Be a Keeper!
What does it mean to "be a keeper" of San Francisco Bay? It means that you care about the Bay and choose to act – in even the smallest way – to help protect it.
You don't have to be part of an organization or have a formal title. If you swim in the Bay, fish or kayak its waters, or hike along its shores, or commute by ferry, or just enjoy its sweeping views, you are probably already a keeper. Maybe you pick up trash or report oil slicks. Maybe you point out whales or dolphins to someone who has stopped paying attention. Maybe you sit through public hearings or volunteer with local groups. There are so many ways to help!
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Each episode of ONCE UPON A BAY, we'll suggest one or more simple actions that you can take if you love San Francisco Bay and want to help take care of it.
San Francisco Baykeeper has been defending San Francisco Bay from polluters since Mike Herz founded the organization in 1989. Their fleet of volunteer skippers patrols the Bay looking for problems, and then their team of lawyers, scientists, and advocates gets to work.
Baykeeper has sent polluters to jail, forced the Navy to clean up Hunter’s Point, beat oil giants at the Supreme Court, stopped Dow Chemical from chlorinating the Bay, and much more, racking up an impressive string of state and local victories over three decades. And when they win, they funnel all the settlement money to local nonprofits who are working to improve the Bay.
Here's how you can help Baykeeper help the Bay:
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Keep an eye out for pollution. If you see something, call their hotline: 1 (800) KEEP-BAY.
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​Sign up for their newsletter.
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Volunteer on cleanup days.
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Sign up for their action alerts.
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Be a volunteer skipper.
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Donate.
