Coastkeeper Blog

Last month, Kelly Rowe, Certified Hydrogeologist and Orange County Water District (OCWD) Board Member expressed his position on the Poseidon desalination plant at the Regional Water Board meeting. Rowe says…

Did you know the Santa Ana River, right here in Orange County, is a living, lush and beautiful river? In many places, it looks as natural as it did back…

In 1999, Founding Director Garry Brown started Coastkeeper with two employees in a small Newport Beach office and an annual budget of $100,000. Twenty years later, Garry is joined by…

Our legal team relies on the sharp minds of Orange County legal students to help protect clean water in Orange County. Meet the superstars who’ve joined our team this summer….

After the Holy Fire in 2018, the Trabuco Creek watershed in the Cleveland National Forest was heavily damaged. Over the wet winter, heavy rains washed large amounts of soil, rock…

Imagine this: you’ve just sat down for a nice seafood dinner with your family overlooking the California coastline. You decide to start out your meal with an oyster platter. After…

At Coastkeeper, conserving water is always at the forefront of our mind. However, we understand that may not be the case for everyone. That’s why we are constantly trying to…

Advocating for fishable, swimmable, drinkable and sustainable water requires deep-rooted passion and unwavering commitment to protecting our water resources. For the past 20 years, Coastkeeper’s board of directors has led our…

Wondering if your old shampoo bottle can be recycled? Not sure if that milk jug you used belongs in the black or green bin? Coastkeeper is here to help! On…

Our legal team couldn’t fight for clean water in Orange County without the help of our interns. We would like to take a moment to recognize the amazing work of…

Are you passionate about keeping water clean in your desert community? Do you enjoy being a leader of environmental awareness and advocacy? Coachella Valley Waterkeeper is California’s newest Waterkeeper affiliate…

For 20 years, Orange County Coastkeeper has defended and protected clean water in all parts of Orange County. By using legal action under the guidance of the Clean Water Act,…

It doesn’t matter where you look in the world, water is the central life force for all living things. Here in Orange County, we live between two extremes, an abundance…

Did you know? The Coastkeeper Garden hosts free workshops and events each month to teach aspiring gardeners tips and tricks on how to garden smarter, not harder.  Workshops in the…

Tecoma Stans – This beautiful orange plant is a magnet for hummingbirds! Year-round color provides essential nectar for these busy creatures. Did you know the Coastkeeper Garden is a designated safe…

Coastkeeper Partners With Santiago Canyon College to Establish Community Garden The Coastkeeper Garden is partnering with the Office of Student Equity and Success at Santiago Canyon College to establish a…

Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano is a 40-acre equestrian riding park that sits next to the San Juan Creek. Following our recent agreement with the City…

No person, company or industry should get a legal pass to pollute our waters. At Orange County Coastkeeper, our shared right to clean water comes first. We will never stand…

We Don’t Need Poseidon We don’t need Poseidon’s overpriced desalinated water, and we don’t have to look far for a better alternative to its proposed Huntington Beach plant. Another proposed desalination…

How Our Intern Anna Fights for Clean Water! All year round, Orange County Coastkeeper offers competitive legal internships that allow the next generation of environmental lawyers to get hands-on experience…

The Coastkeeper Garden has lots of helping hands, thanks to the Orange Unified School District and the Irvine Adult Enrichment Center. Since 2015, we’ve worked together to help more than 50…

What a year. Over the past 365 days, our Coastkeeper staff along with thousands of volunteers have worked hard to achieve our goals. We could not have done all of this…

A few things make life in Orange County like nowhere else. There’s nothing like exploring our mountains and chaparrals on horseback, watching your kid reel in her first fish from…

The beginning of the end for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station “San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 2013 photo D Ramey Logan” by WPPilot – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons. Seeing the…

Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano is a 40-acre equestrian riding park that sits next to the San Juan Creek. Contaminated water from horse facilities contributes to…

On June 1, 1,300 elementary students from inland Orange County schools arrived at Huntington State Beach to celebrate the 24th annual Kids Ocean Day. During school assemblies leading up to the event,…

San Juan Creek pollution threatens our communities For years, horse manure and other harmful pollutants have discharged into San Juan Creek, contaminating water all the way to Doheny State Beach…

Agave Watch at the Coastkeeper Garden has begun. The Garden’s impressively large Agave Americana, or Blue Agave, is preparing to bloom. A large flower stalk appeared on March 29 and is…

Here in Orange County, clean water lets our kids and families enjoy a day at the beach without worrying about getting sick. It allows our coastal environment and wildlife to…

Scallops, Oysters, and Mussels are all mollusks but there are a few more not-as-well known mollusks that live in the eelgrass beds of Newport Bay. Introducing the California Jackknife, Navanax,…

Coastkeeper works to safeguard Orange County’s 42 miles of coastline and protect its invaluable fishable, swimmable, drinkable and sustainable waters. We are now the region’s principal steward of clean water,…

