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Beach Advisories

Legislation and Policy Advocacy

San Diego Coastkeeper believes that smart, effective, science-backed laws and policies are a crucial component of maintaining the health of our environment. Regulations that prioritize the environment and protect our communities create the framework for a sustainable future. As such, we actively support environmentally protective legislation, advocate for regulations that will help prevent pollution and degradation, participate in writing effective permit language, and call out agencies when their actions fail to uphold their environmental obligations.

Where existing laws are out of date or failing to meet the needs of our communities, we work with stakeholders, decision makers, and community members to advocate for the best possible updates and replacements. From city hall to the state capitol, we are committed to making sure the environment has a champion in every room where decisions are being made.

Recently Signed Comment Letters

Dec
2025

Recipient: California State Senators & Assemblymembers

Informational Letter to CA Elected Officials Regarding Situational Updates on the Transboundary Sewage Crisis

Through our extensive advocacy and public engagement work on this issue, Coastkeeper has compiled significant volumes of data and information. This letter summarizes 1) the status of multiple repairs and upgrades to the binational wastewater diversion and treatment system, 2) the Saturn Boulevard sewage gas aerosolization public health threat, and 3) wet weather sedimentation and trash concerns. This summary aims to help decisionmakers determine how to most impactfully allocate our limited resources to achieve a lasting 100% solution to this crisis.

Dec
2025

Recipient: California Coastal Commission

Support for the National City Balanced Plan Port Master Plan Update

This collaborative plan integrates the needs of diverse stakeholders, particularly the historically underrepresented portside communities in National City. The Pepper Park expansion and enhanced public access corridors will support environmental justice and improve community connections to San Diego Bay while the buffer zones and better-configured land uses will help minimize impacts to sensitive coastal waters and habitats.

Nov
2025

Recipient: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Requesting updates to the USMCA Trade Agreement

Coastkeeper, along with the our partner organzations of the Tijuana River Coalition, requested the USMCA be strengthened to include operation and maintenance funding for transboundary sewage infrastructure, leverage NADBank's operational framework to fund O&M costs, formalize the role of the IBWC within the USMCA itself, establish a biantinal governance, transparency, and public particiaption framework, and advance innovative solutions such as wastewater recycling in our water-starved region.

Sep
2025

Recipient: Council President Joe LaCava and San Diego City Council

Support for the San Diego Coastal Resilience Master Plan

Coastkeeper joined a coalition of environmental groups to urge the City Council to adopt the San Diego Coastal Resilience Master Plan (CRMP) and prioritize resilient, sustainable designs at critical locations along our coastline. Thanks to collective advocacy efforts, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the plan. This decision represents a major milestone in addressing sea level rise, protecting coastal habitats, and preserving equitable access to San Diego’s beaches for everyone.

August
2025

Recipient: The White House
Council of Environmental Quality

Request for Federal Emergency Declaration for the Public Health Crisis in the Tijuana River Watershed

As part of the Tijuana River Coalition, a large collaboration of over 60 community-based organizations representing environmental and recreational interests in Southern San Diego County, Coastkeeper signed onto this letter requesting a Federal Emergency Declaration for the Tijuana River Valley and the shoreline of Imperial Beach and Coronado.

July
2025

Recipient: Council President Joe LaCava & San Diego City Council

Opposition to Staff Item 331, Protecting Equitable Access for Water-Based Instructional Activities

San Diego Coastkeeper urges the City Council to reject Staff Item 331, arguing that the proposed permitting requirements for nonprofit surf programs lack the substantial evidence required by law, are arbitrary and inequitable, and undermine the intent of AB2939 to expand equitable access to public coastal resources. They advocate for renewed collaboration with nonprofits to create a fair permitting system that balances public safety with community access.

July
2025

Recipient: The Honorable Assembly Member Connolly, Chair California Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee

Senate Bill 601 (Allen) – The Right to Clean Water Act – SUPPORT

This letter expresses support for SB 601 by San Diego Coastkeeper and 120 concerned organizations. The letter explicitly supports the bill, authored by Senator Bill Allen and known as the Right to Clean Water Act, which would put federal Clean Water Act protections into California state law to restore protections California enjoyed for over 50 years. The bill would also buttress clean water laws against future rollbacks, which will not only result in the loss of protections but will also put an insurmountable burden on the California Water Boards to rewrite federal permits as state permits via a different process with different applicable standards.

