Humboldt Baykeeper - Humboldt Baykeeper

West Coast Gray Whale “Unusual Mortality Event” Continues

Between January 1, 2019 and February 8 of this year, 613 stranded gray whales have been found along the west coast of North America between Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the Chukchi Sea in northern Alaska. Eight were found along the coast between South Humboldt Bay and the Oregon border. This has been declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME)...

Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries.

King Tide Photo Initiative: January 20-21, 2023

The highest tides of this winter (known as King Tides) are predicted on Friday & Saturday, January 20-21.

These tides may be much higher than predicted due to the southerly winds and Eckman Transport, which piles water up along our coast. Please USE EXTREME CAUTION when viewing the King Tides! And remember to wear bright colors so drivers can see you.

To get involved, all you need is a camera or a smartphone. Submit your photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or upload them to the California King Tide Photo Project.

Photo: Erosion along New Navy Base Road in Samoa dislodged a PG&E vault during the December 23-24 King Tides.

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.

Comiendo Pescado Con Seguridad Pautas

Yuav Ua Li Cas Noj Ntses Yam Xyuam Xim Cov Txhooj Cai Rau Humboldt Bay

New! Pocket-sized images for handy reference (click to print or download to your phone):

Women <45 and Children

Women >45 and Men

Rising Groundwater: Flooding from Below

Humboldt Baykeeper recently received a grant from the California Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize contaminated sites around the bay that are most at risk from rising sea level and groundwater.

We first began assessing the risks to contaminated sites due to flooding and erosion from sea level rise in 2012. But rising groundwater is also a concern, since it will likely impact low-lying areas around the bay before they are affected by surface inundation.

This Land is Their Land

Most of us know that what we call Humboldt Bay was part of the territory of the Wiyot people. And most us of know of the terrible mass killing that occurred in 1860 on what was called Indian Island.

But most of us do not know much more about the Wiyots and what has happened to their homeland over time. Here is part of that story.

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.

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.