San Diego Coastkeeper’s Proposal
to the Unified Port of San Diego
March 19, 2007
San
Diego
Coastkeeper:
Cleaning
up
the
Bay
Table
of
Contents
I.
Introduction
II.
Qualifying
Experience
III.
Cost
Proposal
IV.
Personnel
V.
Non
‐
Profit
Status
VI.
Subconsultants
VII.
Applicant
Disclosure
VIII.
Insurance
IX.
Conflict
of
Interest
X.
Indemnification
I. Introduction/Proposal
San
Diego
Coastkeeper:
Cleaning San Diego Bay
Description of the Program
San Diego Coastkeeper respectfully requests a grant of $15,000 from the Unified Port of
San Diego’s Environmental Enhancement Fund to support our Bay cleanup program
which engages the community in removing trash and debris
from the San Diego Bay shoreline and watersheds before it
reaches the open ocean. This program also informs the larger
San Diego community about how they can help prevent
pollution by taking greater care in their everyday activities
through a Community Based Social Marketing Program.
San Diego Coastkeeper would like to propose hosting four cleanups in the South San
Diego Bay area. Three of these cleanups would take place in the watersheds that flow
into the Bay, such as Chollas Creek, a critical input to the debris in the Bay.
Additionally, one cleanup would take place on the shoreline of the Bay involving the
Port and Port employees. These cleanups would serve two initial functions: identify the
most common debris items found flowing into South Bay, and involve Port employees
and local residents in a hands‐on program to clean up the Bay. This effort will
ultimately result in a publication of findings, which will report on the type and amount
of trash removed and solutions to reduce debris in the bay. In addition, we would be
conducting outreach to residents around the Bay though a strategic Community Based
Social Marketing Program, specifically in the neighborhoods surrounding Chollas
Creek. Coastkeeper would also perform outreach in Pepper Park in National City,
building off the Operation Clean Sweep shoreline cleanup last year.
Why Do Cleanups Matter?
Debris in San Diego Bay is much more than an eyesore; it represents a public health
threat and contributes to the declining health of our ocean systems. Every year,
through our bi‐monthly beach cleanups, Coastkeeper volunteers find debris that is
dangerous to people including syringes, fishhooks, broken bottles and toxic debris such
as auto or boat batteries and chemical waste containers. Cleanups in the South Bay are
also critical for reasons of environmental justice. Historically, and currently, the area
has been disproportionately impacted by illicit dumping, industrial pollution, as well as
apathy and neglect.
Debris can also be particularly dangerous to marine wildlife. The most common items
contaminants such as cadmium, arsenic and lead are often concentrated in the filters
where they pose a threat to marine life if ingested. These pollutants can severely impact
wildlife that resides in the Bay, including the critically endangered Green Turtle
population in South Bay, which mistake cigarette butts as food.
Plastics, which are the second most common type of debris found, are equally harmful
to marine life, especially because of their durability and buoyancy. Six‐pack holders,
balloons, plastic bags and even straws can result in the death or serious injury to
unsuspecting marine wildlife that suffocate after getting entangled in or ingesting
plastics. Plastic debris affects at least 267 species worldwide, including many
threatened and endangered species such as sea turtles, birds and marine mammals. For
instance, a recent study found an average of 334,271 pieces of plastic per square mile in
the North Pacific Central Gyre, meaning plastics outweigh natural plankton by 6 to 1 in
the Gyre.
How Does Debris Get There?
If waste that people produce is not handled appropriately, it can become debris. Once
in the water, debris can end up thousands of miles from its point of origin carried by
urban runoff, wind, ocean currents and tides. Although most debris items are hard to
trace back to their source, two facts are clear: debris ultimately comes from people and most
debris ends up in our bays and oceans.
Determining where debris originates is not an easy task, since trash can travel long
distances before washing up on shore or sinking to the bottom of the ocean or
waterway. Coastkeeper’s cleanups focus on the key human activities that produce
debris: recreational and shoreline activities, boating and fishing, smoking, dumping and
medical/personal hygiene. Through this approach, we create strategies to educate the
public on the problems associated with debris and how to change their own behavior to
prevent it. The only way that we will effectively mitigate pollution is by helping people
understand and care about the problem and ultimately change their behavior towards
handling trash.
