2013 Annual Report- 20th Anniversary
Transcription
2013 Annual Report- 20th Anniversary
1993-2013 years 2 Introduction Introduction Our goals are to protect, defend, and restore the waters of Los Angeles for all.” New Name. Same Mission. I n 1993, Terry Tamminen and his team first started Santa Monica Baykeeper while patrolling the Santa Monica Bay - on a single houseboat no less - identifying sources of pollution and taking action to stop it. Twenty years later our organization has grown by leaps and bounds, and is now recognized not only as the defender of all waterways throughout Los Angeles, but also as a leading authority on clean water throughout California and beyond. However, despite our growth in size and prominence, our principles have remained fundamentally the same. We identify the worst and the most egregious water quality violations in our waterways and we use one of the most effective and efficient tools we have to protect them – the law. Since 2004, sewage spills that foul our rivers and beaches have decreased in the City of Los Angeles by 83% -- a direct result of our successful lawsuit against the City of LA under the federal Clean Water Act. More recently, we reached a $6.6 million dollar settlement with the City of Malibu, requiring the City to clean-up some of Malibu’s most frequented spots including the world famous Surfrider Beach. Whether it is protecting ocean habitats, endangered species, riverside communities, addressing impacts from oil drilling, sewage and trash collection, or advocating on statewide policies related to our issues, we are there. And not only do we use the law to achieve our goals, but we also work to restore creeks and rivers and our volunteer scuba team works tirelessly to restore kelp forests along our shoreline. Our goals are to protect, defend, and restore for all of Los Angeles and its waters. With so many far ranging and wide reaching successes, most organizations would simply maintain the status quo. However, that is not how we do things. We are an organization that relentlessly fights for what we believe and we are not afraid to adapt to changing times. In June 2012, we officially changed our name from Santa Monica Baykeeper to Los Angeles Waterkeeper. We believe this better reflects our mission and communicates our commitment to all who live and enjoy waterways in Los Angeles County. Thank you for supporting us all these years. It is because of our supporters and members that we are able to continue to defend your right to clean water. And the work is not done – so please join us in celebrating our 20th year and our big step forward towards a better, cleaner, and brighter Los Angeles. Liz Crosson, Executive Director 3 4 Our Team Is Working for LA. Our Team Is Working for LA. From left: Tatiana Gaur, Michael Quill, Lara Meeker, Janelle Castro, Liz Crosson, Brian Meux, Jennifer Badger, Amanda Gruen our team working is for LA W e are very proud of the many accomplishments of the organization but know none of them would ever have been realized without the tremendous contributions of a select few. Below are some of the key staff and board members that are truly responsible for the groundbreaking work of LA Waterkeeper. Tatiana Gaur Tatiana Gaur uses her Master of Law degree from Sofia University, Bulgaria and J.D. from UC Hastings to represent LA Waterkeeper in its advocacy and litigation efforts for strong water quality protections and Clean Water Act permit enforcement. Lately, her work has focused on industrial storm water pollution. Michael Quill As Marine Protected Area (MPA) Outreach Coordinator, Michael conducts weekly MPA Watch trips on the Waterkeeper boat and in the field to spread the MPA word to the LA community. Prior to joining LA Waterkeeper he earned a B.A. in Urban Community Environment/ Psychology at Antioch University and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Pacifica Graduate Institute with a focus on Community, Liberation and Ecopsychology. Our offices, left, are located in beautiful downtown Santa Monica Lara Meeker Lara Meeker manages LA Waterkeeper’s volunteer based water quality monitoring