Baykeeper Victory to Reduce Sewage in the Bay

Baykeeper has successfully settled lawsuits against the Town of Hillsborough and the Burlingame Hills area to reduce sewage spills that have contributed to sewage pollution in San Francisco Bay. Baykeeper sued Hillsborough and Burlingame Hills last year for Clean Water Act violations after investigations revealed that the sewage systems have been poorly maintained and operated, with frequent sewage spills into streets and to creeks that lead to the Bay. Read more about Baykeeper’s successful lawsuits to reduce sewage spills from Hillsborough and Burlingame Hills.

Baykeeper Op-Ed On Marin's Sewage Problem

Sejal Choksi, Baykeeper and Director of Programs, wrote in support of improving Southern Marin County's sewer system in the Marin Independent Journal. Our op-ed explains how Southern Marin's many small sewer districts aren't up to fixing the County's big sewage problem:

Wastewater management reform is sorely needed throughout the Bay Area – particularly in southern Marin, where several small sanitation agencies manage one poorly functioning system.... These small agencies are often unable to bear the high cost of maintenance of sewer lines and treatment plants, thus directly causing sewage spills and overflows throughout the system.

Baykeeper is supporting a bill by Assemblymember Jared Huffman that will pave the way for more cost-efficient and effective wastewater management in southern Marin. Read the full op-ed in support of reforming the Southern Marin sewer system.

Abandoned Boats Summit a Success for the Bay

More than 70 participants attended Baykeeper's Abandoned Boats Summit to discuss the challenges of addressing the navigational, environmental and financial hazards caused by abandoned boats in San Francisco Bay and Delta. Baykeeper is working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the California Legislature to solve this problem and protect the Bay from becoming an aquatic junkyard. Watch news coverage of the summit on CBS 5.

Exploring Bay-Friendly Energy Options

A few months ago, Baykeeper's monthly column addressed the problem of Bay Area power plants that destroy fish and marine wildlife in a process called once-through cooling. In response, we received a question from one of our members about the possible alternatives to these plants:

What are the alternatives to once-through cooling? What are their relative positives and negatives? Where else are the alternatives being used? Your article got us very interested in this important topic.

It's a great question, and this month we're tackling the answer: Baykeeper's July column explores how we can move away from once-through cooling to find energy solutions that don't harm the Bay and local wildlife. Read the full column on alternatives to once-through cooling power plants.

Protect the Bay with Your Gift to Baykeeper

Since 1989, Baykeeper has been the pollution watchdog for San Francisco Bay, strengthening clean water laws and holding polluters accountable. Help us continue to protect the Bay from pollution by making a tax-deductible gift to Baykeeper today.

You can also become a Bay Steward with sustaining gifts to Baykeeper. Bay Stewards make regular monthly or quarterly gifts that help Baykeeper save money on administrative costs, so your support goes even further to help protect San Francisco Bay. Find out more about signing up to make monthly gifts to Baykeeper.

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