Protecting the county’s coasts

All it took for Garry Brown to establish the Newport Beach-based

Orange County Coastkeeper was a healthy love for the ocean and a deep

respect for the marine history of an area he says his sons can’t

enjoy like he once did. Much of that history -- when sea shells were

abundant, when fishing was bountiful and when the water wasn’t dirty

-- has been washed away.

More than five years after Brown and his wife founded Coastkeeper,

it has grown to 3,000 members, he said, with its members working to

preserve and promote coastal resources. That includes challenging

developers when the organization has to. But it also means working

with them. The Pilot’s Ryan Carter spoke with Brown, Coastkeeper’s

executive director, about the organization and some of its recent

work.

Tell me about Coastkeeper.

The Orange County Coastkeeper was formed and commenced operating

full-time on March 1, 1999, as a California nonprofit corporation

with an IRS 501(c) 3 public charity designation. It was founded by

Garry and Ellen Brown -- my wife and I. One month later, Randy Seton,

a Newport Beach native, joined as a full-time staff member.

Coastkeeper is directed by a board of directors comprised of business

and professional leaders throughout the county.

Coastkeeper’s mission is to protect and preserve the marine

habitats and watersheds of Orange County through education, advocacy,

restoration and enforcement. It has always maintained a strict

compass heading on water-quality issues and the health of our marine

habitats. We fulfill our mission through numerous programs and

projects. We are very proactive, resolution-oriented and undertake

public works projects that have both public benefit and measurable

results.

Since 1999 we have experienced extraordinary growth. Currently we

have 11 employees, including two biologists, a geographer and an

attorney. Our offices are in Newport Beach, and we operate a

water-quality testing laboratory and a kelp laboratory to grow kelp

for our restoration program, as well as boats docked both at

Huntington Harbour and Newport Harbor.

Our funding is generated by tax-deductible donations from

individuals, businesses, and foundations. Coastkeeper also receives

grants for specific projects from agencies such as the Environmental

Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

and the State of California/EPA. We host an annual “Coastal

Protection Awards Dinner” and other events to raise money. Our

membership is approximately 3,000.

What is the significance of the recent agreement with the Irvine

Co. on the water runoff-trapping system at Pelican Hill Resort?

The short-term significance is the coastal waters off Newport

Coast, as well as Morning Canyon, which has suffered recent erosion

problems, will be spared from more polluted urban runoff being

discharged into them.

The long-term significance is the water-quality management plan

not only captures all low-flows, or nonstorm flows, but captures

storm flows, treats the water through natural treatment systems, then

utilizes the water for irrigation. This far exceeds what any law

requires a developer to do and, in our opinion, establishes this as a

model water-management plan and raises the state-wide bar for what

coastal developments can achieve to protect our most precious natural

resource -- the ocean.

Why, in your opinion, is Irvine Co. interested in working with

your group of late?

Actually, Coastkeeper and the Irvine Co. have been working

collectively on issues of water quality as they relate to the Crystal

Cove development and will continue to do so until the project is

completed and the company is divested of the project.

In so doing, and even in our earlier litigation, I think the

Irvine Co. discovered that Coastkeeper was upfront in what we said

and did, we did not have any hidden agendas, nor did we ever declare

they didn’t have the right to build their project. Coastkeeper did

say, however, that no one has the right to pollute the ocean or

another’s property.

Coastkeeper brought stakeholders together to deal with erosion

issues in Buck Gully and the Irvine Co. has participated in those

discussion and actions. Coastkeeper is currently reviewing the

water-quality management planning of the Irvine Co.’s project in East

Orange.

So, there has been ongoing dialogue between them and Coastkeeper

on specific issues since 2000.

How have you turned a contentious relationship into a one of

cooperation?

As I said earlier, Coastkeeper has always been upfront with what

we do and plan to do. We strive to develop water-quality plans that

are state-of-the-art and ensure coastal protection. We are not trying

to stop growth and development or deal with an entire array of

issues. We specialize in water-quality issues and protection of our

marine habitats, harbors and waterways.