June
2025

Recipient: Zoe Heller, Director Department of Resource Recycling and Recovery

SB 54 Draft Regulations: Coalition Concerns and Feedback

The letter expresses support for CalRecycle's efforts to implement SB 54 but raises serious concerns that the draft regulations deviate from the statute’s intent, particularly by enabling hazardous chemical recycling technologies through vague language, weak permitting standards, and excessive discretion granted to producer-led entities. The signatories urge CalRecycle to revise the rules to align with California’s more stringent hazardous waste definitions, ensure public transparency and oversight in approving recycling technologies, and maintain the law’s core goal of reducing plastic pollution through genuine, environmentally sound recycling practices—not through regulatory loopholes that favor industry interests.

May 2025

Recipient: Joaquin Esquivel, Chair Courtney Tyler, Clerk to the Board State Water Resources Control Board

R9 Biological Objective

This letter expresses strong support for the long-delayed adoption of a Biological Water Quality Objective into the San Diego Basin Plan. It criticizes recent attempts by municipal stormwater permittees to delay the process by submitting irrelevant and untimely “new evidence,” such as news articles on flooding that are unrelated to the proposed amendment’s regulatory scope. We emphasize that the real cause of flood-related maintenance issues in San Diego is chronic underfunding, not regulatory barriers and urge the State Water Resources Control Board to move forward with approving the Basin Plan Amendment as a necessary step to uphold the Clean Water Act and better protect the region’s biological health.

May
2025

Recipient: The Honorable Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives, et. al.

Oppose Public Lands Sell-off in Reconciliation and Future Legislation

This letter expresses strong opposition to the amendment added by Rep. Amoidei to the House Natural Resources Reconciliation provision that would mandate the sale of more than a half million acres of public lands. This amendment was added to a bill already characterized as the worst in history for the environment. The letter urged Congress to reject the reconciliation bill and the sale of public lands. We are pleased to announce that this advocacy effort worked; the sale of our public lands was removed from the bill.

April
2025

Recipient: The Honorable Lee Zeldin, Administrator, US EPA

Maintaining and Defending EPA’s Standards for PFAS

This letter urges Lee Zeldin, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to uphold EPA’s Hazardous Substance Designations and Drinking Water Standards for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (“PFAS”). EPA’s hazardous substance designations and drinking water standards help address that threat by establishing necessary limits on the PFAS in our tap water, promoting the remediation of contaminated sites and groundwater plumes, and providing critical information about PFAS releases and exposures.

April
2025

Recipient: The Hon. Robert Rivas Speaker of the State Assembly California State Capitol

Support for Paloma Aguirre's Re-appointment to the CA Coastal Commission

In this letter, numerous environmental NGOs, including San Diego Coastkeeper, write in support for Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre's reappointment to the California Coastal Commission. Paloma's dedication to resolving the persistent border sewage problem, political experience, and her demonstrated representation of all Californians earned our support for reappointment to the San Diego District seat.

April
2025

Recipient: The Hon. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Urging HHS to Reverse Policies Harmful to Environment and Public Health

The letter urges the head of the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue a reversal of harmful U.S. policy changes that impact climate, clean water, and public health. It expresses concerns that concerned that HHS has taken steps that undermine its ability to fulfill its mission, including cutting funding for climate change and health research, eliminating the Office of Environmental Justice, and dismantling the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity

April
2025

Recipient: The Hon. Lee Zeldin Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Opposition to EPA Funding Cuts for Communities Impacted by Pollution & Climate Change

The letter asks the head of the EPA to renew the previous meeting request of December 2024 by Waterkeeper Alliance members, and expresses our collective opposition to recent actions taken at EPA regarding funding for communities impacted by pollution and climate change, regulation of toxic chemicals like PFAS, reductions in EPA’s workforce, and proposed budget cuts. These actions put us all at risk and cast doubt on the agency’s commitment to fulfill its congressionally authorized mission and to our communities.

March
2025

Recipient: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Camp4W Approval and Implementation Letter of Support

Signed by San Diego Coastkeeper and fellow organizations, this letter supports Southern California’s shift to more resilient, multi-benefit, local water supplies, and to express our support for the approval and implementation of the agency’s first-ever Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W). From LA’s devastating fires to our worsening drought-to-drench weather whiplash, climate resilience and local water are critical for the future of Southern California. We appreciate Chair Ortega and GM Upadhyay for their support of this groundbreaking endeavor and pushing for a revised business model that better reflects our new climate reality.

