Humboldt Baykeeper - Humboldt Baykeeper

New State Study Aims to Protect Drinking Water for 88,000 People

More than a decade after declaring an “Imminent and Substantial Endangerment” to public health from contaminated groundwater near the Mad River, the State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is finally resuming work to determine the extent of the dioxin plume and to plan next steps to protect the region’s drinking water.

In December 2020, DTSC approved a contract with SHN Consulting Engineers and Geologists to identify how far contamination has spread toward Mad River from the former McNamara & Peepe Lumber Mill. The site is between Arcata and Blue Lake, about one mile upstream of the drinking water supplies for nearly 90,000 people in the Humboldt Bay area. This includes Arcata, Eureka, McKinleyville, Blue Lake, and the Samoa Peninsula.

Safety Tips for Cleaning & Cooking Dungeness Crab

The beginning of Dungeness crab season is always a time to celebrate, but with major concerns over the last few years regarding unsafe domoic acid levels, state health department officials continue to recommend not eating the internal organs (known as crab butter).

Click HERE to download the brochure explaining this simple method of cleaning crabs before cooking to reduce your exposure to unsafe contaminants, including dioxins.

The good news is that Dungeness crab are low in mercury - see our mercury guidelines for more info.

Staff Spotlight: Jasmin Segura of Humboldt Baykeeper

Destacado del personal

Jasmin Segura, coordinadora del tour por la bahía con Humboldt Baykeeper

Jasmin Segura does a lot more than coordinate our Bay Tours: she works with diverse communities to create a new era of stewardship where people feel compelled to be informed and protect Humboldt Bay. Thanks to EcoNews for interviewing Jasmin on her thoughtful, caring approach to people and the planet!

Mercury Levels in Humboldt Bay Fish and Shellfish

UPDATED! Humboldt Baykeeper has been testing mercury levels in local fish since July 2016 with funding from the California Environmental Protection Agency. We’ve found that most local fish are safe to eat in moderation—with a few exceptions.

Click HERE for the Final Report

Click HERE for the updated Guidelines

Comiendo Pescado Con Seguridad Pautas para Humboldt Bay

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Baykeeper Launches Humboldt Coastal Biodiversity Project

Do you love walking along the Eureka Waterfront Trail and the Humboldt Bay Trail in Arcata? Do you enjoy photographing nature? Have you ever admired a wildflower, bird, or insect, and wished you knew its name?

If so, you might enjoy our new Humboldt Coastal Biodiversity Project. It is a great way to contribute to citizen science, learn the names of plants and animals, and connect with other nature-lovers. All you need is a smartphone with the iNaturalist app. This is an outdoor activity you can safely enjoy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click HERE for safety tips.

Thanks to the California Coastal Conservancy for funding this project, along with our summer bay tours (which we hope to resume later this summer if it's safe to do so).

Report A Spill Here!

Call Humboldt Baykeeper at (707) 499-3678 to report a spill after business hours, or if you prefer to remain anonymous. Please take photos if possible.

For spills in Humboldt Bay:

Cailfornia Office of Emergency Services (800) 852-7550

For spills in or near storm drains (which drain to creeks and Humboldt Bay):

Eureka Public Works (707) 441-4203
Arcata Environmental Services (707) 822-8184
Humboldt County Public Works (707) 445-7491

Updated Humboldt Baykeeper poster now available at Eureka Books!

An updated version of our popular Humboldt Bay poster is for sale at Eureka Books, 426 2nd Street, Eureka. The update restores the bame of Tuluwat Island (formerly Indian Island) after the City oF Eureka returned most of the island to the Wiyot Tribe.