Wow, what a year Coastkeeper has had.

Our water defines our life in San Diego, and ever since two gutsy water lovers took a leap of faith twenty years ago, San Diego Coastkeeper has defined it, too.

I’m honored — and beyond thrilled — that I get to join you as the organization’s executive director and work alongside this talented team.

While our fishable, swimmable, drinkable water is faced with a number of serious threats, no one else besides San Diego Coastkeeper’s dedicated members, volunteers and staff are more prepared to face them head on. I’m privileged to lead a team that, in its 20th anniversary year, achieved some of the biggest victories in San Diego Coastkeeper history.

Check out San Diego Coastkeeper’s 2015 Annual Report infographic for the biggest highlights. You may want to sit down, my jaw was hanging open the whole time (197,000 pieces of trash removed!). It goes without saying that these results set a high bar, and it is my hope to raise that bar in 2016 by implementing our 2016 – 2018 strategic plan approved earlier this year.

I look forward to meeting you all (please have a beer with me at Ocean Commotion on April 30 while we salute Program Director Travis Pritchard for his leadership as the interim executive director) and walking with you side-by-side in the journey to a more fishable, swimmable, drinkable San Diego County.

Thank you,

Tracie Barham
Executive Director