Los Angeles Waterkeeper
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| Los Angeles Waterkeeper | |
|---|---|
| Name | Los Angeles Waterkeeper |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Ernie Clark |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Area served | Los Angeles River, Santa Monica Bay, Ballona Creek, San Gabriel River |
| Focus | Environmental protection, water quality, public health |
Los Angeles Waterkeeper is an environmental nonprofit focused on protecting the waterways of the Los Angeles Basin, including the Los Angeles River, Santa Monica Bay, and coastal watershed areas. Founded in 1999, the organization engages in legal advocacy, scientific monitoring, and community outreach to address pollution from stormwater, sewage, and industrial discharges. It operates within a network of regional and national conservation organizations to enforce environmental laws and advance restoration projects.
History
Los Angeles Waterkeeper emerged during a period of intensified environmental activism involving entities such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Heal the Bay, and Earthjustice, catalyzed by litigation trends exemplified by the Clean Water Act enforcement against municipal agencies like the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and the City of Los Angeles. Early work intersected with campaigns over the Los Angeles River revitalization, Ballona Creek restoration, and Santa Monica Bay cleanup alongside partners including the California Coastal Commission, State Water Resources Control Board, and United States Environmental Protection Agency. Founding leadership drew on precedents set by Waterkeeper Alliance affiliates such as Hudson Riverkeeper, Bronx River Alliance, and Puget Soundkeeper, while engaging with local institutions like the University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Long Beach for baseline studies. Over time the organization navigated policy debates involving the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits issued by Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and municipal consent decrees filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Mission and Programs
The organization's mission aligns with advocacy models practiced by groups such as the Waterkeeper Alliance, Surfrider Foundation, Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy, emphasizing restoration of aquatic habitat, protection of public health at beaches administered by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and enforcement of water quality standards overseen by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Programs encompass stormwater pollution prevention similar to initiatives by Friends of the Los Angeles River, California Coastkeeper, and Santa Monica Baykeeper; habitat restoration projects like those supported by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and policy work engaging Los Angeles City Council, County Board of Supervisors, California State Legislature, and United States Congress.
Advocacy and Legal Actions
Los Angeles Waterkeeper has pursued litigation and administrative advocacy analogous to cases brought by Earthjustice, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and Center for Biological Diversity, invoking statutes such as the Clean Water Act and California Environmental Quality Act in venues including U.S. District Court and California courts of appeal. Legal actions have targeted entities ranging from municipal wastewater agencies like the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Metropolitan Water District to industrial permittees and port operators such as the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach. Cases often involve collaboration with legal partners including the Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Center for Law in the Public Interest, and engage regulatory agencies like the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and National Marine Fisheries Service.
Water Quality Monitoring and Science
Scientific work includes monitoring programs modeled after protocols used by United States Geological Survey, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with analyses referencing standards from the Environmental Protection Agency and California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Projects have deployed sampling methodologies similar to those used by Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Water District, and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, addressing contaminants such as pathogens, nutrients, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants cited by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. Data collection often collaborates with academic partners including California Institute of Technology, Occidental College, Pepperdine University, and Loyola Marymount University to inform regulatory filings and impact assessments for restoration initiatives like those at Ballona Wetlands and Venice Canals.
Community Outreach and Education
Outreach strategies mirror public-engagement campaigns by Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, and National Park Service, offering volunteer water sampling events, watershed cleanups, and educational workshops in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, California Department of Education, and community groups such as East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and Pacoima Beautiful. Public programming has engaged civic bodies including Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, Los Angeles Board of Public Works, and neighborhood councils, and has coordinated with cultural institutions like Getty Conservation Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and Autry Museum to broaden civic participation in river and coastal stewardship.
Funding and Organizational Structure
Funding derives from foundations and donors similar to those supporting environmental nonprofits, including private foundations such as the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, as well as grants from government programs administered by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California Coastal Conservancy, and Environmental Protection Agency. Governance involves a board of directors and staff roles that reflect nonprofit practice observed at organizations like The Trust for Public Land, National Audubon Society, and Defenders of Wildlife, with partnerships and fiscal sponsorship arrangements occasionally involving regional intermediaries such as Community Foundation of Los Angeles and California Community Foundation.
Notable Campaigns and Impact
Notable campaigns include litigation and policy victories affecting stormwater controls in Los Angeles County, campaigns to reduce sewer spills comparable to high-profile cases involving Metropolitan Water District and local wastewater agencies, and advocacy for river restoration projects recognized in initiatives involving the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Plan, and Ballona Wetlands restoration. Impacts extend to beach water quality improvements at sites monitored by County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors, enhanced permitting practices overseen by Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and increased public awareness reflected in media coverage from Los Angeles Times, KCET, KCRW, and national outlets such as The New York Times and National Public Radio.