A large portion of the debris entering SD Bay comes from river sources, such as the
impaired waterbody Chollas Creek. In addition to the countless trash items that are
tossed into the Creek by residents, water quality is impacted by pollutants and stressors
identified in the 2002 Clean Water Act 303(d) listing. These contaminants include
cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, high coliform counts, and toxicity. Additionally, portions
of the San Diego Bay at the mouth of Chollas Creek are also identified in the 2008 CWA
303(d) list due to sediment toxicity and benthic community effects. One of five toxic hot
spots identified within the Bay under the California’s Bay Protection Toxic Cleanup
Program is located at the mouth of Chollas Creek.
How Do We Fix the Problem?
Coastkeeper volunteers learn first‐hand how trash travels, the
importance of recycling and proper disposal, and how individual
actions can make a difference—for better or worse. A cleanup
offers a quick, easy way to make a noticeable difference to the
health and livelihood of our beaches by removing dangerous
plastics, styrofoam, glass, cans, cigarette butts, and other trash.
Furthermore, many cleanup participants gain motivation from these cleanups and
become regular volunteers for Coastkeeper and other community groups helping to
make San Diego a healthier, safer place to live.
Through our cleanup program in 2007‐2008, Coastkeeper will:
¾ Perform four cleanups in the watersheds and on the shoreline of South San Diego
Bay and collect data to determine the sources of debris in the Bay.
¾ Quantify data collected at the Bay cleanups to inform local residents and
businesses about the types of debris polluting the Bay and educate them on
pollution prevention.
¾ Engage more than 7,5000 San Diegans at over twenty‐five beach cleanups
throughout the year, including large‐scale events like Coastal Cleanup Day.
¾ Remove nearly 100,000 pounds of trash from local beaches at these cleanups and
collect data on the different types of debris found at the cleanups to provide
details on the origin of the debris.
¾ Foster community ownership of our shared resources and help train our
volunteers ‐ stewards of the environment.
Specifically, in South San Diego Bay Coastkeeper will:
¾ Involve a minimum of 200 local residents and Port employees in the special
South Bay Cleanups.
¾ Weigh and document debris retrieved from the South Bay cleanups.
¾ Produce and distribute data cards to capture information from each cleanup
(volunteers will be filing out the data cards).
¾ Identify and quantify removed debris. This information will be compiled in a
Marine Debris Report that will be disseminated to local businesses, residents,
and Coastkeeper members.
Community Based Social Marketing
To address pollution concerns in Chollas Creek, and thus polluted waters entering San
Diego Bay, Coastkeeper has begun implementing a Community Based Social Marketing
strategy (CBSM), a social science model utilized to engage the public and create positive
behaviors that impact pollution prevention. Community‐Based Social Marketing is an
attractive alternative to information intensive campaigns. In contrast to conventional
change. Its effectiveness is due to its pragmatic approach. This approach involves:
identifying barriers to a sustainable behavior, designing a strategy that utilizes behavior
change tools, piloting the strategy with a small segment of a community, and finally,
evaluating the impact of the program once it has been implemented across a
community. Over the next several years, Coastkeeper will work in conjunction with
community volunteers to implement and tailor this model to the specific needs of the
Chollas Creek and San Diego Bay
Partnership with the Port
Coastkeeper sincerely appreciates its strong and long standing partnership with the
Port of San Diego. Coastkeeper will highlight the Port’s dedication to removing and
identifying pervasive marine debris by including information about this program in our Watermarks newsletter, which reaches 1,000 people, and in our Email Action Alert,
which reaches 4,500 people. We will also post our findings on the Coastkeeper Web
site, listing the Port as a sponsor of this research program.
In addition to educating participants, many of our monthly cleanups and regional
events receive prominent media attention through extensive television, radio, and
newspaper coverage. Through this media outreach, tens of thousands of San Diegans
are receiving the message about the state of our waters and the role they can play in
protecting our invaluable resources.
Using Debris Data to make a Difference
After years of collecting data during our California Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) event
on the specific types of marine debris being found, San Diego Coastkeeper wanted to
begin collecting this data at all of our cleanups to focus on the activities that cause the
debris. In 2007, we began implementing a new component to our beach cleanup
program: Utilizing our volunteers to compile data at the cleanups so we can analyze
and track this data to identify the activities and general sources of the debris. The final
information will be used to educate the public, businesses, industry, and government
officials about the problem of debris. Eventually, we would like these data reports to
influence public policy on waste management, prompt legislation, and convince
individuals, organizations, and communities to examine their waste handling practices.
