- Take Action: Tell CA to Stop Selling the Bay’s Sand for Concrete
- Standing up to the EPA’s Proposed Clean Water Act Rollbacks
- Advocating for Boaters and Swimmers in the Bay
- ‘Tis the Season for Counting Birds
- Holiday Gifts to Support Baykeeper
- Thank You for Your Giving Tuesday Support
Take Action: Tell CA to Stop Selling the Bay’s Sand for Concrete
One of the biggest threats to San Francisco Bay happens out of sight along the Bay’s floor, where private companies have been mining sand for over a century—to be turned into concrete and asphalt.
The state is now planning to authorize the removal of 5,350 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of sand from the Bay over the next ten years, which will harm wildlife and diminish shorelines vulnerable to sea level rise.
Photo, above, of sand miner by Roger Cunningham
Standing up to the EPA’s Proposed Clean Water Act Rollbacks
The Trump Administration’s EPA recently released proposed changes to the Clean Water Act’s definition of Waters of the United States that would eliminate protections for some seasonal and intermittent waterways and wetlands—meaning it would radically reduce the scope of the Clean Water Act in San Francisco Bay.
If the administration’s changes move forward, many of the streams and wetlands that sustain the Bay’s ecosystem could lose federal protection. Baykeeper’s attorneys are gearing up to work with local and national partners to challenge the rollbacks.
Advocating for Boaters and Swimmers in the Bay
San Francisco is proposing to renovate Gashouse Cove marina to clean up legacy PCB pollution. That’s a good thing. But their new plans include removing the city’s last remaining fuel dock. The move would be a huge blow to recreational boating, boating education programs, and commercial fishing around the Bay.
SF’s plan also proposes to encourage swimming and kayaking in the area—despite the history of pollution and an active sewer outfall nearby that often spews sewage. So we joined the waterfront community to push back.
‘Tis the Season for Counting Birds
Every year, thousands of people all over the country join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, one of the world’s longest running community science projects. As in past years, this year we’ll be hosting two bird counts on the Bay from the Baykeeper boat, partnering with Marin Audubon and the Golden Gate Bird Alliance in this 126-year-old holiday tradition.
The count is open from December 14 to January 5. Click here to learn more about how to participate.
Many waterfowl and shorebirds winter in the Bay, including the Long-billed Curlew, Black-Bellied Plover, Bufflehead, Western Sandpiper, and Scaup, pictured above
Photo: Ingrid Taylar, Flickr/CC
Holiday Gifts to Support Baykeeper
Looking for the perfect gift for a Bay enthusiast in your life? The Under the Bay puzzle features many wonderful Bay creatures and proceeds support our work defending the Bay! Plus, the puzzle now comes in 500-piece and 300-piece options.
Also, if you’re a member of Sports Basement’s Basementeer program, you can get 20% off all your holiday purchases in support of Baykeeper through December 14. Click here to sign up as a Basementeer and select “San Francisco Baykeeper” as your nonprofit; Sports Basement will make a donation to us every time you shop.
Puzzle illustration by Fiorella Ikeue
Thank You for Your Giving Tuesday Support
We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who made a gift to our Giving Tuesday campaign! We raised over $36,000 with your help.
Thank you for your dedication to clean water, thriving wildlife, and a resilient future for the Bay Area.
Photo: Chris Gold, Flickr/CC