Humboldt Baykeeper - Humboldt Baykeeper

Pulp Mill Legacy: How legal advocacy cleaned up our air and water, and bold government action averted disaster

The American Lung Association recently ranked Humboldt County’s air quality as among the cleanest in the state. But that wasn’t always so. For decades, two pulp mills just across Humboldt Bay from Eureka smothered the city with stinky white smoke. Some say it was the “smell of money,” but the cleanup has cost taxpayers more than $30 million – with a huge mess still left behind.

Photo: When the Harbor District acquired the former Samoa pulp mill, hazardous materials, dilapidated structures, and debris covered the site, as seen in 2014 from the roof of the 15-story boiler building. Photo by Jennifer Savage, Surfrider Foundation.

Responsible Offshore Wind Development Starts at the Port

Humboldt's proposed offshore wind project would significantly reduce carbon emissions throughout California. But to ensure the success of offshore wind and to meet the promise of climate action, decision-makers must commit to a green port facility capable of building and servicing the turbines while not further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions or polluting Humboldt Bay.

West Coast Gray Whale “Unusual Mortality Event” Continues

Between January 1, 2019 and February 8 of this year, 613 stranded gray whales have been found along the west coast of North America between Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the Chukchi Sea in northern Alaska. Eight were found along the coast between South Humboldt Bay and the Oregon border. This has been declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME)...

Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Eating Local Fish Safely: Humboldt Bay Mercury Assessment, Phase II

Humboldt Baykeeper's second study of mercury in local fish focused 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 revised recommendations on Eating Fish Safely.

Comiendo Pescado Con Seguridad Pautas

Yuav Ua Li Cas Noj Ntses Yam Xyuam Xim Cov Txhooj Cai Rau Humboldt Bay

New! Pocket-sized images for handy reference (click to print or download to your phone):

Women <45 and Children

Women >45 and Men

Rising Groundwater: Flooding from Below

Humboldt Baykeeper recently received a grant from the California Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize contaminated sites around the bay that are most at risk from rising sea level and groundwater.

We first began assessing the risks to contaminated sites due to flooding and erosion from sea level rise in 2012. But rising groundwater is also a concern, since it will likely impact low-lying areas around the bay before they are affected by surface inundation.

This Land is Their Land

Most of us know that what we call Humboldt Bay was part of the territory of the Wiyot people. And most us of know of the terrible mass killing that occurred in 1860 on what was called Indian Island.

But most of us do not know much more about the Wiyots and what has happened to their homeland over time. Here is part of that story.

On March 7, Humboldt Baykeeper, the City of Arcata, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields* Program staff met for a tour of a contaminated site at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. This site has been on our radar since 2015, when a dioxin hotspot was identified in nearby Humboldt Bay sediments during a study of areas proposed for wetland restoration.