Beach Cleanup Volunteers
San Diego Coastkeeper has established an extensive network of
dedicated volunteers who participate in the cleanups county‐wide,
and we partner with dozens of environmental, community and
youth groups, agencies and local businesses to enhance the impact of
our beach cleanup program. For example, Coastal Cleanup Day,
which Coastkeeper co‐coordinates with I Love A Clean San Diego,
involves many other local environmental non‐profits, businesses,
youth groups and the community as cleanup site captains or cleanup
impacts of the marine debris issue locally. The cleanups also educate cleanup
volunteers and builds public awareness about the issues affecting their local beaches
and waterways. More importantly, the beach cleanups empower each citizen to not only
accept responsibility for the environmental impacts occurring in their community, but
to also take immediate, hands‐on action to alleviate a recognized pollution problem.
For our pilot program, we would like to recruit Port of San Diego employees and their
families in these special cleanups. Coastkeeper will work with the Port to develop
materials which will engage its employees in the South Bay Cleanups.
Description of San Diego Coastkeeper
San Diego Coastkeeper protects the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds and ocean for
the people and wildlife that depend on them. We balance community outreach,
education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal
ecosystem. Dedicated to the belief that we all have a right to clean water, Coastkeeper
is the largest professional organization dedicated solely to the monitoring and
protection of San Diego’s coastal areas and waterways. From habitat restoration, beach
clean‐ups and citizen water quality monitoring programs to our groundbreaking
Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, Coastkeeper provides opportunities for
individuals, families and students to become personally involved in protecting the
natural resources in our communities. San Diego Coastkeeper is one of more than 150
members of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, a coalition of groups transforming
citizen advocacy into action to protect the world’s waters.
Conclusion
Coastkeeper’s Bay cleanup program provides an important opportunity to allow the
power of volunteerism to bring about real change for ocean conservation in a local
community setting, while empowering citizens to take action that makes a significant,
positive difference. We hope that the Unified Port of San Diego will join us in
combating pollution and changing public behavior through the San Diego Bay cleanup
program.
II. Qualifying Experience
San Diego Coastkeeper has worked with a variety of local and state organizations over
the past nine years to develop an effective Water Monitoring Program to ensure a
cleaner, healthier San Diego Bay. Specifically, we have worked with the City of San
Diego, Stormwater Division (Chris Zirkle (619) 525‐8644) and the Clean Water Team of
the State Water Resources Control Board (Erick Burres (213) 576‐6788) on our Water
Monitoring Program. For our Cleanup Program, we have partnered with the Surfrider
Foundation to coordinate monthly cleanups (Bill Hickman (858) 792‐9940) and we co‐
coordinate California Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego with I Love A Clean San Diego
(Morgan Justice‐Black (619) 291‐0103 ext. 3003)
III. Cost Proposal
See attachment A.
IV. Personnel
Bruce Reznik, a California licensed attorney specializing in environmental law, joined
San Diego Coastkeeper as Executive Director in August 1999. He directs the
organizationʹs advocacy and outreach efforts to protect and restore the bays and coastal
waters of San Diego County. Under Bruceʹs direction, Coastkeeper has grown to a full‐
time staff of eight, making it the largest clean water advocacy organization in the
region. During his tenure, Coastkeeper launched its successful Environmental Law &
Policy Clinic, its International Citizen Water Monitoring Program and its Kelp
Restoration end Education efforts.
Bruce was appointed to the statewide Public Advisory Group assisting the State Water
Resources Control Board in its implementation of a Surface Water Ambient Monitoring
Program and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program. Bruce also sits on the City
of San Diegoʹs Clean Water Taskforce, co‐chaired by Mayor Dick Murphy and
Councilmember Scott Peters. He is the President of the California Coastkeeper Alliance
and a San Diego League of Conservation Voters Board member.
Prior to joining Coastkeeper, Bruce was the Senior Associate at Gladstein & Associates,
a Los Angeles‐based consulting firm specializing in air quality, alternative fuel and
advanced transportation projects. Bruceʹs efforts expanded the use of electric and
natural gas vehicles throughout California.
Bruce holds a Bachelorsʹ degree in Political Science from the University of California
Berkeley, and earned his law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law.
