5/5/17

Until late last week, the City of Eureka and the Humboldt County Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District, the two agencies responsible for performing maintenance dredging, planned to dump the dredge spoils on a beach along the Samoa Peninsula, as they have for years.

EPA public affairs officer Bill Keener said beach dumping is not allowed because the sediment from the bay is primarily composed of fine-grain silts and mud, making it inappropriate for the surf zone on sandy beaches. “However, the 1998 permit for the Harbor’s dredging was inappropriately issued by the [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers allowing continued surf-zone disposal,” Keener explained. “[The] EPA, the Corps, and the Coastal Commission all agreed to allow that permit to stay in force, in order to give the Harbor time to plan (and budget) for a different dredging operation after the permit expired in 2008.”

On December 1, the Northcoast Environmental Center, Humboldt Baykeeper and Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs) will have new headquarters in the Cooper Building at 415 I Street in Arcata. This new location will be more accessible and visible for volunteers, interns, and interested community members. 

"We are excited to launch this new chapter in a better position to engage the community in what will certainly be challenging times for environmental advocacy," said Jennifer Kalt, Director of Humboldt Baykeeper. 

For spills in Humboldt Bay:

• Cailfornia Office of Emergency Services (800) 852-7550

For spills in or near storm drains (which drain to creeks and Humboldt Bay)

• Eureka Public Works Dept. (707) 441-4192
• Arcata Environmental Services Dept. (707) 822-8184
• Humboldt County Public Works Dept. (707) 445-7491

Storm drains are separate from sewer systems, so stormwater flows into our coastal waterways UNTREATED. Humboldt Baykeeper is working hard to protect our environment but we can't do it alone. We need your help!