Heal The Ocean

i liked the nonprofit heal-the ocean because its a good thing to do by taking out all of the trash out of the ocean so the animals don't eat it or so people don't see it on the beach and get stuck.

HTO is truly a great nonprofit. As a resident of Santa Barbara for over 30 years. I have been fortunate to see the results of HTO’s hard work in providing care for our coast. Particularly important is its success in capping oil leaks and reducing waste water pollution.
Our community is grateful for the environmental and conservation leadership HTO provides to all.
It is an honor to give to HTO and be part of a successful approach to keep our ocean waters clean, safe and beautiful.

Heal the Ocean works to bring Government, Academia, and private citizens to the table to achieve solutions concerning potable water supplies, sewage disposal and watershed issues. They bring the parties together and work it out to get done without suing. My donation is well spent using this approach.

What they’re doing for the ocean is inspirational.”
“They work with public agencies in a cooperative way –
“HTO headed a giant 15-year project to remove septic systems from Santa Barbara south coast coastline, replace with modern infrastructure.”
“THEY ARE the only organization in SB that goes after crashed boats on the beach.”
‘They are working with the State on cleaning up the Summerland leaking oil mess, and producing an in-depth geologic study for the State, to produce a plan of action.”

One of the top charities on our list for the last 20 or so years! As someone who lives by the ocean and takes a dip in it almost everyday, I truly appreciate the hard work, research and action implemented by Heal The Ocean! They truly make a difference in the health of our oceans - the lungs of the earth!

HTO is a creative, constructive, peacemaking organization.
A lynchpin of Santa Barbara’s environmental effort.

I’ve been lucky enough to participate in several beach cleanups hosted by Heal the Ocean, and each one has benefited the surrounding area and left me and others with the understanding that our coasts and ocean are nothing less than vital. Heal the Ocean is a necessity to California’s plethora of nonprofits!

Heal the Ocean started out with the goal of preventing leaky septic systems from contaminating our favorite surf break but they didn’t stop there. Once that goal was accomplished, the organization continued to pursue their mission using science, public advocacy and law, as well as good old elbow grease. With dogged determination they continue to address all threats to our waters, with a diversity of actions including recovering toxic debris from abandoned ships, capping oil leakages, and tirelessly advocating for policy decisions that benefit the cause.

I cannot say enough good things about HTO. they were there for us during the mudslides in 2018 and we’ve been big supporters for years.

Since its inception decades ago, Heal the Ocean has remained true to its mission. They have grown and the mission has grown but the solid, demonstrative and energetic work stays solid. Impressive!!! Our ocean and world is better for their existence!

Heal the Ocean is a critical organization in our community. They focus on wastewater infrastructure and ocean dumping, facilitate beach cleanups and oversee the maintenance of dog poop bags at parks and beaches, among other initiatives. The organization is lead by a hard-working and determined team of environmental, policy, and community advocates.

Heal the Ocean is our absolute favorite nonprofit in Santa Barbara! They have a CAN-DO philosophy and they just DO IT and in an amazing, caring way. Kudos to Heal the Ocean for all they accomplish in our community!

Heal the Ocean is doing just that! Involved in wastewater discharge and recycling, septics to sewers, capping off leaking oil wells, and sea level rising issues to name just a few of their ongoing projects and passions. At the helm is the indefatigable Hillary Hauser. Passionate and driven, Hillary and her team have made our oceans healthier with forward thinking plans and projects. Heal the Ocean is the model for other coastal communities in dealing with ocean pollution. We are beyond grateful to have them in our community which ultimately benefits our world!

This amazing organization has done more to right wrongs in the community, from cleaning oil leaks offshore to helping keep the beach and water safe. Loved by Santa Barbarans universally. A real watchdog and then acting upon their findings.

Heal the Ocean really does what their name says! They are a true force: they go to the source of pollution and attack with concrete results. A latest of their many achievements is to cap abandoned oil wells left leaking in the open ocean, and the list goes on!