program. Prior to joining LA Waterkeeper, Lara worked as part of the emergency response to the BP oil spill and earned a B.S. in Environmental Systems from UC San Diego and a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree from the UC Santa Barbara. Janelle Castro Janelle joins LA Waterkeeper after several years in non-profit fundraising and outreach. Originally from Northern California, Janelle grew up exploring the forests and beaches along the Pacific Coast before earning her B.A. in Communication from Humboldt State, which she currently uses to develop relationships with donors, assist in outreach, and manage the organization’s daily operations. Liz Crosson Liz joined LA Waterkeeper as Executive Director after being introduced to Waterkeeper’s litigation and enforcement program through Lawyers for Clean Water, and has continued building a distinguished career through environmental and ecosystem protection ever since. Liz has an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, an M.S. in Biology/Environmental Education and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark with an emphasis in environmental law. Brian Meux As Marine Program Manager, Brian oversees work on MPA Watch, marine invasive species, abalone recovery, and oil spill prevention and response. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley, and a Masters of Regenerative Studies degree from Cal Poly Pomona, and is currently the manager of the Kelp Program. Jennifer Badger Jennifer uses her educational background, field experience, and love of the California coast to conduct outreach through events, press, and social media. She earned her B.S. in Conservation Resource Studies at UC Berkeley where she researched algal community ecology, studied forest resource management, and worked as a wetland restorationist. Amanda Gruen Amanda Gruen serves as the outreach coordinator for the organization’s marine programs focusing on schools and local businesses. Amanda graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a B.S. in Environmental Science specializing in culture and the environment, and headed out west a year later to put her knowledge to work for LA Waterkeeper. LA Waterkeeper board members: Richard Baskin, John Bertram, W. Jay Borzi, Christopher Chee, Tami Clark, Steven Dahlberg, Dan Emmett, Amy Friedlander-Hoffman, Jordan Kaplan, Matt Khoury, Rebecca Rothstein, Terry Tamminen, Jonathan Varat, Matt Walden 5 6 Commitment to excellence Commitment to excellence Tomorrow Starts Today L os Angeles Waterkeeper is primed and ready to take the lead in protecting our waters, but we cannot do it alone. Volunteer today and do your part to protect a beach, river, or waterway - it’s never too early to start writing a personal conservation story of your own. Kelp Project Restoring Life. Changing Lives. Masters in Marine Science candidate Toffer McKay has always lived near the water. However, despite many years of cultivating a love for the ocean, Toffer attributes his current path not to his upbringing but an introduction to LA Waterkeeper instead. After many months looking for a non-profit to volunteer with, get his hands dirty, and spend time on the water, Toffer came upon the Kelp Restoration & Monitoring Project (Kelp Project) and instantly he knew – this was the group for him. He immediately earned his certification and began volunteer diving with the Kelp Project, and since then has become a regular. “Being a part of Waterkeeper has shown me what a small group of stakeholders can do,” said Toffer. “As a volunteer here I can see positive change directly and that change has served as my evidence that a love for the water can become a successful career.” As a volunteer here I can see positive change directly” Santa Monica Baykeeper is founded by Terry Tamminen on his house boat. The Beachkeeper Program conducts its first snapshot sampling event. Volunteers monitor and collect water samples from drains throughout the Bay within a set time period on the same day. 2002 Lawsuit with U.S. EPA is settled, establishing a schedule to develop and adopt water quality limits for dozens of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties’ impaired rivers, creeks, lakes and coastal waters. 