March
2024

Recipient: Chairman Doug Bosco, California State Coastal Conservancy

Coastkeeper Supports the Silver Strand State Beach Lower-Cost Coastal Overnight Accommodations grant proposal.

A letter expressing our strong support of the Silver Strand State Beach Lower-Cost Coastal Overnight Accommodations grant proposal that was submitted to the State Coastal Conservancy by California State Parks. Silver Strand State Beach is an incredibly valuable resource for San Diegans and visitors alike, and Parks’ proposal to establish affordable overnight accommodations will make the park available for all to enjoy.

Feb
2025

Recipient: Office of the City Attorney

Coastkeeper Supports Sierra Club Seal Society to Mitigate Human-Sea Lion Conflicts at La Jolla Cove.

The letter urges a meeting with the San Diego City Attorney, Heather Ferbert, discuss implementing clear legal guidance and enforcement policies to address the ongoing conflicts between sea lions and human visitors at La Jolla Cove. It highlights the dangers to both wildlife and visitors due to irresponsible human interactions and requests immediate action before the May 2025 sea lion pupping season.

Nov
2024

Recipient: City of San Diego

Coastkeeper Supports the Comments Filed by 'Friends of Rose Creek'

The letter stresses the importance of considering future restoration and water quality improvements in Rose Creek in the DeAnza Natural Plan and expansion of Kendall Frost Marsh.

Oct
2024

Recipient: Port of San Diego

Coastkeeper Provides Input on the Port of San Diego's New Shellfish and Seaweed Aquaculture Program (SSAP)

Coastkeeper strongly supports the Port's exclusion of ecologically destructive finfish aquaculture from the SSAP, and urges that non-native shellfish and seaweed species be excluded from potential projects, allowing only cultivation of species native to our marine region. Coastkeeper also emphasizes that the Port holds the SSAP project areas for the benefit of the public, therefore requiring a significant buffer zone from the shoreline for any potential projects sited off the coast of Imperial Beach.

Oct
2024

Recipient: San Diego Air Pollution Control District

CEQA Scoping Comments Regarding New Austal USA Floating Dry Dock in San Diego Bay

This letter highlights erroneous water-quality claims by the proposed project’s Initial Study and its failure to consider significant impacts to biological resources and water quality, including the potential threat of PCBs and other pollutants, as well as potentially harmful or deadly sonic disturbances to marine life.

Sept 2024

Recipient: County of San Diego

Comments on County's Regional Assessment of Drought Management, Water Use Best Practice Strategies, and Equitable Considerations

Coastkeeper supports the County’s effort to better prepare for drought, infrastructure sustainability, and equity, in the face of a rapidly changing climate. This letter explains that, while we support strategies such greater emphasis on conservation and efficiency, stormwater collection, and water reuse, Coastkeeper strongly opposes any continued consideration of ocean desalination, which continues to have disastrous environmental and water affordability consequences for the San Diego Region. We also requested greater focus on greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting, as well as more specificity and data throughout this draft report, which is needed to inform decision-makers about optimal and equitable investments regarding drought and water supply.

Sept 2024

Recipient: California Coastal Commission

Coastkeeper Supports the Commission's 2024 Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance Updates Focused on Equity

Volunteer & Outreach Manager, Lesly Gallegos, spent several months as a member of the California Coastal Commision’s Sea Level Rise (SLR) and Environmental Justice (EJ) advisory group, where she assisted in revising the 2024 SLR Policy Guidance Update to incorporate significantly more EJ considerations, with a particular focus on "meaningful engagement" and input from marginalized communities. We also supported the committment to using the best available science to inform decisions.

Sept 2024

Recipient: County of San Diego

Coastkeeper Joins Coalition to Support Fire Safe and VMT Efficient County Climate Action Plan

Coastkeeper joined a broad coalition of NGOs supporting a robust County Climate Action Plan, which passed 3-2 before the County Board of Supervisors in September. The Board adopted the more ambitious “Fire Safe and VMT efficient” alternative which limits sprawl development thereby reducing traffic, GHG impacts, and fire dangers; protects sensitive habitat which act as carbon sinks; and does not reduce the number of homes that can be built in the County.

