June E-Letter
In this E-Letter:
Juvinile Humpback Whale Lands on Padaro Beach
New Oil Leaks appear off Summerland
Noah Boland Joins the HTO Team as Research Analyst
The Problem of Fool’s Anchorage seems to be Fading?
Ongoing: HTO’s Efforts to Solve the Problem of the Beached Humpback Whale
Photo by Harry Rabin
When a baby humpback died and floated onto Padaro Beach on May 22, 2023, a range of emotions surfaced. Beachgoers placed flowers on its body, as a dead humpback whale is a truly sorrowful sight. Simultaneously, Padaro Beach homeowners had been horrified to witness the whale drifting towards the shore. Kaye Walters from Padaro Beach Club promptly reached out to HTO Project Director Harry Rabin for assistance. This marked the beginning of a series of challenging maneuvers that are still ongoing as this E-letter is being prepared. HTO immediately contacted the Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit for a necropsy and promptly alerted NOAA about the incident. Working against time and tide, HTO collaborated with Brian Borgatello of MarBorg Industries in an attempt to bury the whale, but unfortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful.
Now, nearly a month after the whale beached, Heal the Ocean is nearing a solution to remove the whale. Weeks have been spent working with the Padaro homeowners and officials from Union Pacific Railroad to gain access to the beach over the tracks. Finally, with the intervention of First County Supervisor Das Williams, an emergency permit was obtained from the Coastal Commission to access the whale. This is considered an emergency situation, as a decomposing whale not only poses unpleasantness but also health risks.
By the time you read this, we hope that this distressing situation has been resolved. Whales are magnificent creatures that should never be in a state that offends anyone. We extend our gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly to address this sad situation and bring an end to this story.
Monitoring New Oil Leaks off Summerland
Aerial Image Showing Multiple Oil Leaks and Wind Direction. Photo by Harry Rabin
HTO Program Director Harry Rabin has been examining the new oil slicks that have surfaced off Summerland Beach. He has created the photograph above by combining 32 high-resolution pictures. The image reveals an oil slick that appears to originate from multiple locations along the Summerland coastline. Harry and his team hypothesize that the oil is being pushed out due to a recharge of groundwater resulting from recent rains, as well as the combination of low-pressure weather and extreme tide changes, which can create a natural pumping action. Rabin intends to utilize HTO's new ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) to conduct an underwater video survey of the wellheads. This survey aims to determine which wells may be leaking.
Noah Boland is HTO’s New Research Analyst
Noah Boland in the HTO Office
HTO has a bright new star on our staff – Noah Boland, who is joining our team as a Research Analyst. Noah will be primarily responsible for monitoring local and state meetings, preparing meeting memos for HTO Executive Director Hillary Hauser, monitoring public meetings, and preparing in-depth research reports for Heal the Ocean.
Noah graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection, as well as an MBA in general management. Growing up in Ventura, he developed a passion for the environment through activities such as surfing, running, and hiking.
Additionally, Noah is an active figure in the local music scene, having founded and managed multiple bands. He has co-written, co-produced, and performed on five albums, and has played over 230 shows across California. We are thrilled to have Noah's expertise and enthusiasm as a valuable addition to our team!
Fool’s Anchorage Population – is it becoming Smaller?
A Consequence of Anchoring in Fool's Anchorage. Photo by Harry Rabin
Fool's Anchorage, the ocean area off East Beach, has seen a decrease in the number of anchored boats in recent months. This is a welcome relief from the number of boats (20+) anchored there in January 2023. During past winter storms, five boats broke loose and washed onto East Beach, leaving numerous agencies scrambling to stop them from drifting, or, when they hit the beach, to get them off the beach. Many agencies have been involved, including the Santa Barbara waterfront department, U.S. Coast Guard, Heal the Ocean, MarBorg Industries, and others.
Heal the Ocean had assembled a Boat Task Force to address this problem, which got into discussing real solutions to ending this coastal mess, but the situation seemed to become worse rather than better as time went on. In a discussion with Santa Barbara waterfront director Erik Engebretson, HTO wondered aloud if the Boat Task Force had anything to do with discouraging boats from anchoring in this unreliable coastal area.
We don't know for certain, but we hope it helped.
From all of us at Heal the Ocean to all of you, thank you, and please stay safe!
Hillary Hauser, Executive Director
HTO thanks the Poehler-Stremel Charitable Trust
for providing funds to publish our newsletters and e-letters!