- Fighting Trump’s Attempt to Turn the Bay Area Into Coal Country
- Political Pressure on Water Project Doesn’t Change the Facts
- Take Action for Richmond Superfund Site Cleanup
- On the Frontlines of Harmful Algae Bloom Detection
- Stopping Toxic Metal Pollution Across the State
- Create a Legacy to Protect the Bay
Fighting Trump’s Attempt to Turn the Bay Area Into Coal Country
President Trump has announced plans to provide $75 million for a new shoreline coal facility in Oakland, as part of his effort to funnel taxpayer dollars to prop up the toxic coal industry.
We and our partners are stepping up our efforts to protect the Bay and the community from this polluting project, as Baykeeper attorney Ben Eichenberg told Grist. This week, we signed on to new legislation from Assemblymember Mia Bonta that would require extensive vetting of any new coal project in the state.
Join the fight! Attend an in-person meeting with our partners at No Coal in Oakland on 6/25 in Berkeley to learn how to join us in the fight.
Pictured: Coal piles at Richmond’s Levin facility, which will stop shipping coal by the end of the year under the city‘s coal ban.
Political Pressure on Water Project Doesn’t Change the Facts
In an overt act of political meddling, Governor Newsom and his deputies are pressuring a judge to retract her evidence-based ruling on the proposed Sites reservoir and dam project.
We recently won protections to prevent damage from the project, which would divert water from the already dangerously overtapped Sacramento River Basin.
After a judge determined the project needed basic environmental safeguards, political heavyweights attempted to interfere. We’re making sure politics don’t override the facts.
Pictured: Baykeeper drone footage of the area designated for the proposed Sites Project
Take Action for Richmond Superfund Site Cleanup
One of the most toxic sites in the region continues to harm the Bay and the Richmond shoreline with contaminants like DDT.
Baykeeper and our partners at the Richmond Shoreline Alliance and Sierra Club SF Bay have developed a cleanup plan for the United Heckathorn Superfund site. Now, officials need to act, and we need your voice.
If you’re a Richmond resident, please join us at the July 7 City Council meeting to urge local officials to move forward with the plan.
For more details, please email [email protected]
Pictured: Baykeeper drone footage of the United Heckathorn site
On the Front line Detecting Harmful Algae Blooms
Baykeeper’s algae bloom monitoring specialists are out in force this summer, gathering data about this emerging threat to the Bay and its wildlife.
We launched the program after algae blooms in 2022 and 2023 led to massive fish die-offs. This year, we’re expanding to the South Bay and have already identified a potential bloom in the North Bay, which our partners at USGS are currently analyzing.
Have you seen the telltale signs of an algae bloom: dark brown or reddish water in the Bay? Contact our pollution hotline.
Pictured: A Baykeeper volunteer training to test for algae in the Bay
Stopping Toxic Metal Pollution
A bill under review by California legislators poses a significant threat to public safety, human health, and the environment.
Metal shredders handle huge quantities of hazardous waste, including materials that can ignite massive fires like the toxic inferno at the Radius/Schnitzer facility in Oakland in 2023 (pictured, above).
A new bill, SB 811, would weaken controls on metal shredding pollution across the state.
So we’ll be in Sacramento later this month, pushing legislators to reject the bill. You can help by reaching out to them directly: learn more here.
Create a Legacy to Protect the Bay
Did you know you can leave a legacy gift to Baykeeper in your will? It’s a powerful way to ensure San Francisco Bay is protected for generations to come.
We invite you to join this dedicated group of supporters. You can use our secure partnership with FreeWill to make a will in just 20 minutes, at no cost. Create your legacy for a thriving Bay today.
Have you already included Baykeeper in your estate plans? Please let us know so we can ensure your impact for the Bay’s future!
Photo: Ingrid Taylar