The most inspiring, passionate, mission driven organization I know. Plus I love Hillary Hauser. My name is Pat McElroy

Hands down - Heal The Ocean is one of the most important local nonprofit organizations around. In Santa Barbara most of us thrive off of living near the ocean and what it provides to us on a daily basis. Heal The Ocean has done a tremendous amount of work to keep our ocean safe and clean. We have always and will always support the efforts of Hillary and the entire staff of HTO!

For more than a decade I've watch Heal The Ocean use its resources wisely and effectively, getting legislation passed to fund the capping of ancient leaking oil wells in the Santa Barbara Channel, working with Harbor services to remove ocean-polluting wreckage after storms, getting dog poop bag funded and placed in the entries to popular beaches to reduce bacterial contamination, funding scientific research into the underwater impacts of a proposed desalinization plant. That's just scratching the surface. HTO is effective, efficient, devoted to the public good, and financially responsible. HTO is a Very Great Nonprofit.

Giving to Heal the Ocean is an incredibly rewarding experience. Our family is impressed with the impact and leverage our contribution makes. Dollars turn into action. Under the leadership and vision of Hillary Hauser, Heal the Ocean has shaped legislation that will change polluting practices. Heal the Ocean articulates a clear and precise plan for how we should THINK and ACT towards the ocean. The members of the Heal the Ocean community help us express how we FEEL about a beautiful day at the beach. This is a winning organization.

As someone who has served as Executive Director of another successful non-profit it has been extremely gratifying to be a member of this organization. The focus is clear and the follow through unrelenting in the effort to, as the name implies, Heal the Ocean in myriad ways necessary to achieve this goal. The cause will endure well past the current endeavors so whatever we accomplish today must continue on into the future. I encourage everyone to become a part of this organization in whatever way possible.

Working in the office, I found Heal the Ocean to be dedicated, committed and passionate about the cause of ending ocean pollution. The philosophy of Heal the Ocean as quoted from their website "it's simple: The ocean can no longer be used as a dump. Heal the Ocean is committed to ending ocean pollution." is practiced everyday. It is a personal highlight of my life to be associated with this organization making a huge difference to the ocean I love.

Many thanks to Heal the Ocean. I enjoyed working with them and their consultant. I am pleased that their particular experience and expertise were useful to our effective and on-going management of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) or septic systems in the City of Los Angeles. Our collective efforts is expected to result in a successful grant process leading to the upgrading of antiquated wastewater systems within the City of Los Angeles or their connection to public sewers. I am grateful for their partnership support in this effort. I commend Heal-the-Ocean for making the effort to encourage us in this very important project for the community.

Through cutting edge research and science-based advocacy, Heal the Ocean has made significant strides in improving ocean water quality. From major projects involving septic-to-sewer conversions and hazardous waste contamination to weekend beach clean-ups, the dedicated Heal the Ocean staff and volunteers never take their eye off the ball. They are thoughful, smart, committed and, most importantly, effective. Heal the Ocean gets results!

Heal the Ocean is making a significant difference in cleaning up the ocean in Santa Barbara County. It is very well managed and maintains its focus on reducing polution in the ocean. The organization gets projects done as witnessed by the Carpenteria area beach front sewer project.

Heal the Ocean is an organization that is focused on measurable, positive results. As the manager of a public wastewater agency, I greatly appreciate their commitment to clean water and their recognition that we are all working hard together to acheive the same objective. Instead of filing unnecessary lawsuits, HTO is focused on collaborative change - finding grant funds, sponsoring legislation, performing technical studies, and doing actual work to protect the environment. Hillary Hauser is a dynamo and her dedication and intensity are making a real difference in water quality in this area. Keep up the great work. Craig Murray, P.E. - General Manager, Carpinteria Sanitary District.

I'm a surfer. I like to surf at Rincon. Yhe reason we will soon have a sewer pipe at Rincon instead of septic systems that drain to the ocean is because Heal the Ocean has fought for us to get it done. If it wasn't for HTO the gov't would still be dithering and delaying getting it done.They are also going after a real plan for storm water run-off. If we wait for the gov't to get it done that's what we'll do:wait. HTO is grass roots and cares what goes into the ocean. If you care what goes in the ocean support HTO.