Sept 2024

Recipient: County of San Diego

Coastkeeper Joins Coalition to Champion Equity in County Climate Action Plan

Coastkeeper joined a coalition of NGO's to support a climate equity fund as part of its Climate Action Plan. The County adopted this equity fund and will now invest at minimum 20% of the 5 year CAP budget of $650 million into Communities of Concern. This means at least $130 mill over 5 years for these communities who have been historically redlined and underinvested in!

Aug
2024

Recipient: California Coastal Commission

Joined Audubon's Letter to End SeaWorld's Fireworks Displays

Due to the 16,000+ nesting seabirds in Mission Bay, the San Diego Audubon Society Requests the California Coastal Commission to immediately revoke the Coastal Development Permit allowing SeaWorld fireworks

Jul
2024

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Coastkeeper Comments on Regional Agricultural Permit

Commercial agricultural operations pose a significant threat to both surface and groundwater resources. Nitrates contaminate drinking water wells, fertilizer runoff kills fish and causes harmful algal blooms, pesticide discharges lead to toxicity issues, and excess sediment destroys downstream ecosystems. These direct threats to human and ecological health impact everyone, but disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities and tribal nations most. In light of these threats, Coastkeeper supports many additional requirements in the revised Agricultural Permit, but requests more frequent surface and groundwater monitoring requirements to protect drinking water wells and our natural ecosystems.

May
2024

Featured

Waterkeeper Alliance Urges $11B in FY2025 EPA Funding

Waterkeeper Alliance requests $11 billion for the EPA in FY2025 to protect clean air, land, and water and support environmental justice efforts.

Apr
2024

Recipient: California Coastal Commission

Point La Jolla Seasonal Closure to Protect Sea Lions

San Diego Coastkeeper and CERF submit a joint letter to support the seasonal closure of Point La Jolla and a ban on firework displays to protect Sea Lion rookery.

Apr
2024

Recipient: City of San Diego

CEQA Comments on the City of San Diego's "Blueprint SD" Development Plan.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report fails to appropriately analyze the Project’s impact on GHG emissions, ensuring the City will fail to meet its GHG reduction goals, successfully implement its Climate Action Plan, and mitigate GHG impacts at the individual project level.

Apr
2024

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Comments on City of San Diego's request for a waiver from secondary treatment requirements for the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant

Coastkeeper supports this waiver as the Pure Water San Diego project will recycle a portion of this plant's wastewater into drinking water, thus reducing water waste and substantially lowering the total volume of treated sewage dumped into the ocean. Coastkeeper also supports the Regional Board's decision to add monitoring for PFAS at the Point Loma plant.

Mar
2024

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Comments on the Lower Tijuana River Bacteria and Trash Advance Restoration Plan (ARP)

Coastkeeper opposes this ARP because it is non-binding, unenforceable, and allows for continuing inaction regarding the ongoing environmental and human health catastrophe unfolding in the Tijuana River Valley. All prior voluntary efforts have failed to address the crisis, and we fear this ARP will merely continue this unacceptable trend.

Mar
2024

California

NGOs Push for Stronger Urban Water Conservation Standards

Environmental groups call on the State Water Board to adopt robust near-term and long-term standards requiring investments in urban water efficiency.

Jan
2024

Recipient: Port of San Diego

CEQA Scoping Comments re Topgolf development Project to the Port of San Diego.

This project is an inappropriate use of waterfront tidelands, and runs afoul of the Public Trust Doctrine and Coastal Act, the core purposes of which are to protect the public’s right to use California’s waterways. Futher, the massive nets, flood lights, blaring music, synthetic turf, and errant golf balls would negatively impact water quality, biological resources, aesthetics, and present safety hazards.

Dec
2023

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Revised Time Schedule Order regarding the IBWC International Wastewater Treatment Plant

The San Diego Coastkeeper scoping comments raise concerns about the Seaport San Diego project's impacts on traffic, air quality, greenhouse gases from the major increase in development square footage and parking spaces. The EIR must thoroughly assess these issues.

Nov
2023

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

CEQA Scoping Comments on the Seaport San Diego Redevelopment Project.

The scoping comments raise concerns about the Seaport San Diego project's large size and potential impacts on biological resources, water quality, sea level rise, and public access. The EIR must thoroughly assess effects on wildlife, contaminated sediment, stormwater runoff, and the substantial increase in traffic, air quality and greenhouse gas impacts.

