Baykeeper's E-Newsletter for March 2015

Join Baykeeper at a Crucial Hearing Tomorrow to Stop Excessive Bay Sand Mining

Help stop excessive sand mining in San Francisco Bay by joining Baykeeper tomorrow, March 19, for an important hearing of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission at 1 pm at the San Francisco Ferry Building, second floor.

Too much sand is being mined from the floor of the Bay by private mining companies. This contributes to erosion at Ocean Beach and threatens important Bay species like Dungeness crab that migrate along the Bay bottom through sand mining areas. Baykeeper is now pursuing a court case to require California to reduce limits on the amount of sand allowed to be mined from the Bay.

Tomorrow, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission will hold a public hearing on whether to issue permits to four private companies that have applied to mine excessive amounts of sand from the Bay. Baykeeper will advocate for sensible restrictions on the amount of sand that can be mined. Join us and show public support for protecting Ocean Beach and Bay wildlife!

Read more about Baykeeper's legal action to reduce excessive sand mining in the Bay.

Photo by Dan Hershman.

Baykeeper Sponsors State Bill to Provide Cleanup of Toxic Spills in the Bay

Baykeeper is sponsoring new state legislation that will require California agencies to respond to toxic spills in the Bay just like they do for oil spills—providing prevention, response, wildlife rescue, and cleanup measures.

The need for this legislation became clear in January, when hundreds of shorebirds and water birds were coated with a toxic sticky substance spilled along the East Bay shore. Because the spill was not petroleum, California agencies that clean up oil spills and rescue wildlife injured in oil spills could not be activated.

Baykeeper and other nonprofit organizations stepped in to rescue, clean, and care for the birds. Now, we're determined to make sure the Bay and its wildlife are better protected from toxic spills.

Learn more about the toxic spill in January, other recent oil spills, and the need for a better response from California agencies.

Photo by Cheryl Reynolds, International Bird Rescue.

Thanks to the Cleanup Volunteers at the San Rafael On-the-Water Trash Removal!

Thanks to all the stand-up paddle boarders and canoers who partnered with Baykeeper on March 8 to remove 700 pounds of trash from the San Rafael Canal!

Volunteers from Jen Fuller Fitness, Onboard SUP Yoga, SUP Currents, the Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club, and 101 Sports paddled the canal, pulling trash out of the water and onto their boards and boats. More volunteers walked the shore gathering trash. The trash was piled up on the dock at 101 Sports, and taken to a landfill.

More on-the-water and shoreline cleanups are coming up—stay tuned and plan to join us for the next one!

See photos of the SUP cleanup.

Photo by Robert McKinney.

Thank You for Making Envisioning the Future of the Bay a Big Success!

Baykeeper's Envisioning the Future of a Healthy San Francisco Bay presentation and dinner on March 8 was a wonderful event. Thanks to all who joined us in making it a big success!

At the historic Dolphin Club at Aquatic Park, overlooking San Francisco Bay on a sunny afternoon and beautiful evening, 200 guests joined Baykeeper for a delicious crab dinner and a celebration of the Bay. Baykeeper, Shark Stewards, and the San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival provided an exciting exploration of what can be achieved for the Bay with committed stewardship.

Thank you to everyone who attended and for your support of a future where the Bay's ecosystem is healthy, recreation is safe, and wildlife thrives!

See photos of the Envisioning the Future of a Healthy San Francisco Bay celebration.

Photo by www.drewbirdphoto.com.

(Photo at top by Roberto Soncin Gerometta)