2000 Kelp Project begins with surveys, pilot studies, and monitoring. 1998 1993 First Clean Water Act case filed against CalTrans for violations of the Clean Water Act and its Permit. 1997 milestones First acre of kelp forest habitat restored! 7 Commitment to excellence We believe in Waterkeeper’s mission of clean and safe water” Commitment to excellence 9 Litigation and Advocacy Program Adversary to Advocate Adams Steel, which is now part of SA Recycling, had industrial storm water violations until LA Waterkeeper’s suit in 2007 made it take action to bring its many scrapyards into federal compliance. However, this is not a story about a legal battle -it’s a story about turning a defendant into an advocate. Fast forward to 2013, and SA recycling is now a role model for others, having addressed not only water pollution problems at the sites in question but also implementing a company-wide policy addressing water pollution at all of their industrial facilities. “LA Waterkeeper showed us how to take steps to make our sites better for the community and the environment, and as a result this was better for business,” said George Adams (above, with his father, George Adams, Sr.), Owner of SA Recycling. “We believe in Waterkeeper’s mission of clean and safe water, and will continue to be their proud supporter and partner in the years to come.” Water Quality Monitoring The Next Generation of Waterkeepers! Last year, our Drainwatch initiative began a partnership with the Mar Vista Family Center to educate and empower high school students through water quality monitoring activities on Ballona Creek. This program proved to be an eye-opening experience for the students, who learned the significant impact citizen volunteers can have to ensure strong environmental policies protecting their resources and improving their community. “Many of the students live right next to the creek, but avoid it because it is unsafe and extremely polluted; so when they first saw the dead pelican in their own backyard during trash assessment it really hit home,” said Bart Evans, one of the coordinators of the Center. “Working with DrainWatch not only taught our students professional skills and how to be a part of a real scientific process, but also inspired our community leaders to develop an Environmental Committee to prevent this kind of pollution from continuing into the future.” LA Waterkeeper acquires our current boat, a 1976 Radon. Far more effective and safe! Lawsuit against CalTrans is settled, requiring the agency to examine 1000 miles of highways in LA and Ventura Counties and reduce stormwater pollution by 20% compared to 1994 levels. 2009 Lawsuit with City of Los Angeles for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) is settled and the City is required to implement measures in its collection system to reduce and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows. 2008 milestones 2005 8 Waterkeeper wins precedent setting industrial stormwater case forcing scrap metal recycling facilities to comply with water quality standards. 10 Commitment to excellence Commitment to excellence regulation, or the future possibility of holding defendants like the County liable for similar violations. Waterkeeper and NRDC are still waiting for the Ninth Circuit’s final opinion on remand. Marine Protected Areas Making a difference W hether protecting ocean habitats and endangered species, addressing impacts from oil drilling, sewage and trash collection and storm water, or advocating on statewide policies related to our issues, the dedicated Los Angeles Waterkeeper team works tirelessly around the clock to create the kind of change any Angeleno can see. new programs and recent news LA Waterkeeper PRESENTS CLEAN WATER CASE AT SUPREME COURT In December 2012 Waterkeeper took its mission to a new level by joining partners at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington D.C. to argue our case against the L.A. County Flood Control District. In 2008, Waterkeeper and NRDC filed a citizen enforcement action