Nov
2023

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Comments Supporting Lake San Marcos and San Marcos Creek Tentative Cleanup and Abatement Order

With Coastkeeper's support, the Regional Board adopted this aggressive enforcement order requiring dischargers to identify and clean up multiple pollutant sources which continue to threaten publicy safety and choke the life out of Lake San Marcos and San Marcos Creek. The lake has been heavily polluted for decades, threatening human health through direct contact, or even via inhalation of harmful toxins produced by algal blooms. The Lake is surrounded by homes, golf courses, recreational trails, and a high school. Polluted water from the lake is used to irrigate the golf course.

Oct
2023

Recipient: Port of San Diego

Time Schedule Order regarding the IBWC International Wastewater Treatment Plant

This massive 102-acre project proposes 128,290 sf of floating docks, 159 boat slips, 2.7 million sf of mixed-use development, a 500-ft tower, and more. Coastkeeper requested the Port assess impacts to water quality, marine life, scenic vistas, emissions, and public access.

Sep 2023

Recipient: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

Comment in support of a Regional Board Proposed Cease & Decist Order against Pine Hill Egg Ranch Delmer Bros.

San Diego Coastkeeper supports the Tentative Cease and Desist Order against Demler Brothers for their egg and pullet farms. The farms, housing up to 2.4 million chickens, have repeatedly violated waste management regulations, polluting groundwater and surface water. Coastkeeper urges the Regional Water Board to adopt the order and consider civil penalties for the ongoing, willful violations.

Sep 2023

San Diego

$310M for Tijuana Sewage Plant Repairs

Organizations ask Senate leaders for $310 million in emergency funds to repair the failing South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant at the US-Mexico border.

July 2023

California

Coalition Supports CA's Outdoors for All Initiative

The Community Access Coalition provides feedback on CA's Outdoors for All Initiative to promote equitable access to outdoor spaces.

May 2023

National

Coalition Asks DOI to Swiftly Phase Out Single-Use Plastics

Coalition Asks DOI to Swiftly Phase Out Single-Use Plastics Summary: Over 200 organizations urge the Department of the Interior to implement a strong plan to eliminate single-use plastics in national parks by 2032.

May 2023

National

Groups Urge EPA to Strengthen Coal Plant Wastewater Rule

Environmental organizations ask the EPA to finalize the strongest possible standards to eliminate toxic wastewater discharges from coal power plants.

Dec 2022

California

Conservation Groups Back Proctor Valley Acquisition

Environmental groups urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support public funding to acquire Proctor Valley in San Diego County for conservation.

Apr 2022

San Diego; Recipient: California Coastal Commission

Point La Jolla Seasonal Closure to Protect Sea Lions

San Diego Coastkeeper and CERF submit a joint letter to support the seasonal closure of Point La Jolla, and ban on firework displays, to protect Sea Lion rookery.

Recently Signed Letters of Support

Advocating for Funding for the EPA in 2024 Budget

Jan 2, 2024

Advocating for Funding for the EPA in 2024 Budget

Jan 2, 2024

Advocating for Funding for the EPA in 2024 Budget

Jan 2, 2024

Advocating for Funding for the EPA in 2024 Budget

Jan 2, 2024

View All Recently Signed Letters of Support

Over Two Decades of Advocacy

Since our founding 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper has been at the forefront of advocating for laws, permits, regulations, and policies that protect and restore San Diego County’s waters. Over the years, our advocacy has taken on many issues and many forms. We have engaged state lawmakers to pass groundbreaking water conservation and efficiency legislation, and we have advocated before local decision-makers on plastic bag and styrofoam bans to protect our coastline and marine life. From regular campaigns before the San Diego Water Quality Control Board seeking stormwater or wastewater permits that require measurable, enforceable pollution reduction, to testifying before the Coastal Commission on offshore pollution discharge permits, our staff has maintained a leadership role in advancing measures protective of our inland and coastal waterways and communities.

Backing It With Science

Being a successful advocate takes time, effort, and commitment. It also takes participating in scientifically sound studies aimed at understanding challenges, answering questions, and identifying ways to reduce or remove barriers to achieving clean, safe, resilient water for San Diego. Throughout our history, San Diego Coastkeeper had held positions on numerous technical advisory committees and participated in several large-scale studies that allow us a unique opportunity to offer expertise, gain insight into current trends in water management, and ensure plans, processes, and outcomes are aimed at achieving comprehensive environmental protection.

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