- Fighting for Clean Creeks in Court
- Turning Off the Tap on Toxic Runoff
- Watching for Summer Algae Outbreaks
- Take Action: Richmond Superfund Cleanup on 6/26
- Two Close Wins for the Bay-Delta
- Thank You for Celebrating the Bay!
Fighting for Clean Creeks in Court
Our investigators found that Sunnyvale and Mountain View’s runoff contained high levels of bacteria—around 50 times what’s legally allowed. What’s more, the runoff was being discharged into local creeks. So, in 2020 we sued the cities under the Clean Water Act.
Since then, we’ve tried to work with the cities to address their problems, but the cities have refused to take responsibility. So, now we’re in court to prove our case and demand they do right by their residents and the Bay’s waters.Â
Pictured: The Baykeeper team before arguing our case against the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale for releasing bacteria pollution into Bay creeks
Turning Off the Tap on Toxic Runoff
After our field team found illegally high levels of heavy metals and other pollutants in runoff from an industrial facility in Hayward, we had our drone pilots investigate.
The footage confirmed that the facility was leaving toxic materials in open containers and around its site—where it could flow into storm drains and nearby Alameda Creek.
So, we sued the company. Now it will be required to strengthen its pollution controls and increase water quality monitoring to protect local waters.Â
Pictured: Our drone footage of open containers and debris of industrial-grade materials
Watching for Summer Algae Outbreaks
After devastating algae blooms in 2022 and 2023, we launched a monitoring program with our partners at NOAA, USGS, and the SF Estuary Institute.
Our trained volunteers now regularly sample in Richmond, Berkeley, Alameda, San Mateo, and San Francisco. The good news is that our team hasn’t detected elevated levels of algae so far. Let’s hope it stays that way!
Have you seen signs of algae blooming, such as coffee-colored or reddish water, in the Bay? Contact our pollution hotline.
Take Action: Richmond Superfund Cleanup on 6/26
The United Heckathorn Superfund site in Richmond continues to house dangerous pollutants, including DDT, right along the Bay shoreline. It’s time to clean it up!
Join Baykeeper, the Richmond Shoreline Alliance, and the Sierra Club’s SF Bay Chapter at EPA’s community discussion series. This month’s meeting will focus on the health and ecological risk assessments of the site. We encourage all Richmond residents to join the meeting and put pressure on EPA officials to properly clean up the pollution.
When: Thursday, June 26, at 6:30pm
Where: Zoom
Two Close Wins for the Bay-Delta
Recently, Congress tried to pass a bill that would have stripped Baykeeper’s recent hard-won endangered species protections for the Bay’s Longfin Smelt. And Governor Newsom tried to stick Delta Tunnel approvals into state budget trailer bills that bypass public review. Both of these actions posed dire threats to the Bay-Delta.
So, we sent urgent alerts asking you to take action—and many of you answered the call! Thank you for reaching out to your representatives. Both efforts have been dropped (for now).
Illustration of a Longfin Smelt by Fiorella Ikeue in collaboration with Baykeeper
Thank You for Celebrating the Bay!
We’re grateful to the supporters, sponsors, and volunteers who joined us at the 2025 Bay Celebration! It was inspiring to celebrate your wins to defend San Francisco Bay and create a more resilient Bay Area.
And it was a pleasure to recognize this year’s Blue Rivet Awardees: Community volunteers at Benicia ISHO Group, volunteer expert Randy Roig, and our corporate partners at Pacific Catch. Learn more about the honorees.
Couldn’t attend? You can still celebrate by making a gift to defend the Bay.
Photo: Michaela Joy