Heal the Ocean focuses on wastewater infrastructure – sewers and septic systems – as well as ocean dumping practices that have contributed to ocean pollution. We are focused on Santa Barbara County, but our methods are now serving as a model for other coastal communities across the country.
Our mission maintains five definite goals:
- ZERO PATHOGENS IN SEWAGE. Wastewater plants discharging into the Santa Barbara Channel must upgrade treatment of sewage effluent to avoid the addition of pathogens and bacteria to seawater.
- SEPTIC SYSTEMS. Septic systems operate on the principle of leaching, and must be removed from inappropriate beach and creek areas. “Cluster overuse” must be dealt with by sewer hookup, which we facilitate by working with homeowner associations.
- NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION. Heal the Ocean plays an active role in the development of storm water permits, and has initiated a study of groundwater ocean interaction; we lobby for increased street sweeping and enforcement to prevent illegal dumping into creeks and storm drains.
- OCEAN DUMPING. Dredge and fill operations in the name of “restoring beaches” will not be performed unless materials are suitable and clean for beaches, and do not cause smothering of near-shore sea life.
- LANDFILLS. We take an active role in the prevention of toxic pollutants leaching into the sea from landfills.
We employ engineers, researchers and scientists, lawyers, GIS mappers, and other experts to locate sources of pollution, assess their significance and find solutions. We perform cost feasibility studies for upgraded wastewater management methods. We have conducted DNA tests in watersheds as well as virus tests in the ocean. To meet our objectives, we work with city, county and state agencies to initiate new programs and comply with those that already exist.
Hillary has been a writer/journalist/news reporter since 1968, with published books about the sea and underwater exploration, and magazine articles including National Geographic, Geo, Islands, The Surfer’s Journal, Reader’s Digest and the Los Angeles Times. From 1969 through 1977 she was West Coast stringer for Ocean Science News, Washington D.C., and from 1981-1986 was ocean/marine reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press. She also was the former music critic for the Santa Barbara News-Press and is a long-time classical pianist.
James O. Hawkins, a UCSB environmental studies/political science graduate (whose thesis was on climate change) fills the most important role of HTO Associate Researcher. During his first week in office, James tackled HTO’s statement to the State Water Resources Control Board on the subject of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (or CECs), and he has gone on from there to provide the underpinnings of scientific and engineering fact to help our facilitation of the work we do to fulfill our five-point Mission Statement.
Grant is a a former sound engineer for Hollywood productions, who was semi-retired but who jumped into work running our office at the end of February, 2012.
Marco is a cofounder and partner of Coast Law Group LLP in Encinitas, California, where his practice area focus includes environmental law, land use, water quality and natural resource advocacy and litigation. Prior to founding Coast Law Group, Mr. Gonzalez was the Senior Attorney with San Diego BayKeeper, and Chairman/Legal Counsel for the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego. He is a frequent lecturer on environmental issues, land use and planning regulation, desalination, Mexico-U.S. border water quality issues, and the role of non-governmental organizations in environmental enforcement.
Ava Everett is HTO’s public outreach coordinator. She worked with HTO as “office” administrator in the very first days of HTO when we didn’t even have an office, and now she is the one you’ll see at HTO tables at every public event, working side by side with Ruston Slager, who has also been with HTO since its beginnings.
RUSTON SLAGER has been with HTO since the beginning days, and in fact can be credited with “starting” the organization, because he organized the public demonstration on the steps of the County Administration Building after Hillary’s “Genesis” article came out, lamenting the problem of Santa Barbara beaches being closed because of pollution. You will always see Ruston alongside Ava Everett at public events where HTO is involved – Earth Day, the Harbor Festival, and of course our own events. Ruston instructs adults and children with learning and developmental disabilities in community and school settings. He is a local musician and landscape artist.
Jane Banick, HTO bookkeeper; Ruston Slager, Hillary Hauser, Ava Everett, and Hillary Tentler, HTO’s CPA.
Hillary has been a writer/journalist/news reporter since 1968, with published books about the sea and underwater exploration, and magazine articles including National Geographic, Geo, Islands, The Surfer’s Journal, Reader’s Digest and the Los Angeles Times. From 1969 through 1977 she was West Coast stringer for Ocean Science News, Washington D.C., and from 1981-1986 was ocean/marine reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press. She also was the former music critic for the Santa Barbara News-Press and is a long-time classical pianist.
Francesca Cava, a longtime friend and supporter of HTO (and wife of John Robinson, who was on the HTO Board until he passed away in February 2011) has served since July 2009 as Arctic Policy Program Manager to the 
Jean-Michel has spent his life with his family exploring the world's oceans aboard the research vessels Calypso and Alcyone, communicating to people of all nations and generations his love and concern for our water planet. The eldest son of the late ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel is President of Ocean Futures Society, where he continues his life's work of educating, especially the young people of the world, to foster a conservation ethic for our water planet.
Heather Hudson, a supporter of HTO since our inception, is a long-time ocean lover and surfer (you’ll find her almost every morning at Rincon!), and she and her husband Keith Crummer are avid outdoors people. After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from UCLA in 1984, she worked in advertising until she became a full-time mother in 1991. She is currently runs her film production company, Graciegirl LLC. Heather has served on HTO’s Advisory Board as well as every HTO Annual Gala Committee, and now she is overseeing the reinstatement of the great annual HTO party tradition.
Thomas Dabney is a native Santa Barbarian and lobster fisherman with deep appreciation for the ocean and all it affords, and comes to Heal the Ocean with valuable directorial experience as a long time board member of his family foundations.
Francoise is an artist and author of cookbooks and children's books who worked many years in real estate in Santa Barbara and Malibu. She is devoted to community service in Santa Barbara -- in addition to serving on the Heal the Ocean board, she serves on the board of Girls, Inc. and Direct Relief International.
Sam Scranton, who was for over 30 years the moving force behind the 