Los Angeles WaterkeeperCCS Team Volunteers to Save Our

Oceans

LA WaterKeeper: MISSIONAbout UsOur mission is to protect and restore Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Bay, and adjacent waters through enforcement, fieldwork, and community action. We work to achieve this goal through litigation and regulatory programs that ensure water quality protections in waterways throughout L.A. County. Our Litigation, Advocacy, Marine, and Water Quality teams conduct interconnected projects that serve this mission.Los Angeles Waterkeeper is an Organization of Waterkeeper Alliance, the world’s fastest growing environmental movement. Along with 200 other Waterkeeper Organizations, our movement works for swimmable, drinkable and fishable waterways worldwide.

Meet the CCS volunteers!

Meet our passionate leader: Captain Michael Quill

Captain Quill LOVED his CCS Swag!

Michael Quill is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute where he holds a MA in the field with a focus in Community, Liberation and Eco-psychology. He also holds a BA in Urban Community Environment & Psychology from Antioch University.Michael is leading the expansion of LA Waterkeeper’s Community Programs, which are focused on building bridges of dialogue between diverse community stakeholders through various outreach, education and interactive, environmental advocacy activities in, on, and around the waters of Los Angeles County. Michael began as a LA Waterkeeper volunteer diver in 2008, and later joined the staff in 2012 both as Marine Protected Areas Watch Program Manager, and as a Dive Team Leader for the world renowned Kelp Restoration Project.

MPA (Marine Protected Area)WatchMarine Protected AreasA Marine Protected Area (MPA) is an area of the ocean where consumptive human activities such as fishing are limited or restricted in order to protect or conserve marine life or habitats. Our Marine Protected Areas program has worked for years to help ensure that the LA County network of MPAs are as large and as meaningful as possible, engaging the public, stakeholders, decision makers, marine scientists, community groups and ultimately the Department of Fish and Wildlife.Our program conducts regular, on the water outreach and education trips with volunteers called “MPA Watch”, to monitor human uses of the Santa Monica Bay water in and around the restricted fishing areas. We also do outreach to local fisherman, businesses, schools, residents and the public about the current boundaries, passing out the Department of Fish and Wildlife certified maps and communicating with the fishing and water sports communities about the allowed uses and expected benefits of our MPAs.

Meet the CCS Crew

When our vessel is less than yacht-like…

The crew loads up on Dramamine & signs their “Man Overboard” Waiver…

As volunteers we helped locate and document every single vessel out at sea using professional equipment Captain Quill provided, and taught us how to use. Using a certified MPA map, we documented the exact coordinates of vessels fishing both legally and illegally on paper and using an IPad. Our reports were sent to headquarters and other Ocean Conservation Orgs for their records. During our excursion we were able to witness first-hand the scary consequence that come with human greed, unawareness, and denial. We were able to clean up trash we found along the way, and learned about the devastating death toll of much of our treasured marine life. There are several programs that you can be a part of, some of which include the collection and testing of contaminated water in our local water sources, MPA Watch, and Beach Clean-ups. We were really proud as CCS employees to represent, and act on the core values of our company and we can’t wait to see others do the same! We had an amazing time, and learned so much! Here are a few highlights from our volunteer experience!

Highlights!

LOWLIGHTS! #DramamineFAIL

CCS Represents! #CreativeChannelCares

Our Mission: To make retail better and improve people's lives through informed and inspired shopping.Our Vision: To be a great organization, which is universally respected and admired for our unique people and culture, our creativity and innovation, and our extraordinary impact.Our Values: Each unique member of our team shares in the leadership of the organization and has a responsibility to:•Make a difference for our clients and community•Communicate with openness, honesty, and humility•Empower our teammates for growth, success, and fulfillment•Create a fun environment that inspires learning and innovative solutions

http://lawaterkeeper.org/Contact Mailing Address:LA Waterkeeper 120 Broadway, Suite 105,Santa Monica, CA 90401Email: info@lawaterkeeper.orgPhone Number: 310-394-6162Fax Number:310-394-6178Pollution Hotline: 877-4-CACOAST (877-422-2627)