Orange County Coastkeeper
PROGRAMS
Enforcement
Through Coastkeeper’s legal department, we work to ensure that the Clean Water Act (1972) standards are upheld and met in Orange County. To accomplish this, our teams go into the field to identify water quality violations in Orange County and then pursue litigation when needed. Our staff attorneys defend water quality standards and work diligently to ensure Orange County residents and visitors have access to clean and safe water.
Marine environments will be preserved, restored, accessible, and as a result, healthy functioning ecosystems.
Research
Coastkeeper conducts scientific research on sediment and water quality analysis in local waterways and harbors. Our reports are utilized by governmental agencies at every level to create policies and regulations that address water-related challenges.
The research program analyzes how humans and wildlife interact in our watersheds and uses the information to inform important management decisions.
Restoration
To preserve critical habitat and species, Coastkeeper has worked to restore kelp forests, eelgrass beds in Newport Bay, the green abalone population off the Orange County coast, and native Olympia oysters in Alamitos Bay. In addition, Coastkeeper hosts monthly beach cleanups at Huntington State Beach to reduce the amount of debris entering the ocean and to educate the public about coastal issues.
Restoring threatened marine species such as eelgrass, green abalone, and oysters will contribute to the overall health and resilience of marine ecosystems.
Advocacy
Through a collaborative approach, we work with public and private agencies to develop water quality solutions that balance the needs of the environment and the community. Our main focuses are eliminating polluted urban runoff and advocating for behavioral changes that will ensure a healthy future water supply.
As a result of our advocacy program, public coastal access will be protected and expanded, threatened marine species will be restored, and regulations that protect water quality from industrial polluters and development will be further enforced.
Education
Coastkeeper developed the WHALES marine science and watershed education curriculum and engages about 2,500 students per year from under-resourced junior high and high schools through the program. The curriculum includes field trips to coastal habitats and inland waterways, water quality testing, biological assessments, marine life surveys, habitat restoration activities, and career development. Our other education programs include Kids Care, a marine-debris education program that provides free assemblies to underserved schools along with a field trip to the beach where students put their passion into action by performing a beach cleanup, Kids Ocean Day, an assembly/beach cleanup event that hosts over 1,000 elementary students at the beach where they perform a giant beach cleanup then line up in the sand to create an aerial art piece in the sand that we then photograph via drone, and Cleanup OC, our community cleanup program.
Our education programs will give students the knowledge and opportunities to become active and engaged members of their communities. We will help inspire behavioral changes that reduce urban runoff pollution affecting waterways, encourage students to pursue careers in science, math and technology, and to always keep their local environment in mind.
CONTACT
Orange County Coastkeeper
3151 Airway Avenue
Ste F-110
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: 714-850-1965#1002