Baykeeper's E-Newsletter for December 2010

Welcome to San Francisco Baykeeper's December E-News

• Baykeeper Launches New Website – Check out www.baykeeper.org
• Volunteers Needed to Collect Storm Water Samples During the Rainy Season
  
• Take Action this Week for a Sound Climate Change Policy in the Bay
• A New Win for Ending Fish Kills at California Power Plants
• This Holiday Season, Keep Oil Out of the Sink Drain to Protect the Bay
• Fight Invasive Kelp in the Bay – Volunteer Event this Weekend
• Make Your Year-End Gift to Baykeeper Today!

Baykeeper Launches New Website

Baykeeper is proud to announce the launch of our new website at www.baykeeper.org. We're excited to bring you an updated interface for all the latest Bay news and Baykeeper work. Visit us online at the new www.baykeeper.org.

Volunteers Needed to Collect Storm Water Samples

If you've ever wanted to explore muddy shorelines or take a rainy boat ride in the name of protecting the Bay – then we have a job for you. Join the Baykeeper storm water volunteer corps!

Baykeeper is looking for hearty volunteers to be trained to collect samples of storm water this winter, particularly during heavy rain events.

Find out more about volunteering to monitor storm water with Baykeeper.

Take Action for a Sound Climate Change Policy for the Bay

Join Baykeeper in supporting a sound sea level rise policy for the Bay by submitting comments this week.

The Bay Conservation and Development Commission is accepting final input on a draft amendment to the Bay Plan that will better protect wetlands and other areas around the Bay that are threatened by sea level rise.

Developers are opposing the amendment, so the Commission needs to hear from residents who support a policy that will protect the Bay from the impacts of climate change. Please take action this week!

A New Win for Ending Fish Kills at Power Plants

Thank you to everyone who took action last month to end fish kills at California power plants – our advocacy was successful! Yesterday, the State Water Board rejected an industry appeal trying to overturn the new policy that will phase out the use of once-through cooling at California power plants.

San Francisco Baykeeper has been working with our fellow California Waterkeepers, and our statewide partner California Coastkeeper Alliance, to end the use of power plant technology that kills billions of fish, plankton and other marine life every year. Read more about the latest victory to end once-through cooling.

Keep Oil Out of the Sink Drain & Help Protect the Bay

This holiday season, you can help the Bay by keeping your holiday feast excess out of the sink drain. Rich holiday meals can produce extra oil, fats and grease, so it's especially important to wipe out oily pots, pans and dishes before washing them. This small action can have a big impact on the health of the Bay by helping to prevent sewage spills.

Frying a turkey this year? Recycle large amounts of leftover cooking oil at local drop-off locations.

Help Fight Invasive Kelp – Volunteer Event this Weekend

Saturday, December 18, 9 am to noon
South Beach Harbor
Meet right of Harbor Master's Office
San Francisco, CA 94107
View Map

Baykeeper is partnering with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center to fight the invasion of the Asian kelp Undaria pinnatifida, which has spread throughout marinas in San Francisco Bay. Volunteers are needed to identify the invasive kelp at local marinas in order to guide removal efforts.

RSVP to SERC at marineinvaders@gmail.com or call (650) 380-5000. Read more information about the spread of Undaria in San Francisco Bay.

Make Your Year-End Gift to Baykeeper Today!

With the help of individual supporters like you, Baykeeper has achieved major victories for the Bay this year, from stopping sewage spills to reducing toxic runoff to cleaning up the Ghost Fleet of Suisun Bay. Please help us keep up the momentum in 2011 by making a year-end gift to Baykeeper today.

Like San Francisco Baykeeper on Facebook

Get Twitter updates from SFBaykeeper