Baykeeper's E-Newsletter for May 2011

Welcome to San Francisco Baykeeper's May E-News

• U.S Senate Considers Overturning Key Pesticide Protections
• Support Responsible Climate Change Planning on May 19
• Kiteboarding & Swimming Events to Benefit Baykeeper
• Volunteer Opportunity: Help Fight Invasive Kelp in Local Waterways
• Baykeeper 2010 Annual Report Now Available Online
• Support Baykeeper's Work to Protect San Francisco Bay

U.S Senate Considers Overturning Key Pesticide Protections

The U.S. Senate is currently considering legislation that would overturn key protections against spraying pesticides in waterways and would exempt pesticides from the Clean Water Act. This unprecedented move will cause irreparable harm to waterways and open the door to exemptions for all pollutants.

Please take action today to speak up for protecting our waterways from pesticides. It is critical that the Senate hold the line against this attempt by the chemical and agricultural industries to undermine the Clean Water Act. We need to make sure our legislators know that residents across the country are counting on them to do the right thing for the health of our waterways.

Read more to learn how you can help stop this bill before it's too late.

Support Responsible Climate Change Planning on May 19

Thursday, May 19
1:00 p.m.
MetroCenter Auditorium
101 8th Street, Oakland, CA (near Lake Merritt BART)

Join Baykeeper in supporting a responsible climate change adaptation policy for San Francisco Bay. This Thursday, a final workshop will be held by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) to discuss an amendment to BCDC's Bay Plan that would sensibly require development around San Francisco Bay to recognize sea level rise and plan accordingly.

The development industry has advocated strongly against this amendment, and we expect a strong showing by people interested in derailing the policy.

Please plan to join Baykeeper at the meeting and show your support for responsible climate change planning. Click here to learn more.

Kiteboarding and Swimming Events to Benefit Baykeeper

Baykeeper is pleased to announce two exciting events that will have Bay Area recreationalists taking to the water! Both events will raise awareness and funding for Baykeeper's work.

On June 11, kiteboarders will sail 10 miles across the Bay from Crissy Field to Berkeley in the first annual Downwinder for Baykeeper!

Learn how you can register or donate to the Downwinder.

And on September 10, TransBay Relay swimmers will take the cross-Bay plunge and swim 9 miles from the Golden Gate to the East Bay. Swimmers can participate on a relay team or as a solo swimmer.

Learn how you can register, donate or volunteer for the TransBay Relay.

Volunteer Opportunity: Help Fight Invasive Kelp in Local Waterways

You can help remove invasive kelp in local waterways by volunteering with Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) at these upcoming events:

Sunday, June 19, 9 am
Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

Monday, June 20, 9 am
San Francisco Marina

And, if you're a boater, please keep an eye out for this invader at local marinas and report suspected sightings to SERC. Contact them at marineinvaders@gmail.com or call (415) 435-3528. Read more information from SERC about the spread of Undaria in San Francisco Bay.

Baykeeper 2010 Annual Report Now Available Online

Baykeeper's newly-released 2010 Annual Report is now available online. Highlights include our successful initiatives to reduce sewage spills to the Bay; securing strong new controls on pollution carried to the Bay through storm water; winning an aggressive cleanup plan from the federal government to finally remove the toxic Ghost Fleet of Suisun Bay; and organizing a special effort to support Gulf Coast Waterkeepers in response to the BP oil disaster.

Visit us online to read the Baykeeper 2010 Annual Report.

Support Baykeeper's Work to Protect the Bay

Donate to San Francisco Baykeeper to support a healthy, thriving San Francisco Bay. Since 1989, we have been the Bay's pollution watchdog, strengthening clean water laws and holding polluters accountable. Support our efforts to protect the Bay with a contribution to our work.

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