asking the court to hold L.A. County responsible for the millions of gallons of polluted runoff that flows through its storm drain system – the top source of pollution in southern California waters. Waterkeeper won in the U.S. Ninth Circuit of Appeals in 2011, and L.A. County appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. So, in December 2012 Waterkeeper and NRDC traveled to the U.S. Supreme Court and made their best arguments to hold L.A. County liable for discharging polluted stormwater into the L.A. River and San Gabriel River. In early 2013 Waterkeeper was informed that the Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision and remanded the case back to the Ninth Circuit. Despite the reversal, the careful Supreme Court ruling to a very narrow question did not, in any way, undermine or weaken the Clean Water Act, municipal stormwater Now that southern California Marine Protected Areas are in place, LA Waterkeeper has taken to the seas with volunteer teams to monitor the MPAs off the Malibu and Palos Verdes Coasts. LA Waterkeeper is also engaging local fisherman, businesses, schools, residents, and the public about the current MPA boundaries and communicating with the fishing and water sports communities about the allowed uses and expected benefits of our new underwater parks. The MPA Watch Program serves as yet another reminder that LA Waterkeeper is going to continue to serve as the eyes and ears of Angelenos on the water, ensuring that new fishing regulations meant to reverse decades of overfishing practices are adhered to and guaranteeing that the laws that make our waters the “national parks of the sea” are understood and followed. Southern California MPAs are adopted. City of Los Angeles reports more than 80% reduction in sewage spills as a result of improvements to its collection system mandated under 2005 settlement New laboratory is built in the current (downtown Santa Monica) office location. MPAs are implemented, and the MPA Watch program is born. 2012 Beachkeeper transitions into the DrainWatch Water Quality and Monitoring Program, covering the monitoring of all waterways. 2011 2010 milestones Lawsuit against City of Malibu settled and the City is required to implement measures to control stormwater at several Malibu beaches, including the Malibu Civic Center, Surfrider Beach, Las Flores Beach and Broad Beach. Organization name is changed from Santa Monica Baykeeper to Los Angeles Waterkeeper 11 12 Financial statement Financial statement Measurable Results O ur organization prides itself on the fact that the results of our hard work can be appreciated at beaches, in rivers, and throughout clean waterways each and every day. However, here at LA Waterkeeper we are also tremendously proud to share the impressive, quantifiable statistics behind the powerful work we do. Ability Total Revenue by Source Assets Organization Philosophy Cash and Cash Equivalents 2011 $ 287,985.00 2010 $ 224,660.00 Accounts Receivable 2011 $ 20,816.00 2010 $ 32,006.00 Special Events 22.2% In-Kind Contributions Case Recovery 2.9% 0.2% Prepaid Expense and Other Assets 2011 $ 39,466.00 2010 $ 38,752.00 Property and Equipment (Net) 2011 $ 17,202.00 2010 $ 36,388.00 Other Income 1.3% Memberships 12.1% LA Waterkeeper has successfully funded its programs through a diverse set of funding sources including grant funding, membership, board support, and fundraising events in order to protect our programs and organization from being overly reliant on one particular source. We are also constantly expanding our membership base and reaching out to inland communities in order to gain new supporters, volunteers, advocates, and future donors. Strong Foundation Base Government Grants Resource Use Comparison 6.0% Grants and Contributions 55.3% Resource Use Comparison 100% 80% Marine 16.6% Watershed 22.5% 60% 40% 20% 0% 2009 Industry Average Costs 2010 LA Waterkeeper Costs 2011 LA Waterkeeper Costs n Program Expenses n Management and General n Fundraising Advocacy 52.3% Education & Outreach 8.7% Revenue and Support Grants and Contributions Government Grants Memberships In-Kind Contributions Special