- The Light at the End of the (Delta) Tunnel?
- A Major Milestone to Stop Harmful Algae Blooms
- A Victory for White Sturgeon—and the Bay
- Three East Bay Sites May Be Radioactive
- Join Us! Our 35th Anniversary Bay Celebration is 9/29
- Drink Wine, Protect the Bay
The Light at the End of the (Delta) Tunnel?
In a legal victory, a court recently put the Delta Tunnel project on hold following action by Baykeeper and our partners.
The Department of Water Resources has spent over a half billion taxpayer dollars hyping the Delta Tunnel project—and is set to spend more—while downplaying the harms it poses to people and the environment.
As our managing attorney Eric Buescher said, “It’s time for this expensive and destructive boondoggle to come to an end.”
A Major Milestone to Stop Harmful Algae Blooms
Because of Baykeeper’s long-time advocacy, last week the Regional Water Board adopted new requirements to prevent harmful algae blooms in the Bay.
For decades, we’ve urged the agency to crack down on the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that drives algae bloom growth.
The Board’s new requirements call for wastewater plants to reduce nitrogen pollution by 40% in the Bay over the next decade. While the requirements aren’t as strong as the science calls for, they’re a much-needed improvement.
Pictured: A red tide in 2022 in Mission Creek, San Francisco. Photo from our pollution hotline, thanks to tipster Benjamin Feingold.
A Victory for White Sturgeon—and the Bay
Earlier this year, our supporters (thank you!) joined Baykeeper staff to urge officials to protect the Bay’s imperiled white sturgeon by listing the fish as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
And in a major victory for white sturgeon in the Bay-Delta watershed, the state Fish and Game Commission voted to move ahead with a year-long review of the population’s status. In the meantime, the Bay’s white sturgeon will be fully protected.
Learn more from Maven’s Notebook.
Illustration by Fiorella Ikeue in collaboration with Baykeeper
Three East Bay Sites May Be Radioactive
For years, we’ve been pushing the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to clean up the Bay’s toxic sites, including one in Richmond previously owned by the pharmaceutical giant Zeneca and the defunct Stauffer Chemical Company.
Now, new reports suggest that Stauffer dumped radioactive material at its Richmond site, as well as at Berkeley’s César Chávez Park and the Albany Bulb. Our local agencies need to do a better job monitoring and cleaning up the Bay’s toxic sites!
Pictured: Baykeeper drone still of the Zeneca-Stauffer toxic site in Richmond (paved area), which may have been contaminated with radioactive waste.
Join Us! Our 35th Anniversary Bay Celebration is 9/29
Registration is now open for our special 35th Anniversary Bay Celebration! Join us on September 29 at the Chase Center in San Francisco to enjoy delicious food and wine, spectacular views, and the amazing Baykeeper community.
Together we’ll raise a glass and toast the wins that you’ve made possible for the future of a thriving Bay Area.
Spaces are limited, reserve your spot today!
Drink Wine, Protect the Bay
Every year Obsidian Wine Co. crafts a limited production of its popular Rosé for the Bay. Made in honor of Baykeeper, 100% of proceeds from this wine support our work defending San Francisco Bay!
With crisp and fruitful tasting notes, this special rosé is also a great summer pour.
Click here to get your bottle or case of Rosé for the Bay. Make sure to select “SF Baykeeper” under the “how you heard about us” dropdown.
Photo at top by John Chacon, DWR