THE SURGE October 2016

Save The Blue

CA Drought Continues, Conservation Declines

On October 5th, the State Water Resources Control Board announced that California's water conservation has dropped down to 17.7% in August - a disturbing decline from the nearly 25% water savings achieved statewide by the emergency drought regulations adopted in 2014. The South Coast Region, which includes Los Angeles, had even more meager savings of just 15.4%

The 2014 regulations set mandatory conservation measures, finally moving the state toward a more equitable and sustainable water management system, and helping California to achieve the 25% reduction in water usage (and attendant climate benefits).  While the historic drought emergency has continued, the Water Board transitioned to a 'self-certification' program. Since the adoption of this program, conservation numbers have steadily fallen further and further away from the 25% goal. 

Time and time again, the environmental community has made clear that voluntary programs are ineffective. Our only chance for curbing the effects of this historic drought is the implementation of bold, permanent and mandatory conservation standards that will maximize water savings across the state. Stay tuned for information on how you can help us ensure aggressive statewide conservation standards. 

Join the LAW Team!
We're hiring a Development Manager! Do you have experience in grant writing and donor outreach? Help grow LA Waterkeeper's fundraising base. Apply today! 

Breaking Records, Making Waves

Thanks again to those who joined us last month for Making Waves 2016!

Nearly 400 guests came together to honor our 2016 Water Warriors: Jay Borzi, Lawyers for Clean Water, and SA Recycling. Learn more about our honorees by viewing our event video.

Jay Borzi (right) accepting his award from  Jordan Kaplan (middle) & Chris Chee (left).

The fundraiser was a  record-breaking success, bringing in over $500,000 in honor of our Water Warriors and in support of our mission to protect and restore LA's waterways .

Many thanks to our major sponsors...

Santa Monica Bay Sponsors - $25,000
Jay & Carol Borzi
Dan & Rae Emmett
Jordan & Christine Kaplan
Roy & Barbara March
Debbie & Ken Panzer
Steve & Sue Silk
Michael & Claire Van Konynenburg
Kristin & Jeff Worthe

A full list of our generous sponsors can be found here.
~

A few moments to remember...


 Additional photos by Alex Mak here.

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Let's Ban The Bag!
Vote YES on 67
& NO on 65

Prop 67 seeks to uphold California's plastic bag ban - the first statewide, comprehensive single-use bag ban law in the country. LA Waterkeeper and the California Coastkeeper Alliance support the Yes on 67 campaign. View the public endorsements here - and add your name!

Don't be fooled by Prop 65: it has been cited as one of the most disingenuous ballot measures in state history. Prop 65 was designed by out-of-state plastic bag manufacturers to mislead and confuse voters, in an effort to block the passage of 67. Vote No on 65.
Ballona Wetlands:  one of our last remaining coastal wetlands in SoCal
Restore Ballona Wetlands:
Sign petition to demand accountability!

The Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS) regarding the Ballona Wetlands restoration plan has been  delayed  again until mid-2017. We were originally supposed to see the draft EIR in 2012!

This is unacceptable. Without action, the wetlands will continue to deteriorate.  Sign Heal the Bay's petition today  to demand movement on this much-needed restoration work!Where
Where Have We Been?
Coastal Cleanup Day
On September 17th, Waterkeeper hosted our annual beach and sea cleanup at Dockweiler Beach. Our divers alone collected nearly 60 lbs of plastic debris and trash from the ocean. Coastal Cleanup Day LA was a huge success - over 9,500 volunteers showed up to collect nearly 15 tons of trash! Thanks to all who participated, and shout out to regional coordinator, Heal the Bay!
LAW's Ian Jacobson (left) & Michael Quill (right) on Coastal Cleanup Day

Abbot Kinney Fest
It was great to see some familiar faces and meet hundreds of budding clean water activists at the 32nd annual Abbot Kinney Festival on September 29th! Thanks to everyone who stopped by the LAW booth.

Discover Marina del Rey
We always have a good time at Discover Marina del Rey! The educational family festival is focused on health, safety, and the environment. Thanks for having our MPA team join the fun on October 9th!

Sustainable Seafood Expo
LAW's Marine Team was invited to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Expo. Our work on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), in conjunction with the LA MPA Collaborative, is a critical component of establishing sustainable fisheries. LAW Community Programs Manager, Michael Quill, and Dive Program Coordinator, Ian Jacobson, brought the Waterkeeper perspective to the October 2nd event!
New Waterkeeper Magazine!

The newest issue of Waterkeeper Alliance's Magazine is now available online! Check out the latest in the Waterkeeper world - from Colorado to Senegal, Niagara to the Himalayas.

Senegal. Photo by Pete Harrison.
On The Water and In The Community...
Updates from our Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Team

Wishtoyo Foundation Founder Mati Waiya leading the opening ceremony around the Tomol, a Chumash dugout canoe, on Sept. 24th.
LA Waterkeeper's MPA Watch program is honored to be collaborating with the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples and Sherman Indian High School to help safeguard the region's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) while exposing youth with limited access to our coast to explore our marine environment.

Sherman students have joined us at several events the past few months, including a robust group who volunteered at our cleanup site for Coastal Cleanup Day on September 17th.

On September 24th, LAW and other members of the LA MPA Collaborative sponsored  Honor The Ocean Day, an event celebrating our MPAs and the deep connection indigenous peoples have long held with our ocean. Community members gathered at Malibu's Zuma Beach in the Pt. Dume MPA to enjoy free surfing lessons, storytelling by Chumash elders, as well as marine and watershed science presentations by collaborative members. LAW was delighted to share the day with Sherman Indian High School's Indigenous Youth Coastal Advocate Fellows, who made the long trek up to Malibu for this unique event - some of whom had never before been to the beach, and were surfing by day's end! Read more about this inspiring event here.

On October 8th, Sherman Youth Fellows joined LAW Community Programs Manager Michael Quill for an MPA Watch Boat-Based Survey trip. Students-turned-community-scientists learned about boat safety, data collection protocol, the influence of human activity on our oceans, and how MPAs protect our fisheries and coastal habitat. Below, you can see students documenting boating and fishing activity in and around the Pt. Dume MPA while experiencing a beautiful - and for some, a first - day out on the water.
Photo Courtesy of C. Beeshligaii

LA Waterkeeper's partnerships with the Sacred Places Institute and Sherman Indian High School are made possible by the Whale Tail Grants Program from the  California Coastal Commission .
Protect LA's Urban Watersheds!
Vote YES on Measure A 

Measure A will provide funding for building parks, restoring rivers and protecting beaches. This funding will improve the quality of life for all Angelenos, particularly those living in underserved communities who currently have limited access to parks and open space. Measure A will also help protect and restore our urban watersheds.

For more information on Measure A, check out FoLAR's voter guide! RAFT
October Events
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Weds.
Thurs.
Friday
Saturday






1
MPA Boat Survey Trip

2
Sustainable Seafood Expo
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5 6 7
MPA Boat Survey Trip

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MPA Boat Survey Trip
9
Discover Marina del Rey
10 11 12 13
CWW @ Pacoima Beautiful
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15
RAFT @ Marsh Park

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17 18 19 20
Earth Now: Earth 2050 @ UCLA
21 22


23
Yes on A Brunch

24 25 26 27 28 29
RAFT @ Maywood Park
30
MPA Trip w/ Sherman High School
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Please contact Watershed Program Coordinator, Melissa von Mayrhauser,
regarding RAFT and CWW:  melissavm@LAWaterkeeper.org

Please contact Community Programs Manager, Michael Quill,
regarding our MPA Watch Boat-Based Survey trips:  michael@LAWaterkeeper.org