Events (Net of Direct Donations) Case Recovery Other Income 2011 $ 420,639.00 $ 45,712.00 $ 91,919.00 $ 1,561.00 $ 168,500.00 2010 $ 347,304.00 $ 117,356.00 $ 90,284.00 $ 9,435.00 - $ 22,094.00 $ 9,978.00 $ 13,744.00 $ 328.00 Total Revenue and Support $ 760,403.00 $ 578,451.00 In 2013 LA Waterkeeper anticipates 50% of our budget will be supported by foundations with the remainder comprised of contributions from members and corporate business partners plus proceeds from fundraising events. We are also making a concerted effort to increase our total funding and obtain commitments from at least four new foundations in the coming year. Ability to fundraise Our Development Committee - which organizes fundraising events both large and intimate throughout the year - leads our fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director and Development and Operations Manager. 13 14 Donor appreciation Donor appreciation You are Saving the Blue! Y our continued dedication and trust make it possible for us to support communities throughout Los Angeles. Improving the lives of families and animals alike through cleaner water and safer beaches is not possible without you. Thank you! The following list represents gifts from December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012 Up to $249 Adam Obaza Alisa Anderson Alison Riddle Allan & Kristin Kreiger Allan Ceran Amy Call Andrea Curl Anthony & Christine Sullivan Aubrey Organics Barrett Meeker Barry & Samoan Barish Beate Quednau Bill & Pam Bruns Bobbi Leung Bradley & Jonny Skinner Brent & Marsha Meeker Bronwyn Schramm Cal Porter Carol Smith Charles & Dorothy Green Charlotte Van Noppen Christopher May Chuck Trout Claire Douglas Daniel Guggenheim Daryn Eller David & Cristine Card David & Nancy Barbour David Myerson David Rothstein David Whitehead Diane Forte Donnell VanNoppen Doris White Douglas H. Phelps Elaine Jobin Emilia Hernandez Emma Ramey Fay Woodruff Douglas Fernando Stalla Frederick Masback Gabe Dillon George Atkinson & Margery Zweizig George Bradley George Nakano Gerald Tlapa Gordana Kajer & Joe Geever GreenAid Gregory & Tamara Starczak Gwen Noda Heather & Kevin Dowdee Heather Burdick Heather George Helen Garrett Boutrous Howard Fabrick James & Sally Spotts James Dalby Janet Carter Janice Sadahiro Janis Echenberg Jay Ross Jeanne Moody Jefferson Wagner Joe & Emily Bark John Gunther-Mohr John Royce John W. Majeski, Jr. John Zlatic Joseph Lee & Susan Eisner Joyce Nevin Julie Hendricks Julie Manning Karen Yoshida Kate Hanley Kathryn Kempton Keki Gandhi Kevin & Kathleen Rice Larry Murphy Laura Spathias Laurene Hirschberg Lawrence Halperin Leona Green Linda Cherney Lionel Galway Liz Crosson Logan Gustafson Mare Co. Sails Marie F. Turner Marilyn Nitikman Mark Freund Mark Friedrich Mark Morgan Marvin P. Osman Mary Nave Melissa Converse Ewing Melissa Hertz Melvin Feldman Michael Weber Mike & Gail Feuer Mike Stoller Nancy Watson Nancy Wilding Occidental College Oren Skoog Patricia Rosenburg & Bernard Heumann Paul Kaup Pourtal Rachel Johnston Randall Lee Raymond Hartung Reva Gornbein Richard Horner Rita Cowan Robert & Barbara Wells Robert Goldbeck Robert Schwartz Robert Stanley Anderson Ruby Evans Sandra Stewart Shannon Smith Shawn Bookin Sheldon & Nancy Jaffe Shelley Luce Shirley & George Coleman Stephen & Honey Scappa Sven Svendsen Sylvia Gentile Tatiana Gaur Tim Ream Tom & Rosalind Nieman Valerie Hill $250 - $499 Alan Tudyk Allan Golad B. Alexander Moghaddam Bank of America Billy Arcila Bonnie Raitt Cary Franklin David Richman Douglas Gunderson Jacob Werner John & Theresa Miller John Meehan Milton & Susan Meux Native Foods California, LLC Quickblade Inc. Ray Yslas Thomas Mullahey Tim Strelitz Victoria Hand Wayne Brandt $500 - $999 A Special Thank You to Our Long-Term Donors For more than 10 years these Claire Douglas Marisla Foundation people have made it possible Dan & Rae Emmett Ozzie Silna for us to work with communi- Employee Community Fund of Boeing, California Richard Baskin Gil Segel S.A. Recycling Heather George Howard Fabrick Steven & Stephanie Dahlberg John & Gail Liebes Streisand Foundation Jonathan & Barbara Varat Terry & Leslie