On Earth Day 2005 I learned an amazing truth about the ecological health of our beaches. These lovely beaches, that look fascinating to the naked eye, might contain health hazards beyond belief, both to surfers and marine life.

To my horror and amazement I found that the recent heavy rains on Southern California, which I thought were nothing but good, had devastating effects on water quality at our local beaches. Something like 60 TONS of garbage got washed from the streets of Los Angeles to the Bay after each heavy rainfall. Runoff from creeks, rivers or storm drains — which can carry toxic heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, animal waste, trash and even human sewage — flows untreated directly to the ocean and is the largest source of pollution to California beaches.

When first seeing the "Heal the Bay" booth, I was like "What Bay?" Then I talked to some lovely ladies who introduced me to "the Bay" - the Santa Monica Bay. They told me about its unhealthy conditions, the dangers to the environment, the dangers to us swimmers and surfers, and what should and CAN be done to heal these conditions. In fact, they were the ones who ignited the idea to create this website - for them and for everybody else.

Heal the Bay's efforts are focused on Santa Monica Bay and surrounding Southern California coastal waters. Their work, however, often impacts water quality for the entire state of California and even the nation. And through the Internet, I'm sure it makes (good) waves all over the planet.

In the near past the Bay was treated as a sewage dump site for Los Angeles. A small group of concerned people took it upon themselves to heal this troubled part of the world. They did it for those who simply wanted to swim, fish or surf safely in clean water. And they did it for the marine life that was suffering from some of the highest levels of contamination found anywhere along our nation's coastline.

That small group swelled into an organization and movement that has done more to recover the Bay's coastal environment than anyone could have expected. But in the process, they did more than that. They showed us that it's not too late for Southern California, that no agency is too big to fight and win, that we can heal our environment and that we can heal our Bay(s).

Since 1985 they have done enormously to improve the marine life and health issues of the Bay. On their website you can read about their wins, their legal and environmental accomplishments. And they say: "The Bay is getting better...and with your help, the goal of a year-round swimmable and fishable Santa Monica Bay can be a reality!"

There's More Than One Way To Heal The Bay - And One Person Can Make a Difference!

Indeed, and more than one action is necessary. Because these actions work in synergy, contributing to the strength and effectiveness of one another.

Even though you may live miles away from the beach, there are many ways that you can help to heal the Bay. Like, how about you participating in the Coastal Cleanup Day - September 17, 2005 and be a part of the largest volunteer day on the planet! Check out the website, especially the Volunteer page for things you can do, and you can start healing the Bay today!

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