You couldn't ask for a better organization that goes to the front line on behalf of the people in it's community! HTO doesn't just complain and bring awareness regarding a potentially health threatening situation, they go far beyond that by offering expert advice on how to correct the problems and preserve the health of our beaches and ocean. They are a top notch WORLD recognized organization and deserve the highest level of support! HTO sets the bar and serves as a role model for similar non-profits all across our country.

I manage several beach communities in Carpinteria, California (63 beach homes) who were operating on septic systems for many years. With HTO knowledge and water testing studies we were able to inform and convince our communities to convert to sewer treatment. Heal the Ocean was instrumental in working with local water municipalities in assisting us with the formation of a Sewer Assessment District, obtaining State bond financing, working through litigation and completing the installation from antiquated septic systems to a State of the Art low flow gravity feed ejection system that we can all be very proud of. Without their knowledge, assistance, involvement and support, I am sure we would still be in the planning stages. We owe HTO and Hillary Hauser a great deal of gratitude for their support and dedication to maintaining water quality for future generations. I wholly support all HTO does in identifying water quality problems and recommendations for improvements to our most important resouce. Joseph P. Kennedy, EA

This is the most dedicated, passionate and effective non-profit I know of!The volunteers are committed to prevent more destruction to our beautiful ocean; as well as to "fix" the destructive things that can be! (for example septic systems near the shore; and pesticide pollution to name two!)

Heal the Ocean is a driving force in coastal environment education and action, from changing the way we treat our sewage to helping support other non-profits like our owe with general public education and youth sponsored beach clean-up. The HTO staff have the passion, commitment and knowledge to continue to improve our coast and keep our water clean and safe for humans and marine life. Great work Heal the Ocean. Earl Richmond, Our World of Oceans, Founder

Heal the Ocean is a terrific non-profit that is changing the way we treat and think about the ocean. "The ocean can no longer be used as a dump!"is their motto. Septic systems in shallow ground water along the beaches and creeks have been replaced by new sewer systems locally. In doing so Heal the Ocean has shaped policy in the State of California regarding ground water and septic systems. Heal the ocean works to help City's and County's identify contaminated ground water that needs treatment. Heal the Ocean works with sewage treatment plant operators to help them upgrade their plants and begin wastewater recycling projects so that water used in sewage treatment avoids entering the ocean and can be reused as a new resource. Since 1998, when they funded DNA studeis to test for human fecal coliform at the Rincon, Heal the Ocean has undertaken cutting edge scientific studies to identify sources of pollution. Heal the Ocean continues to help protect the health of the ocean and the life within it. Including us humans.

Heal the Ocean has led the way for the protection of our ocean for a long time. With Hillary Hauser at the helm, H.T.O. has been instrumental in safe-guarding this valuable resource for all. They have brought forward an amazing amount of information that the majority of the public was not aware of. In doing so, intelligent decision making processes have been made on local and statewide policies,...further strengthening the 'protection of this most critical resource'.

Heal the Ocean is doing exactly that -"healing the ocean". They have become a wonderful voice to all those who enjoy our beautiful oceans by drawing attention to the many ways we can help heal the water. Starting with a major household septic system to sewer project at the world famous Rincon surf break, they have become the "go to" organization for identifying sources of pollution going into our water and how to mitigate these pollution problems. They have worked with many governmental agencies on why they need to upgrade sewage treatment plants and then help find grants to finance these upgrades. Heal the Ocean's library of scientific tests, observations and expert testimony in cases involving ocean pollution are used by many agencies to focus on pollution sources and ways to mitigate these problems. We all are benefiting from the work they have done and are doing. The ocean can no longer just be a dump for all our waste and Heal the Ocean is doing the work to make us all become aware of how clean our oceans can and should be. Thank you Heal the Ocean.