Secondly, as environmentalists, we do not hesitate to point out

the negative associated with a development project. However, I think

it is wise to equally point out the positive when it is achieved.

Coastkeeper litigated against the Irvine Co. over what we felt was an

inadequate water-management plan that threatened water quality at

Crystal Cove. Through that process, the Irvine Co. decided to

redesign the drainage and water-quality plan and developed one that

far exceeded the requirements of the law and ensured protection of

the near-shore waters off Crystal Cove. I felt Coastkeeper should

recognize Irvine Co. for doing the right thing. Therefore, we honored

the company at our annual dinner by presenting them with an award

specifically for their water-quality plan at Crystal Cove. Giving

that award certainly caused uproar within the environmental community

and I was called on the carpet to explain myself by others from my

side of the table. But it was the right thing for us to do and I am

glad we did. These two factors, in my opinion, became the foundation

for a cooperative relationship.

Do you have similar agreements/relationships with other

developers?

Absolutely. Coastkeeper has collaborated with essentially every

coastal developer with a project along the Orange County Coastline in

the past five years. Beginning with the Montage Resort in Laguna

Beach, the Irvine Co. at Crystal Cove, Marblehead in San Clemente,

the Headlands in Dana Point, the Pacific City project and the Hyatt

Resort in Huntington Beach, and the huge Rancho Mission Viejo project

in South County, Coastkeeper has worked with each of these developers

to ensure the most cutting-edge water-quality management plans in the

state of California.

During the same period, we litigated four major developers for

noncompliance to the Federal Clean Water Act and the statewide

construction permit. By the way, Coastkeeper never takes any penalty

money generated from litigation. If there is penalty money, we direct

it to another organization. For example, we recently directed money

to go to the Friends of Harbor, Parks, and Beaches for their planning

of the Riverpark at the Santa Ana River mouth.

What pending developments or proposals are Coastkeeper concerned

about or come out against? Is Coastkeeper challenging anything right

now?

On a statewide level we are involved in the development of

statewide guidelines for liquid natural gas terminals along our

coast, desalination plants, and marine life protection areas. We are

also supporting renewed emphasis on alternative energy sources,

including expanding uses for solar energy. Coastkeeper is vigorously

opposed to the proposed action to disband the regional water quality

control boards throughout the state and centralize all the power and

decision making in Sacramento. This is proposed under the guise of

cost saving, yet these boards are volunteer and not paid.

Locally, we are concerned with a number of issues from proposed

massive developments that have not yet finalized water-quality

management plans to the fact that inland cities are not seriously

addressing their responsibility to comply with the clean-water

standards. Some cities would like to continue to believe polluted

urban runoff is only a coastal problem.

Currently Coastkeeper is not in litigation, but that could change

soon relative to two serious inland polluters. We believe that

litigation is not the preferred method of dealing with resolution of

a problem; it is expensive for us and very time-consuming. However,

when it is necessary to either stop a polluter or prevent one, we

will not hesitate if that is what it takes.

What are the most significant threats these days to polluting

Newport Coast?

People, their bad practices, and more development that prevents

the land from soaking in water and causes it to “run off” and drain

into our harbors and ocean is the most significant threat to Newport

Coast.

An interesting fact is that the population of Orange County in

1950 was just over 200,000 people; 54 years later we are at three

million and our watershed is nearly five million in population. The

massive development during this period has radically changed our

marine environment. For example, one generation, or 50 years ago,

here in Newport abalone were everywhere -- the shells so plentiful

they were in home gardens, embedded in neighborhood walls, ashtrays

at most restaurants. You could dig for clams on these beaches and eat

them. Fishing was abundant -- even in the harbor. In one generation

we have lost these and now wonder if it is safe to even swim or eat

any fish you are lucky enough to catch.

The challenge is to find methods to curtail the polluted runoff at

its source and to naturally treat it as it flows through the

watershed down to the coast. A part of the solution is to have new

developments implement techniques that ensure they will not add to

the pollution, but in reality it will take much more than these few

efforts as Orange County is virtually almost “built out.” We need to

develop systems that clean urban runoff in the existing developed

cities. The good news is that there are programs and projects in

progress designed specifically to accomplish this.

