Community Outreach You Can Do!
No matter where you live, your activities on land have a direct connection to the ocean. You can make a difference in your community to protect marine life.
Community Outreach
You Can Do!
No matter where you live, your activities on land have a direct connection to the ocean. You can make a difference in your community to protect marine life.
Storm Drain Pollution (urban runoff)
Storm water runoff is a major cause of water pollution according to the EPA. Storm drains are designed to prevent flooding of streets by collecting rainwater and diverting it (untreated) to the nearest body of water (streams, creeks, rivers, and the ocean). Pollutants such as litter, plastics, motor oil, antifreeze, detergents, paint, pesticides, pet waste, and copper (from brake pads) are flushed off streets and into storm drains which lead to rivers, creeks, and the oceans.
Educate others in your community about storm drains. Volunteer with a local community groups to mark storm drains with educational placards, or monitor the water quality of local watersheds. Contact your city public works department and ask if you can volunteer to mark their storm drains with educational emblems. Save The Whales works with local municipalities (and follows safety standards) to adhere these emblems above storm drains. This effort promotes community awareness and conversations about the importance of keeping storm drains free of pollutants.
To date, Save The Whales has installed over 3,700 emblems and started conversations that raised awareness!
Storm Drain Pollution (urban runoff)
Storm water runoff is a major cause of water pollution according to the EPA. Storm drains are designed to prevent flooding of streets by collecting rainwater and diverting it (untreated) to the nearest body of water (streams, creeks, rivers, and the ocean). Pollutants such as litter, plastics, motor oil, antifreeze, detergents, paint, pesticides, pet waste, and copper (from brake pads) are flushed off streets and into storm drains which lead to rivers, creeks, and the oceans.
Educate others in your community about storm drains. Volunteer with a local community groups to mark storm drains with educational placards, or monitor the water quality of local watersheds. Contact your city public works department and ask if you can volunteer to mark their storm drains with educational emblems. Save The Whales works with local municipalities (and follows safety standards) to adhere these emblems above storm drains. This effort promotes community awareness and conversations about the importance of keeping storm drains free of pollutants.
To date, Save The Whales has installed over 3,700 emblems and started conversations that raised awareness!
Local Cleanup Events In Coastal or Inland Areas
One of the most common sources of beach pollution is cigarette butts. They can take up to seven years to breakdown. Last year, over one million cigarette butts were removed by volunteers during National Coastal Clean Up Day. Why are butts so bad? They contain plastic filters that leach toxic chemicals into the environment. Birds often mistake the butts as food and can die from ingesting them.
Even if you live inland, you can participate in watershed cleanups to protect local waterways and contribute to healthier ecosystems downstream. Contact your state or local Parks and Recreation Department or environmental organizations for information about cleanups in your area.
Look for regional watershed groups or conservancies that organize cleanups. These organizations often focus on waterways, regardless of proximity to the coast. Check for events like National River Cleanup Day Or California Coastal Cleanup Day (in September), as these often include inland cleanup sites.
Consider organizing your own in your neighborhood, local park, or along a nearby creek or stream.
Become a Volunteer Water Quality Monitor: Volunteer water quality monitors collect and analyze water samples to assess the health of local waterways.
Local Cleanup Events In Coastal or Inland Areas:
One of the most common sources of beach pollution is cigarette butts. They can take up to seven years to breakdown. Last year, over one million cigarette butts were removed by volunteers during National Coastal Clean Up Day. Why are butts so bad? They contain plastic filters that leach toxic chemicals into the environment. Birds often mistake the butts as food and can die from ingesting them.
Even if you live inland, you can participate in watershed cleanups to protect local waterways and contribute to healthier ecosystems downstream. Contact your state or local Parks and Recreation Department or environmental organizations for information about cleanups in your area.
Look for regional watershed groups or conservancies that organize cleanups. These organizations often focus on waterways, regardless of proximity to the coast. Check for events like National River Cleanup Day Or California Coastal Cleanup Day (in September), as these often include inland cleanup sites.
Consider organizing your own in your neighborhood, local park, or along a nearby creek or stream.
Become a Volunteer Water Quality Monitor: Volunteer water quality monitors collect and analyze water samples to assess the health of local waterways.
Ban Outside Balloon Releases
Balloons released outside can travel hundreds of miles and land in rivers, creeks, and oceans. They pop over a waterway due to the difference in air pressure. In the sea, whales, dolphins and sea turtles can be killed by ingesting balloons mistaken for food or jellyfish.
Become a balloon alert ambassador and download our flyer. Educate your schools, church, community, and businesses not to participate in balloon releases. Write letters to your local paper to educate people about the dangers of balloons for marine life.
Not even large whales are safe from dangerous balloons. A 60 foot sperm whale washed up dead from ingesting a balloon which blocked its stomach and caused it to starve.
If you live on the East Coast of the United States, contact balloonmission.org. They provide unique Pop-n-Drop bins to recover deflated balloons. They tally all the balloons they collect to protect the environment and marine life.
Ban Outside Balloon Releases
Balloons released outside can travel hundreds of miles and land in rivers, creeks, and oceans. They pop over a waterway due to the difference in air pressure. In the sea, whales, dolphins and sea turtles can be killed by ingesting balloons mistaken for food or jellyfish.
Become a balloon alert ambassador and download our flyer https://savethewhales.org/balloon-ambassador/ Educate your schools, church, community, and businesses not to participate in balloon releases. Write letters to your local paper to educate people about the dangers of balloons for marine life.
Not even large whales are safe from dangerous balloons. A 60 foot sperm whale washed up dead from ingesting a balloon which blocked its stomach and caused it to starve.
If you live on the East Coast of the United States, contact balloonmission.org. They provide unique Pop-n-Drop bins to recover deflated balloons. They tally all the balloons they collect to protect the environment and marine life.
Native Plant/Pollinator Gardens
Bees and butterflies are endangered due to the use of pesticides in the environment. They are essential for growing our food. How does this connect to the sea? Native plant/pollinator gardens support healthy ocean ecosystems by eliminating the use of pesticides and reducing urban runoff and erosion which carry pollutants to waterways. Creating these vibrant gardens helps endangered pollinators on land and endangered species that live in the sea.
Go to xerces.org and sign the pollinator protection pledge
What you can do in your community: xerces.org/bring-back-the-pollinators
Save the Whales installs first pollinator garden in Soledad, California
Native Plant/Pollinator Gardens:
Bees and butterflies are endangered due to the use of pesticides in the environment. They are essential for growing our food. How does this connect to the sea? Native plant/pollinator gardens support healthy ocean ecosystems by eliminating the use of pesticides and reducing urban runoff and erosion which carry pollutants to waterways. Creating these vibrant gardens helps endangered pollinators on land and endangered species that live in the sea.
Go to xerces.org and sign the pollinator protection pledge
What you can do in your community: xerces.org/bring-back-the-pollinators
Save the Whales installs first pollinator garden in Soledad, California
