Aerial Monitoring

Since 2008, The Bay Foundation (TBF) and its partner LightHawk have been conducting coastal aerial surveys of boating activities in state waters off the mainland coast of Southern California. Monitoring is focused on the Southern California Bight, divided into two transects—the north transect, which stretches from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Point Conception, and… Continue reading Aerial Monitoring

Clean Bay Certified Restaurants

The Bay Foundation (TBF) co-founded Clean Bay Certified in 2008 with LA County cities such as Malibu, Santa Monica, Culver City, Palos Verdes Estates, Inglewood, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance to recognize restaurants going above and beyond municipal stormwater regulations to reduce stormwater runoff pollution. Certified… Continue reading Clean Bay Certified Restaurants

Clean Boating

With four million boaters, California has one of the highest levels of recreational boating in the United States. This large volume of recreational activity in our waterways can come at a cost. Boat-based pollutants such as sewage, used oil, household hazardous waste, marine debris, aquatic invasive species, and emerging contaminants impair our waterways. TBF’s Boater… Continue reading Clean Boating

Kelp Forest Hydrodynamics

Frequent storms and larger waves pounding the Southern California coastline are major causes for concern if we hope to preserve our beaches and rocky shorelines for future generations to enjoy. The Bay Foundation (TBF) spearheaded a study to investigate how we can protect our shorelines using kelp forest restoration techniques. A variety of tools are… Continue reading Kelp Forest Hydrodynamics

Dockweiler Beach Dunes

The Dockweiler Beach Dunes aims to establish approximately four acres of sandy beach and coastal bluff habitat and implement a pilot restoration to establish adjacent offshore eelgrass within a one-acre footprint. This initiative establishes a healthy living shoreline that can support native plants and animal species both in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, while providing enhanced… Continue reading Dockweiler Beach Dunes

Kelp Forest Restoration Project

The kelp forest ecosystems off the southern California coast are known to be some of the world’s most diverse and productive ecosystems. They are vital for providing habitat and food for over 700 marine species, including kelp bass, California spiny lobster, abalones, marine mammals, birds, and fish. Many of these kelp forest species are the… Continue reading Kelp Forest Restoration Project

SMBNEP Collaborators

Through funding from the National Estuary Program (NEP) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program (SMBNEP) and The Bay Foundation (TBF) (SMBNEP’s host organization) have supported the following local partners and initiatives: Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment: Coastal Access and Beach Visitor User Data… Continue reading SMBNEP Collaborators

SMCHRP Collaborators

In 2025, The Bay Foundation (TBF) received funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy to launch the Santa Monica Coastal Habitat Restoration Program (SMCHRP) – a program focused on nature-based restoration projects that will help Santa Monica Bay better withstand climate change. Several of our innovative partners are directly leading these restoration efforts, specifically: Aquatic… Continue reading SMCHRP Collaborators