In this E-Letter:

Happy 4th of July to All!
Freedom to Swim Without Worry
Early Morning 7/3 Operation on Summerland Beach Well
#PlasticFreeJuly - Be Plastic Free!
Santa Barbara is on its Way to Being Styrofoam Free
Be Plastic Bottle Free with the BYOBottle Campaign!
HTO Waves a Special Flag for Marcie Kjoller at the Santa Barbara Triathlon
Jalama to be Free of Doggy Waste!
Save the Date - HTO's Annual Benefit 2019!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL!

Heal the Ocean extends our best wishes to everyone on the day we celebrate our country’s independence, and we honor the soldiers from every war, who have fought for our freedom.

We also honor the warriors who have worked hard for another sort of independence – the freedom of knowing our water is clean to swim in, that our ocean is protected from environmental harm.

On this day, we especially thank our supporters who are helping Heal the Ocean achieve our mission, to tackle enemy sources (and pollutants), to protect the ocean we love.

Here are some of the projects we have to report to you – projects we’ve undertaken with great care, for the freedom of our ocean, our groundwater, our rivers, and streams.

FREEDOM TO SWIM WITHOUT WORRY

After receiving word from some people worried about ocean water quality (especially after the recent rains, the depositing of silt into the ocean in Carpinteria and Goleta, and other such events), Heal the Ocean consulted with the Environmental Health Services departments of both Santa Barbara County & Ventura County. Santa Barbara County monitors ocean water quality year-round at 16 beaches from Carpinteria to Guadalupe Dunes, while Ventura Resource Management Agency monitors Rincon and other Ventura County Beaches, also all year around. You can find weekly test results on County websites or on our website at HealTheOcean.org.

We are excited to see that for the week of June 24, 2019, every beach in Santa Barbara County and Ventura County came out with great, clean test results with no beach closures occurring. Popular surf spots and swim spots appear to be in great shape as we head into the holiday weekend! Before you head to the beach, remember to check the water quality and beach status so you can swim safely!

Smart phone interactive map/ Ventura County

Click to view Santa Barbara results for ocean water quality testing for the week of June 24, 2019.

Click to view Ventura County results for ocean water quality testing for the week of June 24, 2019.

EARLY MORNING 7/3, OPERATION ON SUMMERLAND BEACH WELL

Summerland Beach Leaks / Photo by Harry Rabin

In the pre-dawn hours of July 3, 2019, State Lands Commission (SLC) contractors were on Summerland Beach, excavating around the leaking oil coming from a well called "Ohlssen," which is the focus of SLC's next cleanup. Contractors were working at extreme low tide (-0.69 feet) at 4:40 a.m. on the Ohlssen well, which is located high on the beach below the lone two-story condominium at the west end of Summerland beach. When the sand is low, black oil can be seen bubbling up from this well, adding to the overall oily mess of this area. All this year Heal the Ocean Advisory Board member Harry Rabin has been working under contract with InterAct engineers Mike Giuliani and Eric Kroh to help them in their study and design for excavation of not only Ohlssen, but another beach well called “Duquesne,” as well as the notorious offshore Treadwell 10 well.

IT’S PLASTIC FREE JULY!

#PlasticFreeJuly is all about challenging yourself, your neighbors, and the community to reduce single-use plastic waste from everyday life. The Plastic Free July campaign increases awareness on the issue of plastic waste and provides resources for people around the world who are interested in living a plastic-free lifestyle. There are simple ways each of us can make a difference this Plastic-Free July. Heal the Ocean challenges you to get involved and make a change for the ocean. For helpful tips on what you can do and how to get started, click here.

You know those roll-down plastic bags at grocery stores to put your produce in? Those are miles of plastic bags that go into the trash! Instead, buy your own reusable produce bags, available here on Amazon.

These are breathable, washable bags you can shop with, along with your cloth carry bags. Once you get into it, you will never look at those rolls and rolls of plastic bags the same way again!

SANTA BARBARA IS ON ITS WAY TO BEING STYROFOAM FREE!

In the spirit of #PlasticFreeJuly, Heal the Ocean continues to work with MarBorg Industries on developing a Styrofoam recycling/repurposing facility in Santa Barbara. Heal the Ocean located the manufacturers of Styrofoam Densifiers, which “melts” the Styrofoam into blocks that are then sold to the manufacturers of picture frames, moldings, surfboard blanks, and other products. Brian Borgatello has taken out-of-town trips to learn how the machine works and is working on possible ways such a device can be installed on MarBorg property in Santa Barbara.