It’s time to celebrate. Last week, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board took the consideration to remove its regulations for bacteria levels in Newport Bay off its meeting agenda. For…

After a long, dry summer, fall has Orange County feeling a little fresher. The air is crisp, kids zip up their jackets on the way to school – and we…

Here at the Coastkeeper Garden, we’re pulling out all the stops to be responsible with this season’s most precious resource – rainwater. The Garden is equipped with several bioswales —…

On November 8, California voters said “yes” to Proposition 67 – supporting an end to plastic bags polluting our waters and endangering marine life. We’re proud of our state for supporting legislation…

The coast and its residents As with the entire Pacific Coast, Orange County is blessed with some unique ecosystems including the Bolsa Chica wetlands (reopened with great applause to the ocean tides…

How to tackle Orange County’s sneakiest form of pollution Sometimes it’s obvious where pollution comes from. We know that when rain rushes down our storm drains, it carries hazardous chemicals…

The Back Bay and its residents The Back Bay is home to fish and nesting sea birds, which attracts egrets, blue herons, osprey, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats. This is also…

What to do when you encounter a wild animal For those with little or no experience encountering wildlife outside an animated film, members of the wildlife community don’t dance, sing…

Every year, over eight million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans and more than 4.5 trillion cigarette butts litter our beaches. On September 17, thousands around the globe will…

Humans are visitors among native Southern California wildlife, which occupies a lot of territory The highest point of land in Orange County sits 5,690 feet above sea level overlooking about…

It used to be that when you walked down the beach all you could feel was the sand and water between your toes, maybe a shell or two. These days,…

Thinking about saving the planet with a career in environmental justice? First of all, that’s amazing. Second, have you considered our competitive legal internship? It could be the perfect opportunity…

May 28, Huntington State Beach A fleet of 25 school buses arrived at Huntington State Beach on the morning of May 28, 2015. Kids grades 3-6 armed with rubber gloves…

This week, 1,300 kids spent the morning cleaning up trash at Huntington Beach for Kids Ocean Day. Joined by nearly 200 teachers and volunteers, this crew removed over 500 pounds of trash from…

Earlier this month, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife discovered a rare seahorse near an eelgrass restoration site in Upper Newport Bay. That’s pretty much the equivalent of spotting a celebrity…

Distribution, storage, infrastructure and more – all of these expensive factors remain hidden from the true cost of the proposed Poseidon Huntington Beach Desalination Plant. Knowing that Orange County residents…

Advocating for fishable, swimmable, drinkable and sustainable water requires deep-rooted passion and unwavering commitment to protecting our water resources. Since our founding in 1999, Coastkeeper’s board of directors has led our efforts…

As community members, it’s up to us to ensure the sustainability of our ocean for future generations. If we don’t, we leave our regional economy, community and habitats vulnerable to…

When it rains, stormwater runs into the storm drain system eventually finding its way into local and coastal waters without any treatment. During these times of increased pollution runoff, Orange…

Oceanfront cities like Florida’s Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale are lined with high-rise condos and resorts, so why isn’t California’s coast covered in buildings as well? The California Coastal Commission…

For thirsty California, water falling from the sky might as well be free money. Are you ready to grab a bucket and claim your share? California is in a historic…

Proposed Poseidon Huntington Beach desalination plant is subject to sea level rise What are the King Tides? King tides are some of the highest tides of the year. They occur…

Poseidon’s Plan Does NOT Make Sense The Los Angeles Times got their facts wrong about Poseidon’s desalination plant.  Here is the truth about the Poseidon plan: FACT #1: Poseidon has addressed…

It’s time to ditch outdated solutions and tap into Orange County’s ingenuity  Orange County doesn’t do things by the book— it gives birth to new ideas that change the world….

How Orange County Coastkeeper is educating the public Public education is a critical component of the local support and outreach in Orange County. To help explain MPAs there are three…

Have you visited one of Orange County’s Marine Protected Areas yet? If you have been to the ocean or one of its estuaries during the past few years, you might…

The future of Orange County’s Marine Protected Areas Coastkeeper monitors activities in or near all of the MPAs of Orange County. For example, if there is new development near an…

Frequently asked questions about decommissioning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station By Luke Jones from Anchorage (Nuclear Power Plant) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Early in 2014, Coastkeeper Executive Director…

The reality of decommissioning the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station “San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, 2007 (01)” by awnisALAN – [1]. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. One very real and prevalent factor throughout…

Orange County Coastkeeper’s history with Southern California Edison By awnisALAN ([1]) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons Over the past sixteen years, Orange County Coastkeeper developed a productive partnership with Southern…

Coastkeeper’s education program W.H.A.L.E.S brought students from Troy High School to Heisler Park in Laguna Beach to spend the day learning about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and biodiversity in tide pools along…

