Baykeeper's E-Newsletter for June 2013

The Latest Progress to Reduce Sewage Pollution in the Bay

The Bay Area's worst-polluting sewer agencies spilled less sewage into San Francisco Bay last year, thanks to Baykeeper's Sick of Sewage campaign.

Sewage pollution has long been a major threat to the Bay's health, due to crumbling Bay Area sewer systems that overflow during rainy weather. Bay recreational users like swimmers and surfers are especially at risk of illness and infection from sewage contamination. (Photo credit: Tolka Rover, Flickr/CC).

But Baykeeper has won legally-binding agreements that compel sewer agencies serving 20 Bay Area cities to upgrade their infrastructure and repair miles of cracked pipes, on strict year-by-year timetables.

We've just finished analyzing results for 2012, which shows that several sewer agencies pulled ahead of their required timetables for making upgrades. Some have reduced sewage spills by 75%, while South San Francisco finished its repairs early and is no longer causing sewage problems in the Bay.

Read more about Baykeeper's progress to clean up sewage pollution in the Bay.

Thank You for Supporting the Baykeeper Spring Party!

Thank you again to everyone who joined Baykeeper for our 2013 Spring Party last month. We were thrilled to bring together so many members of Baykeeper's fantastic community of supporters. It was a great evening of celebration for the Bay!

We're already looking forward to next year's event. Did you know that San Francisco Baykeeper turns 25 in 2014? Stay tuned for more information about how you can help us celebrate Baykeeper's 25th anniversary next year.

Cleaning Up Toxic Debris at Richmond's Point Molate

Baykeeper is moving forward with our cleanup of tons of debris that have polluted San Francisco Bay and the shoreline at Point Molate in Richmond.

With help from volunteers, we've safely cut up hundreds of pilings contaminated with creosote, a now-banned wood preservative that poses a threat to both wildlife and people. We'll haul out the chunks of contaminated wood, along other heavy debris, using light machinery that has minimum impact on the beach.

The cleanup will make the beach safer and cleaner, help restore damaged habitat, and help facilitate the re-opening of a closed city park. Thanks to all the volunteers who have helped with this project so far!

Find out more about Baykeeper's cleanup of Point Molate in Richmond.

Baykeeper's Spring/Summer Newsletter in Mailboxes Now

Have you seen the latest copy of Baykeeper News, our print newsletter? It's hitting mailboxes this week! Read about Baykeeper winning new protection for the Bay from oil spills and more on our progress toward a sewage-free Bay. Plus, learn about the latest in Baykeeper's Bay-Safe Industry campaign to protect the Bay from toxic industrial runoff. Concerned about fracking for oil in California? Read about the dangers this oil extraction method poses for the Bay, and how Baykeeper is fighting fracking.

You can also see a pdf version of Baykeeper's print newsletter online here. To request a copy of Baykeeper's latest newsletter by mail, please email info@baykeeper.org.

Baykeeper Boat Patrols Spur Pollution Cleanup

Our patrols of San Francisco Bay in the Baykeeper boat make a difference! One day, as we patrolled the southern San Francisco shoreline, paint chips blew onto our deck. The polluted water sample we collected that day eventually resulted in the largest dry dock on the West Coast installing new controls to keep toxic contamination out of the Bay.

Earlier this year, we went out in the boat to investigate the damage when an oil tanker accidently hit the Bay Bridge. That investigation led to Baykeeper successfully advocating for new protection for the Bay from oil spills.

The information Baykeeper gathers on boat patrol helps us win new laws and better pollution controls that protect the Bay.

Read more about how Baykeeper boat patrols spur pollution cleanup.

Free App to Find Clean Water for Summer Fun on the Bay

Looking for a Bay Area beach with water clean enough for swimming, surfing and other in-the-water recreation? Check out the free Swim Guide smart phone app.

Swim Guide provides the most up-to-date water quality information on more than a dozen Bay and ocean beaches in the Bay Area. You can also access the information from your computer online.

Fortunately, many beaches around the Bay Area are safe for recreation in the summer, when there's no rain to carry pollution to the beach. Use Swim Guide to find out if any water quality violations have been reported in the last few days at your local beach.

Learn more about Swim Guide and download the free app.

(Photo credit: Hudson Henry)