Bruce also completed environmental law coursework at George Washington University
in Washington D.C.
Danielle Miller joined San Diego Coastkeeper in February 2006 to serve as the
organization’s Outreach Director. Danielle manages Coastkeeper’s Beach Cleanup
program, coordinates our community outreach and fundraising events (California
Coastal Cleanup Day, Save The Bay kayak race, and our annual Ocean Gala benefit),
and assists with member communication and office management.
Before joining Coastkeeper, Danielle has spent the last year managing the preparation
of the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan for the City of San Diego’s Water
Department (Water Resources Management Program). She earned her Bachelor of Arts
in Geography (Emphasis in Natural Resources and Environmental Policy) from San
Diego State University in 2002. While at SDSU, Danielle served as an intern at
Coastkeeper (then ‘Baykeeper’), where she assisted with the organization’s Water
Monitoring Program, gathering and analyzing the quality of water flowing into both
the San Diego and Mission Bay, and helped organize beach clean‐ups and support
Karen Franz joined San Diego Coastkeeper in January 2006 as Watershed Monitoring
Program Director. As a part of her role at Coastkeeper, Karen works with volunteers to
monitor San Diegoʹs eleven coastal‐draining watersheds. Each month, approximately 20
citizens are trained to gather data about the health of the countyʹs waterways. Through
this program, all data is collected and managed in accordance with EPA / State Water
Resource Control Board standards to ensure that this data can be used by decision‐
makers for the purpose of improving impaired water bodies and protecting clean ones.
Her role at Coastkeeper also includes stormwater management (pesticides, BMPs) and
investigative water monitoring in order to identify pollution sources. Karen brings to
Coastkeeper a broad multidisciplinary background and six years of project
management experience, with research and practical experience in international
development for water resource management and integrated water planning. Please
note: see attachment B for Organization Chart.
V. Non‐Profit Status
See attachment C.
VI. Subconsultants
Not Applicable
VII. Applicant Disclosure
Not Applicable
VIII. Insurance
The San Diego Coastkeeper agrees to procure and hold at all times during the Term of
this Agreement, a commercial general liability policy covering any bodily injury,
property damage, personal injury or advertising injury associated with all services to be
provided under this Agreement, with a per occurrence limit of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000), hereinafter the “Commercial General Liability Policy.” This Commercial
General Liability Policy shall include an endorsement that adds the District, its officers,
employees and agents as additional insured. Proof of such insurance shall be found
satisfactory to the District.
IX. Conflict of Interest
San Diego Coastkeeper shall disclose to Port if it is currently performing services of any
kind, for any person or entity that would conflict with the services to be provided to the
Port under this agreement. Further, should Coastkeeper be selected pursuant to this
RFP, Coastkeeper agrees that it will not perform services which would conflict with the
services to be provided under this RFP.
X. Indemnification
San Diego Coastkeeper accepts the indemnification clause as proposed in the Port’s
San Diego Coastkeeper:
Budget for Cleaning up San Diego Bay
Cleaning up San Diego Bay
EXPENSES Detail Rate Total Notes
Personnel (Burdened Rates):
Executive Director - 20 $75 $1,500 Overseeing of project manager's time
Beach Cleanup Project Manager - 100 $60 $6,000 Based on Beach Cleanup project manager's work in South Bay
Water Monitoring Project Manager - 80 $65 $5,200
Based on Water Monitoring project manager's work Community Based Social Marketing relating to SD Bay
Administrative Support - Controller 10 $75 $750
Based on estimated time for Controller on project budgets, grant tracking and invoicing.
Administrative Support - Bookkeeper 10 $55 $550
Based on time spent working on items for 2 project managers and the Executive Director.
Subtotal Personnel $14,000 $14,000
Travel $300
(Majority of travel funds with be spent for Water Monitoring travel to and from San Diego Bay and watersheds, especially Chollas Creek area)
Supplies and Communication Costs $700
(Includes beach cleanup supplies such as orang-u-tongs, gloves, bags, water, food , data cards (purchase and in-house printing), pencils and monitoring supplies such as outreach printed materials, water monitoring kits, lab testing and protective gear. Also, commuications such as newsletter and email alerts)
Total Expenses $15,000 $14,000
San Diego Coastkeeper:
Budget for Cleaning up San Diego Bay