How Orange County Coastkeeper Works with Local Industries Through cooperation and collaboration, Coastkeeper helps local businesses reduce pollution and comply with state clean water laws. One example of this collaboration is…

Brine discharged into our ocean will damage multiple facets of life in Huntington Beach   In the midst of California’s historic drought, a conversation must happen about new sources of…

Last week WHALES took two classes of Intro to Environmental Science students from South Junior High in Anaheim to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The students began with an informational hike and…

What better way to kick off the school year than with a real life, hands-on, field excursion? The school year has finally begun and our WHALES educational program is in full swing!…

Newport’s Eelgrass and its Residents is back with the continuation of the family of mollusks living in Newport Bay. This time we explore Oysters and their remarkable potential to benefit eelgrass…

Students Take Snapshot of the Health of Newport’s Back Bay On Saturday July 18, 2015 Coastkeeper’s education staff partnered with the Back Bay Science Center to teach students from the University of…

Future generations learn the importance of protecting our waters through hands-on experiences Orange County Coastkeeper’s WHALES program gives school-age children a hands-on approach to learning about watershed science – the study of…

Years of data shows what types of human activities occur in our priceless marine habitats Orange County is home to seven Marine Protected Areas – or MPAs. These underwater areas are designed…

We know that we can’t do it alone, and so we work with and engage local businesses in the preservation and protection of our most precious resource – water. Last week we…

Say hi to your new neighbors! These special residents of Newport Bay have been around for a long time but you might not know about them…until now. Newport’s Eelgrass and Its Residents…

Running a business in California is a dream. California sustains the world’s 9th largest economy and boasts millions of acres of coastline, rivers, estuaries, bays, and lakes. To keep the dream…

On the last big weekend of the summer in 2013, after a pump station operated by the Costa Mesa Sanitary District failed, 77,000 gallons of sewage were dumped straight into Newport…

So you can talk the talk, but can you walk the dock? Show your love of the water by attending a free training from this year’s Dockwalker Program. Since 2000,…

California Needs Your Help  By National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons A prohibition on watering your lawn during the 48 hours after…

California has been in a terrible drought, leaving many regions with limited water supply including Orange County. Orange County Water District recently expressed interest in the Proposed Poseidon Desalination Plant Huntington Beach. Orange County…

Bird was the word this last Saturday at the Coastkeeper Garden. The Garden hosted its monthly Family Workshop, and this month we focused on the importance of birds in our gardens….

I know what you are thinking: wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to identify potential eelgrass restoration sites? Okay maybe it’s not top of your mind, but after volunteering with us…

It was another successful field trip for our WHALES program. We took students from Orange High School’s AP Environmental Science class to the Orange County Sanitation District and Orange County…

I’m landscaping my yard and thinking of installing synthetic turf. What are the benefits? An effective and efficient way to save money and water is to replace your water-guzzling lawn…

What is an MS4? MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. MS4 permits regulate storm drains of a city or county, which are designed to collect stormwater from streets and highways….

Bugs, bugs and more bugs. The Coastkeeper Garden hosted a bug workshop on Saturday that helps kids understand the important role bugs play in our ecosystem, while having fun. Parents and family…

Here at the Orange County Coastkeeper, we know that kids are the future of our planet. So we took students from South Jr. High out of the classroom and brought them…

We want to give a big thank you to all our volunteers and community members who came out this last Saturday, Dec 6th, for the Coastkeeper Garden Water Wise/ Drought…

Enter to Win Our Magazine Photo Contest! Show us your best shot. We at Coastkeeper are marking our 15-year anniversary by holding a photo contest. The contest is based on…

Thank You for Supporting Us at Our Special 15th Anniversary Celebration On September 24th, community and business leaders came together to celebrate Orange County Coastkeeper’s 15th anniversary. The event, which…

June 3rd, Huntington State Beach Over 1,200 elementary school students came together to remove litter at Huntington State Beach that would have otherwise polluted the ocean. The theme for 2014…

June 4th, Huntington State Beach In 2013, the message was clear – the ocean needs saving. Over 1,100 Orange County elementary school students, along with 200 educators and volunteers, created…

 “Defend the Sea!” Kids Ocean Day 2012 has already come and gone! It was a gorgeous day at the beach, and conditions were perfect for this annual event. We returned…

“Clean seas, please!” Over 875 kids, over 100 volunteers, and dozens of teachers and chaperones took over Huntington State Beach for a cleanup and aerial art event. Fifteen busloads of…

In 2010, we moved our event to Huntington State Beach, and it was a hit! Over 750 Students helped clean the beach, and came together to create an aerial art image…

Thanks to all who helped us bring over 700 elementary school students to Bolsa Chica State Beach for the 15th Annual Kids Ocean Day on June 4th, 2009! Our students,…

For our first year as Kids Ocean Day coordinator for Orange County, 500 students from 6 local schools participated in the beach cleanup and aerial art activities. Through this incredible…