How do you envision Newport Coast in the next 10 to 20 years? What

will it look like based on how we treat it today?

I am confident we are going to develop methods and systems to turn

the negative impacts of urban pollution around. I envision Newport

Coast to be improved over what it is today. In 1999 when Huntington

Beach was closed for the summer due to exceedances of water quality

standards, the only positive aspect was to raise the conscience level

of the public relative to urban pollution and its costly impacts on

our community and resources. In 10 to 20 years I can envision

improved water quality and even fish and sea animal numbers

increasing. The public both demands and deserves healthy harbors,

beaches and coastlines; government for the most part understands the

message.

What is your background and how did you get involved with

Coastkeeper?

Briefly, born and raised in Anaheim, graduated from Anaheim High

School, then the University of Redlands, where I graduated with a

B.A. in government. In my career I have been a city government

administrator, a chamber of commerce president, an executive director

for both the building and real estate trade associations. Many are

surprised to see me on the environmental side of business and

development, but it makes perfect sense if you believe good

environmental planning and good business planning coincide. My

background has allowed me to understand the issues from various

perspectives as well as understand the constraints from each side.

Your group will be working to clean up the Rhine Channel. Why is

that important? How did it become so polluted in the first place?

In 1999, we staged a press conference to announce the beginning of

Orange County Coastkeeper in the parking lot of the Cannery

Restaurant on the Rhine Channel. We promised the community we would

eventually take responsibility to push the clean up of this region’s

number one “toxic hot spot,” according to the Santa Ana Regional

Water Quality Control Board. We are continuing to keep that promise

by undertaking the current project to determine the extent of the

pollution at depth in the sediment, determine the extent of the

debris, map the channel bottom and finally have an outside consulting

firm take the data and determine the feasible and most economical

remediation for the channel. We are expecting to complete the study

by next April.

The Rhine Channel during World War II had approximately 25

shipyards, an operating fish cannery, and various plating businesses

that all drained and dumped into the channel. Void of any rules, the

channel also served as a convenient dumpster. Today, there are high

levels of toxic pollutants in the channel that are potentially

responsible as a source of the toxics found in fish throughout the

harbor.

How challenging is it to be an environmental group in what has

traditionally been a pro-development area?

Our mission and what we are working hard to accomplish is not

antibusiness or antidevelopment. I have never met anyone who

supported polluted water and closed beaches. Therefore, I feel

everyone is, in some way, on our side. In my view, we are not

fighting to save a few fish or birds; we are really fighting for the

integrity of our communities. There is no justification for our

rivers, harbors and near-shore waters to be so polluted or our

beaches closed to swimmers. We have a public right to catch fish and

take it to our family for food and not worry if it will make them

sick. What we are fighting for is not conservative or liberal or

antibusiness; it is clean water and healthy marine habitats.

Coastkeeper has been able to grow and take on larger and larger

projects throughout the county. Our style of doing business has also

assisted in our acceptance and success. We try to base our positions

on facts and science. We try to partner with agencies and cities to

reach resolutions to issues and we try to be reasonable. On specific

projects we always have been able to deliver on our commitments.

What can people who don’t consider themselves environmentalists

but who care about the environment do to help keep beaches clean and

the area as little polluted as possible?

You are describing my board of directors and most of the people we

work with. We have tried to make people feel comfortable in their

concern for environmental issues without making them feel branded as

an environmentalist. I believe the majority of residents near the

coast are deeply concerned about water quality and the health of our

shoreline and more; they are willing to get involved or even pay a

higher fee if they know things are going to be improved.

The general public can educate themselves to change aspects of

daily routines that can have an accumulative result in reducing

pollution. The public can report incidents of obvious pollution near

the harbor or waterways.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the public

can support Coastkeeper’s work through volunteering in a program or

by making a tax-deductible donation.