Humboldt Baykeeper - Humboldt Baykeeper

Coastal Commission Approves Offshore Wind Exploration Plan—with Conditions

On April 7, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s plans for studying marine life in the proposed Humboldt Wind Energy Area, 21 miles west of Humboldt Bay. The Bureau, known as BOEM, plans to hold auctions this summer for offshore wind developers to bid on lease areas in federal waters off Humboldt and Morro Bay. Lessees will then begin “site assessment activities” to better understand potential impacts in these understudied ocean environments.

McKay Community Forest Draft Management Plan Released

The McKay Community Forest is one step closer to reality with the release of the County's draft Forest Stewardship Plan!

The Forest Stewardship Plan is the County’s guidance document for managing the McKay Community Forest through the next 10-15 years including trails, forest management, fire risk reduction, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, monitoring, and adaptive management.

Comments on the draft Forest Stewardship Plan are invited through May 31, 2022.

Protecting Eureka's Gulches and Greenways

The City of Eureka recently launched the Gulches and Greenways Planning Effort to develop policies to protect and manage these important open spaces. Even if you don't live or work in Eureka, these streams, wetlands, and riparian areas are important to all who care about the health of Humboldt Bay.

The first workshop was held on March 29, and 554 people responded to the City's online survey (see the summary of responses HERE). The City has now released an initial draft ordinance and will hold meetings of the Open Space, Parks, and Recreation Commission on April 28 and May 26 for input before the ordinance goes to the Planning Commission and then the City Council.

Dioxin Hot-Spot in Arcata Marsh To Be Assessed

On March 7, Humboldt Baykeeper, the City of Arcata, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields* Program staff met for a tour of a contaminated site at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. This site has been on our radar since 2015, when a dioxin hotspot was identified in nearby Humboldt Bay sediments during a study of areas proposed for wetland restoration.

The Climate Crisis on the North Coast (& what we can do about it)

In November, world leaders met in Glasgow for the 26th time since 1992 to grapple with ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Taking action to slow climate change has become more urgent in recent years, as catastrophic storms, fires, drought, and heat waves are becoming more and more common. This is no longer some abstract future scenario, and the North Coast is facing many challenges as a result of the unfolding climate crisis.

Keep reading

Clam Beach Pollution Study Points to Birds

Clam Beach has been on Heal the Bay's “Beach Bummer” list of California's most polluted beaches for years, getting an 'F' for water quality on the latest Beach Report Card.

But after years of research, we now have a better sense of the source of this pollution thanks to a new study by Humboldt County's Public Health Lab Manager, Dr. Jeremy Corrigan.

Eating Local Fish Safely: Humboldt Bay Mercury Assessment, Phase II

Humboldt Baykeeper's second study of mercury in local fish focused on species from nearshore coastal waters. We sampled 70 individual fish across nine species, including Pacific Halibut and several species of rockfish. We also sampled additional Lingcod and California Halibut to add to the data from our 2018 study. We found that most local fish are safe to eat in moderation—with a few exceptions.

Click HERE for revised recommendations on Eating Fish Safely.

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Our final report, Mercury Testing of Sport/Food Fishes from Nearshore Ocean Waters of Humboldt County, California, is available to download HERE. Estudio sobre mercurio ampliado para incluir peces capturados en el océano.

New! Phone-sized images for handy references (click to enlarge or download):