Heal The Ocean

HEAL THE OCEAN FOCUSES ON WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE - WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS (WWTPS) AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS FOR WHICH WE HIRE CONSULTANTS TO ACCESS STATE GRANT FUNDS TO HELP WWTPS UPGRADE TO RECYCLED WATER PRODUCTION TO LIMIT OCEAN DUMPING, AS WELL AS HELP WHOLE COMMUNITIES ABANDON SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.

HEAL THE OCEAN HIRES ENGINEERS, EXPERTS, RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, GIS MAPPERS AND UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES TO PRODUCE REPORTS AND TO GIVE US TEST RESULTS AS WELL AS BLUEPRINTS FOR UPGRADE OF WWTPS, REMOVAL OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN UNSUITABLE PLACES, CLEANUP OF GROUNDWATER AND CONTAMINATED SOILS, AND MORE. WE HAVE FACILITATED STATE GRANTS FOR WASTEWATER FACILITIES TO UPGRADE TO RECYCLED WATER. WE PERFORM COST FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR A NUMBER OF INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO BENEFIT CLEAN WATER, AND THE OCEAN. WE HAVE CONDUCTED DNA TESTS IN WATERSHEDS AND ARE NOW WORKING WITH GIS MAPPERS TO DELINEATE AREAS OF THE CALIFORNIA COAST THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY SEA LEVEL RISE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE - AND WORK WITH REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL REGIONS OF THE STATE TO PREPARE FOR CLEANUP WORK BEFORE THE OCEAN RISESOUR APPROACH TO SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE WORK WITH (NOT AGAINST) COUNTIES, CITIES, AGENCIES, WASTEWATER AND WATER DISTRICTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS. WE ACCESS GRANT FUNDS TO HELP PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE OCEAN WATER QUALITY AND TO PROTECT PRECIOUS GROUNDWATER RESOURCES. WE CONTINUE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS TO PUBLIC WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. WE CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE 2010, AND IN THIS CAPACITY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE AS WELL AS GROUNDWATER PROTECTION.I. SEPTIC SYSTEMS:1) SEPTIC SYSTEM POLLUTION OF GROUNDWATER. BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS WITH THE RINCON (SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC TO SEWER) PROJECT, HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES TO WORK ON COASTAL AREAS STILL ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS - PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE TIMES WE ARE NOW IN WITH SEA LEVEL RISE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 2) AB885 UPDATE. UNDER AB885 (JACKSON) THE TMDL (TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD) LIST AMENDMENTS ARE TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS TO LIST AREAS THAT REQUIRE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REGULATIONS UNDER AB 885. HEAL THE OCEAN IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD (SWRCB) TO UPDATE THIS LIST ("ATTACHMENT 2"), TO INCLUDE SEPTIC SYSTEM AREAS THAT NOW NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.3) BEACH CLUB ROAD SEPTIC-TO-SEWER. BEACH CLUB ROAD IS AN ENCLAVE OF 28 HOMES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT, LOCATED ON THE OCEAN AND IN A CREEK AREA WITH HIGH GROUNDWATER. THOSE HOMEOWNERS PULLED BACK FROM THE BIGGER PROJECT WITH LEGAL FIGHTS BROKE OUT, BUT WERE STILL INCLUDED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS, AND AS SUCH, ARE STILL COVERED BY CEQA IF THEY WERE TO HOOK UP TO THE PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM. HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY REGARDING CONVERSION FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. HEAL THE OCEAN HAS DEVELOPED AN OUTREACH PLAN TO COMMUNICATE THE HOMEOWNERS AND WORKING TO SET UP INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS WITH THE CARPENTARIA SANITARY DISTRICT.4) SANTA YNEZ HORIZON/STADIUM SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT. IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN HIRED DUDEK ENVIRONMENTAL TO SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE STATE FOR A LOW-INTERESTING REVOLVING LOAN TO HELP PAY FOR A $6 MILLION SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT FOR 450+ HOMES OVERLYING A GROUNDWATER BASIN USED FOR DRINKING WATER. MANY HOMEOWNERS IN HORIZON AREA ARE CONNECTING TO PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM.5) LOS OLIVOS. THIS AREA THAT OVERLIES THE SANTA YNEZ GROUNDWATER BASIN IS HEAVILY POPULATED WITH HOTELS, WINERIES, RESTAURANTS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND IS ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IT HAS BEEN CITED AS A "PROBLEM AREA" BY THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IN 2017, LOS OLIVOS CREATED ITS OWN COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT (CSD) TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THEREBY SKIRTING THE OFFER OF SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT TO HOOK THEM UP TO A POCKET RECYCLED WATER WWTP, STATING THEY WOULD DO THIS THEMSELVES. HEAL THE OCEAN IS IN NOW WORKING WITH