Tamminen Jordan Kaplan Jay & Carol Borzi ties and families to protect the bays, rivers and creeks that make Los Angeles so special. Clean water depends on all of you, and what a difference you all are making. Ruby Evans Adam Holt Carol Landsberg City of Santa Monica Douglas Emmett Frank Jansen Jimmy Peter Kretschmer Private Foundation Michael Donaldon Michael Koss Mike & Christy Lowe Mike Miller Ozzie Silna Richard Mellett Santa Monica Beach Club Stephen Somer Teva Tracy O’Brien & Thaddeus Stauber $1,000 - $4,999 Adam & Meredith Edwards In Honor Of A wonderful way to make a holiday gift, commemorate a special occasion, or milestone is to make a donation to LA Waterkeeper in their honor: Donor Name Alisa Anderson Carol Smith Tribute/In Honor of Betty L. Anderson Patrick Vandenbussche David & Nancy BarbourAdam & Amanda Gruen Donnell VanNoppen David & Barbara VanNoppen Mary NaveAdam & Amanda Gruen Milton & Susan Meux Brian Meux Reva GornbeinAdam & Amanda Gruen Russell Grossman Christopher & Beate Chee Shawn Bookin Christopher & Beate Chee Shirley & Ralph Shapiro Jordan Kaplan Tatiana GaurAnita & Jay Gaur Terry & Leslie Tamminen Alex Klyce Amoeba Music Bank of America Commerical Real Estate Banking Benjamin V. Lambert Bill & Marielle Sadler Bob & Cori Davenport California Diving News David Forbes Hibbert Eric Jansen Frank Campbell Gil Segel Grant & Shaya Kirkpatrick Great Pacific Iron Works Green Wish, Inc. Greg Dyer J. Douglas & Marian R. Pardee Foundation Jeff & Carole Schwartz Jeff & Sherri Finn Jeffrey & Deborah Weber Jerry & Adi Greenberg Foundation Jesse & Stacy Sharf Jim & Dana Jacobsen John & Diane Bertram John & Tina Quinn John Irons Jonathan & Barbara Varat Jonathan & Samantha Firestone Kevin & Stacia Wells Lawyers for Clean Water, Inc. Gil Segel Leslie Bider Malibu Coastal Land Conservancy Malibu Surfing Association Mark & Justine Fluent Michael & Debra Crosson Michael Kovac Michael Means Miranda Heller Norcross Wildlife Foundation Patagonia, Inc. Philip & Shelley Belling Rey & Gabby Banatao Russell Allegrette Russell Grossman Ryan & Virginia Gallagher Scott Cohen Southern California Gas Company Terry O’Day Tim Beaudin Toffer MacKay & Diana Chen Yvon Chouinard $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous City of Los Angeles Clif Bar Family Foundation Edison International John Kilroy Josh Kaplan Kevin Shannon Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Norris Foundation Pacific Life Foundation Pisces Foundation Richard Baskin Sean Burton Tami Clark Terry & Leslie Tamminen Thomas Bohlinger $10,000 - $24,999 Al Larson Boat Shop Amy Friedlander-Hoffman Association of National Estuary Programs Bill & Cindy Simon California State Coastal Conservancy Chris Hogue Save the Colorado Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado Dan & Rae Emmett Eastdil Secured, LLC Employee Community Fund of Boeing, California Jeffrey & Kristin Worthe John & Gail Liebes Kennedy Wilson Kenneth Panzer L.A. Realty Partners Larry Lippon Mark Sullivan Michael Van Konynenburg Richard Sperber Richard Ziman Rose Foundation Roy & Barbara March Shirley & Ralph Shapiro SIMA Environmental Fund Steve & Sue Silk Streisand Foundation UCLA Health System Victor & Wendy Coleman Family Foundation Waterkeeper Alliance $25,000 - $49,999 Campbell Foundation Christopher & Beate Chee Environment Now Jay & Carol Borzi Jordan Kaplan Matt & Dana Walden Rebecca Rothstein Rosenthal Family Foundation Steve & Stephanie Dahlberg $50,000+ Edgerton Foundation Goldhirsh Foundation Joseph S. Melchione Revocable Trust Marisla Foundation Resources Legacy Fund Foundation S.A. Recycling Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation 15 Founded in 1993, Los Angeles Waterkeeper's Mission is to protect and restore the Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Bay and adjacent waters through enforcement, fieldwork, and community action. a clear vision = results Become a volunteer or a member and join us today! 120 Broadway, Suite 105 l Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-394-6162 l www.lawaterkeeper.org This annual report was made with the support of theTaproot Foundation.