Enewsletter for June 2021

California is facing a punishing drought … again.

But some urban water utilities—notably the Bay Area’s powerful San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)—haven’t learned lessons from the past and aren’t planning for the future.

In fact, the SFPUC is actually moving backwards to the detriment of the Bay and everyone who relies on it. While other cities like Los Angeles are investing heavily in water recycling to replenish water supplies, SFPUC is pursuing multiple misguided lawsuits so that it can continue to take freshwater almost exclusively from the over-tapped Tuolumne River for the next several decades.

But you can help. Click here sign our action alert to Mayor Breed urging her to push SFPUC towards a sustainable water-future. 

Photo: Robb Most, thanks to LightHawk Conservation Flying

The State Water Board has approved a plan that will kill off endangered Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River according to expert scientists, environmental groups, tribes, and fishermen.

“It’s bizarre to me that the Water Board [approved] this plan that puts winter-run Chinook salmon in grave danger of extinction and decimates the fall-run Chinook, given that the bureau has the ability to do more to protect these fish,” Baykeeper Senior Scientist Jon Rosenfield said to the San Francisco Chronicle on the unfolding disaster.

You can help save the salmon: send our letter, or your own, to urge Interior Secretary Haaland to take action.

Pictured, above: salmon covered in white patches of fungus due to excessively warm water released from Shasta Dam.

Sadly, Bay fish—tasty as they may be—are still not good eats.

A new study found that while some chemicals in fish are on the decline, others—like mercury and perfluoroalkyl & polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS)—remain at worryingly high levels.

Part of the problem is that chemical manufacturers often replace toxic substances that are banned with equally harmful substitutes—a frustrating situation Baykeeper scientist Ian Wren has described as a "whack-a-mole" problem.

But there are solutions. For example, sediment cleanup would help remove a lot of the toxic chemicals that the Bay's fish are absorbing. Urging regulators to adopt a more precautionary approach when approving new chemicals could also help end the cycle of one harmful chemical being replaced by another. And of course, Baykeeper will keep taking legal action to stop heavy metal and chemical pollution at the source. 

Fishing provides food for many people in the Bay Area, and is a beloved cultural and recreational activity for others. We have a long way to go, but the Bay's fish can and should be safe for eating.

Photo: Lance Shields, Flickr/CC

At 2am on June 3, open water swimmer Erika Gliebe jumped into San Francisco Bay to swim around Angel Island. Ten miles of frigid water and six hours later, she emerged victorious at Aquatic Park! We’re so proud of Erika, and we’re honored that she picked Baykeeper to be the recipient of her fundraiser to protect the Bay.

"I truly love this course, having now done it twice. It's like a box of chocolates. You just never know what you are going to get,” said Erika after the epic adventure, “I love it so much I hope to make this an annual thing and support SF Baykeeper each year.”

Erika has raised over $7,000 for Baykeeper so far! Make a gift in honor of Erika’s Angel Island swim here.

Photo courtesy of Erika Gliebe

Trash is a serious pollution problem in the Bay. Over the past year, the situation has become even worse due to an uptick in discarded waste such as takeout containers, gloves, and masks.

So we’re calling on our volunteers to organize self-guided cleanups in your neighborhoods, at local parks, and along shorelines. Help stop trash before it reaches the Bay!

We’ve assembled instructions and guidelines for organizing a safe and effective cleanup. Learn more and sign up to protect the Bay from trash.