Meanwhile, please do not throw Styrofoam into the trash! Heal the Ocean is still collecting and shipping Styrofoam to a re-purposing company in Compton, CA. Bring it to our office at 1430 Chapala Street (preferably in the cardboard box it was shipped in), and if our back door isn’t open, leave it in front of the door. We are dedicated to keeping Styrofoam out of the waste stream.

Styrofoam is so troubling for the environment because it NEVER decomposes, it becomes smaller and smaller until it resembles plankton. Marine life like fish and turtles eat it, and it eventually makes its way up the food chain into our food.

Call the HTO office for more information or to schedule a drop off: (805) 965-7570

HTO JOINS JACK JOHNSON’S BYOBottle CAMPAIGN!

HTO has joined Jack Johnson’s BYOBottle Campaign, a music industry effort to reduce plastic waste by promoting reusable water bottles and water refill stations at music events. We are committed to being part of the growing momentum to turn the tide on plastic pollution. We encourage you, our HTO supporters, to use reusable water bottles and beverage containers at home, at work, and when you are out and about, to show your commitment to reducing plastic pollution.

Artists, venues, festivals, and fans are joining non-profits and business partners to turn the tide on plastic pollution. Recent press images have highlighted the shocking sea of plastic waste left behind after concerts and festivals, but momentum is building to promote solutions in the music scene. Join the BYOBottle Campaign and rock your reusable water bottle! Learn more at www.byobottle.org.

WE ARE WAVING A SPECIAL FLAG FOR MARCIE KJOLLER AT THE SANTA BARBARA TRIATHLON

In March 2019 Marcie Kjoller, a UCSB Hall of Fame Swimmer, teacher and inspirational fitness advocate passed away while swimming off East Beach in Santa Barbara. In memory of Marcie’s life and love for the ocean and this community, the Santa Barbara Triathlon will be raising funds for some of Marcie’s favorite Santa Barbara causes. Heal the Ocean has been chosen as one of the non-profit beneficiaries. The triathlon will take place on the weekend of August 23-25, 2019. The Santa Barbara Triathlon and the Kjoller Family selected Heal the Ocean as a beneficiary because of Marcie’s love of Heal the Ocean’s work to keep our waters clean for all the people and animals who live and love this place we call home.

HTO needs volunteers to help at the Santa Barbara Triathlon. We are in need of 16 volunteers to join team HTO on Saturday, August 24 for a three-hour shift at a Water Station along the course. If you like cheering people on and love to have fun, please join our team! We also are happy to give community service hours.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like to donate or participate in the Triathlon please reach out to Alison at the HTO office:
(805) 965-7570 / alison@healtheocean.org

JALAMA TO BE FREE OF DOGGY WASTE!

HTO brings its doggy bag program to Jalama Beach, an out of the way, up-the-coast, surf spot and camping getaway. With world-famous waves and the famous "Jalama Burger," it is a popular stop along the Central Coast. Jalama isn't just paradise for surfers and burger enthusiasts, it's also the perfect place to bring your dog, and now, thanks to Santa Barbara County Parks and Heal the Ocean, there will be 8 new dog bag dispensers at Jalama!

Heal the Ocean’s mascot Wolfy is proud to serve as a sponsor for the 8 new Jalama dog bag dispensers, and we hope you and YOUR dog will join us as a sponsor – we will replace Wolfy’s picture with YOUR dog or company logo and name. One year of sponsorship is $500. Please call Alison at the HTO office (805) 965-7570, to discuss how the program works (HTO creates the sticker according to your specifications, handles maintenance and installation).

FLAG YOUR CALENDAR FOR HEAL THE OCEAN”S ANNUAL CELEBRATION!

Save the date, and join us for an evening of good cheer and company as we celebrate another year of Heal the Ocean achievements on Saturday, October 19, 2019! There will be great food, an amazing live auction, an ocean-themed photo booth, a DJ, and dancing to fun music.

Sponsorship are available!

For event or sponsorship information, please call or email the HTO office:
(805) 965-7570
alison@healtheocean.org

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS (STAY HOME WITH THOSE WHO ARE SKITTERY); KEEP THE BEACHES, PARKS, AND STREETS CLEAN OF YOUR PARTY DEBRIS. ABOVE ALL, DON'T FORGET TO THANK VETERANS FOR THEIR SACRIFICES TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY FREE!

THANK YOU, AND HAPPY 4TH TO ALL!

From all of us at Heal the Ocean