THE LOCSD TO SUPPORT ITS EFFORTS TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER IN THE AREA.II. UPGRADING WASTEWATER TO RECYCLED WATER:HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES TO EDUCATE, RESEARCH, ADVOCATE FOR, AND FACILITATE THE ADVANCEMENT OF TURNING WASTE(D) WATER INTO RECYCLED WATER. WHEN PROPOSITION 1 FUNDING BECAME AVAILABLE FOR FACILITIES PLANNING GRANTS TO CONVERT WWTPS TO RECYCLED WATER PLANTS, WE APPROACHED NUMBER OF WATER/WASTEWATER DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE, AND SUCCEEDED IN GETTING $150,000 PLANNING GRANTS. WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THOSE DISTRICTS TODAY.III. GROUNDWATER.A) GROUNDWATER CHARACTERIZATION PROJECT: IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN FORMED A TEAM PROJECT WITH THE REGIONAL BOARD ON A GROUNDWATER CHARACTERIZATION PROJECT THAT IDENTIFIED GROUNDWATER QUALITY DATA IN THE SANTA YNEZ GROUNDWATER BASIN. THIS REPORT WAS RELEASED BY THE REGIONAL BOARD IN 2019, AND HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES OUR CAMPAIGN TO GET LOS OLIVOS OFF SEPTIC SYSTEMS WITH THIS REPORT AS AN IMPORTANT EVIDENTIARY TOOL. B) CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER CLEANUP - CITY OF SANTA BARBARA. AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK TO ORGANIZE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER DATA INTO THE STATE WATER BOARD GEOTRACKER SITE (A 3-YEAR PROJECT), THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SITE MITIGATION UNIT (SMU) AND REGIONAL BOARD CONTINUES TO REGULATE THE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER AREAS BENEATH THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, AND REPORTS TO HTO. WE ARE NOTIFIED BY THE SANTA BARBARA CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONS WHEN A DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS, SO THAT WE CAN PRESS FOR CLEANUP BEFORE ANY BUILDING IS PLANNED. C) SEA LEVEL RISE. HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED ITS ADVOCACY FOR ADAPTATION PLANS IN SEA LEVEL RISE (CLIMATE CHANGE) PLANNING DOCUMENTS, ILLUSTRATING WITH PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DURING KING TIDES HOW CLOSE THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHORELINE IS TO FLOODING. AT CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONS, WE ADVISE CAUTION IN ALLOWING BUILDING IN COASTAL ZONES THAT WILL BE FLOODED. HEAL THE OCEAN IS CREATING A MAP THAT WILL EXAMINE HOW RISING SEAS CAN PUSH LONG-BURIED TOXINS TO THE SURFACE ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. THIS IS AN ASPECT OF SEA LEVEL RISE THAT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED BY ALMOST ALL CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES. IN ABOUT 15-20 YEARS, THIS GROUNDWATER ALONG WITH ANY TOXINS IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH COULD WELL BE SEEPING INTO BASEMENTS OR UNDERNEATH HOUSES. HEAL THE OCEAN HAS SPENT YEARS ON THE ISSUE OF CLEANING UP TOXIC GROUNDWATER BENEATH THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA. THE SCOPE THE COAST PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE INTERACTION OF SEA LEVEL RISE WITH CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER/SOIL IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF CALIFORNIA. AS THE SEA LEVEL RISES,SALTWATER WILL MIX WITH THE CONTAMINATED SOILS AND GROUNDWATER OF THE COASTAL ZONE. THIS MIXING WILL FURTHER POLLUTE COASTAL OCEAN WATERS, AND RISE TO THE SURFACE, TO POTENTIALLY RELEASE CONTAMINANTS AS AEROSOLS. THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO WORK WITH CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATORS TO CREATE LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN THROUGH POLICY AND REGULATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES. HTO WILL CREATE A MAP OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL ZONE USING GIS TECHNOLOGY WITH LAYERS FOR LAND USE, AQUIFERS, MONITORED WELLS, SEA LEVEL RISE DATA, AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS TO DEMOSTRATE THE CONTAMINATION THREAT TO THE COASTAL ZONE AS THE OCEAN COMES IN.IV. ONSHORE POLLUTIONA) OIL POLLUTION (OCEAN DUMPING)I) OHLSSON 805 AND DUQUESNE. IN AUGUST 2021 THE OHLSSON 805 BEACH WELL OFF OF SUMMERLAND BEACH WAS CAPPED SUCCESSFULLY. IN DECEMBER 2021, STATE LANDS COMISSION RETURNED TO CAP DUQUESNE, A BEACH WELL OFF OF SUMMERLAND BEACH. HEAL THE OCEAN WAS PRESENT AT BOTH CAPPINGS AND HTO HIRED CONSULTANTS TO AID WITH THE PROCESS AND ASSIST WITH MONITORING. FUNDING FOR THE $3 MILLION CAPPING OPERATION CAME FROM SB 44, AUTHORED BY SENATOR HANNAH-BETH JACKSON, TO PROVIDE $2 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE CLEANUP OF HAZARDS AND ABANDONED WELLS ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. HTO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING SB 44 PASSED, BY HIRING CONSULTANTS TO PRODUCE INFRARED MAPS THAT SUCCINCTLY OUTLINED WHERE THE LEAKING WELLS EXISTED. FOLLOWING THE WELL CAPPING, HTO HIRED A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT THE REQUIRED POST-PROJECT MONITORING, FLYING A DRONE OVER THE AREA OF WORK TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM OF OIL ESCAPE.