by Dean Traylor

Created on: November 15, 2011   Last Updated: November 18, 2011

The City of Santa Monica is a sprawling suburb within one of the most populated regions in the United States. It’s also near some of the most ecologically sensitive areas. To the west is the Santa Monica Bay. To the North are the Santa Monica Mountains as well as several secluded canyons and beaches.  Also, much of it sits on top of cliffs overlooking the surf.  So, it should come as no surprise that the city is the home to several environmental organizations.

The concerns are many. The bay that borders the city is often polluted by sewage runoff; the beaches have broken bottles and trash buried under its sand; and rapid development threatens wetlands several miles to the south and in the mountains to the north.

Organizations such as Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, and the Sierra Club have been active in the region. On top of supporting conservation and legislation to clean up and protect some of the last remaining open spaces in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, these organizations host numerous activities for the public to participate in.

Heal the Bay

Of the three major environmental groups in the region, Heal the Bay is the only one with its headquarters located in Santa Monica. This non-profit organization’s goals are clear:  to improve the health of Southern California’s coastal waters, rivers, and marshes found within Santa Monica Bay.

The bay stretches from Point Dune and Malibu in the north to the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south. In between are major Southern California beaches and communities; remnants of the El Segundo Sand Dune system; creeks and wetlands. This place is also home to the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant, LAX, King Harbor, Marina del Rey, and several piers – including the Santa Monica Pier.

Established in 1985, Heal the Bay has been on a campaign to end dumping of untreated wastewater from the Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant outside El Segundo; prevent the flow of plastics and other forms of pollution from entering the bay through storm water runoffs; and stop over-fishing in the bay.

The organization coordinates and sponsors several programs. On top of getting the public involved in beach cleanup activities such as Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-a-Beach, they run the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium (also known as the Ocean Discovery Center). Originally operated by UCLA, Heal the Bay has been running the facility since 2003.

Also, Heal the Bay releases annual “report card” grading

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