped illustrate how sand mining in San Francisco Bay is connected to erosion at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, and how interrupted freshwater flows from the Delta affect the entire estuary. Thank you to our partners at LightHawk Conservation Flying for piloting the flight.
While on boat patrol in San Pablo Bay, Baykeeper Field Investigator Sienna Courter spotted a large red algae bloom, known as a "red tide", just under the water's surface (photo at right). Red tides can cause toxicity in shellfish, and usually occur in warm, polluted waters. Baykeeper is following up with phytoplankton experts about the incident. If you see a red tide in the Bay or its tributaries, please report it to Baykeeper's pollution hotline.
Baykeeper Executive Director Sejal Choksi-Chugh recently met with Puget Soundkeeper staff in Seattle and joined them for a brisk boat patrol in Puget Sound."Puget Sound is a West Coast waterbody that is similar to the Bay in many beautiful ways. But both are also located in densely urban areas and surrounded by industrial facilities that release toxic pollution into the water."
As founding members of the global Waterkeeper Alliance, the staff of San Francisco Baykeeper and Puget Soundkeeper often collaborate with each other and with Waterkeepers across the globe to share best practices to stop polluters. Thank you to Baykeeper sponsor United Airlines for making this site visit possible.
Pictured below: Sejal with Puget Soundkeeper Staff Attorney Katellyn Kinn.
