We have a new name! Humboldt Waterkeeper (formerly known as Humboldt Baykeeper) was founded in 2004 after the resounding defeat of a proposal for a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) import facility on the Samoa Peninsula.
We saw the need for an organization focused on Humboldt Bay, but soon brought our expertise in water quality and legacy dioxin contamination to adjacent watersheds as well. 
Humboldt Bay is still our top priority, but our new name reflects the work we've been doing for years: 
  • In 2015, we got state recognition of the severity of bacteria pollution in Little River, Widow White Creek in McKinleyville, and 4 bay tributaries.
  • In 2017, we took legal action to protect Mad River from industrial stormwater pollution.
  • In 2018, we blocked the development of an asphalt plant at Big Lagoon (although we expect it will rear its ugly head again eventually).
  • In 2019, we joined forces with Friends of the Eel River to prevent a poorly-planned cannabis extraction factory on a contaminated former mill site on the Van Duzen River.
And since 2018, we've worked with the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District to increase state and federal agency attention to the dioxin-contaminated former McNamara & Peepe Lumber Mill, just a mile upstream from the drinking water supply intakes for 90,000 people in our region.
We are deeply grateful to each and every member of our community who supports our work to protect clean water for people to swim, drink, and fish. We rely on you to stay informed about bay issues, report pollution, and to make your voice heard when important decisions are being made about the health of the coastal, estuarine, and freshwater resources and ecosystems.
For the Bay and coast,
Jen Kalt, Executive Director
Jasmin Segura, Bay Tours Coordinator

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