Humboldt Baykeeper - Humboldt Baykeeper

King Tides Photo Initiative: Focus on the old railroad, December 4 & 5

The highest tides of the year (known as King Tides) are coming Saturday & Sunday, December 4 & 5, and all you need to get involved is a smartphone or a camera!

This year, we are focusing on the old railroad tracks around Humboldt Bay. Built over a century ago when sea level was 18 inches lower than it is today, the railroad hasn't operated in decades. But coal interests are scheming to seize the railroad from the State of California to export coal to Asia via Humboldt Bay. Visit NoCoalInHumboldt.org for more info on the growing coalition fighting this terrible proposal.

Photo: Erosion along the rail line near Bracut Industrial Park, Jan. 11, 2020.

Celebrating Another Successful Bay Tour Season!

As Bay Tours Coordinator, I have the privilege, through a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy, to play host to many members of our fine community by organizing activities around Humboldt Bay. This year, although different, was very much the same, thanks to our many community partners.

Photo: Our last Madaket tour of the 2021 season was for staff and artists of Canvas + Clay Studio and Gallery. Here they are enjoying a fine day on the bay. Photo by Jasmin Segura.

Clam Beach Pollution Study Points to Birds

Clam Beach landed on Heal the Bay's “Beach Bummer” list of California's most polluted beaches for the seventh time in 11 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.

In short, Dr. Corrigan’s research identified birds as the primary source of pollution at Clam Beach, while cattle are the main source upstream in Strawberry Creek.

"Clam Beach is frequented by birds, which adds to the allure of its location and should be celebrated not feared." from Corrigan et al. Microbial Source Tracking Approach to Investigate Fecal Waste at the Strawberry Creek Watershed and Clam Beach, California, USA. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6901.

Baykeeper's Mercury Study Extended to Coastal Fish

Humboldt Baykeeper recently completed its second study of mercury in local fish, this time focusing 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 the updated recommendations on Eating Fish Safely.

Comiendo Pescado Con Seguridad Pautas

Estudio sobre mercurio ampliado para incluir peces capturados en el océano

Our final report, Mercury Testing of Sport/Food Fishes from Nearshore Ocean Waters of Humboldt County, California, is available to download HERE.

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

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.

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!

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).