Last year, Baykeeper celebrated 25 years of effective action to protect San Francisco Bay from pollution. As we launch our 26th year, we’re moving toward our vision of a Bay where recreation is safe, the ecosystem is healthy, and wildlife thrives.
Over the coming quarter-century, Baykeeper will work to make San Francisco Bay:
Safe from Sewage Pollution
- Stop all sewage spills from Bay Area sewer systems.
- Secure upgrades that significantly improve treatment of wastewater released into the Bay to protect fish, prevent unhealthy algae growth, and reduce contamination from personal care products.
Free from Toxics, Contaminants, Plastics, and Trash
- Stop industrial contamination of the Bay by compelling hundreds more industrial facilities to control runoff containing plastic, heavy metals, and other toxic pollutants.
- Require Bay Area cities to keep trash and other contaminants out of the Bay.
Protected from Oil and Chemical Spills
- Secure strong protections to prevent oil spills into the Bay from ships and train cars.
- Improve cleanup and response to oil and chemical spills in the Bay, including rescue and care of wildlife.
Resilient to Rising Tides
- Reduce the impacts of rising seas and storm surges by strengthening protections for Bay wetlands and shoreline communities.
- Ensure that any shoreline development is properly planned and adapted to sea level rise.
Prepared for Future Drought
- Ensure that wastewater treatment systems reduce the use of freshwater and recycle wastewater.
- Advocate for storm water systems that filter and reuse rainwater to replenish the landscape and groundwater supplies.
With Healthy Beaches and Wetlands
- Prevent habitat destruction and the loss of sand at local beaches by protecting Bay sediment from excessive sand mining.
- Ensure that Bay sediment is sustainably dredged and that clean sediment is used to replenish Bay wetlands.
Photo by Robb Most