As we entered 2021 in the midst of an enduring global health crisis, the San Diego Coastkeeper team leaned into the strength and comfort of turning toward one another and finding solace in community.

Time and again, we were filled with joy and pride as we watched our team continue to adapt to an uncertain world and rise to meet challenges with creativity, and dedication, and togetherness. We gathered at our favorite local beaches when it was safe to do so, celebrated our wins big and small, and just about perfected our transition from a wholly in-person organization to one able to thrive in a newly virtual world. Throughout it all, we cultivated a greater sense of community and recognized that we grow more resilient together.

This inspiration helped fuel a reimagining of community science. Last year, we launched a one-of-a-kind youth environmental education, outdoor recreation, and workforce training program engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color high school students. With the help and support of our partners, Groundwork San Diego – Chollas Creek and Outdoor Outreach, we committed to increasing environmental literacy, overcoming equity barriers to ecological stewardship and environmental science careers, and providing real-world science and advocacy experiences.

We also gathered our community around a common cause and raised our voices in unison. Over the summer, we developed and hosted the Clean Water Activists training program. This four-part workshop series taught volunteers and members to engage with clean water issues in San Diego County. Participants learned about the legal mechanisms of advocacy, how to engage with with elected officials, and how to provide effective public comment. This effort resulted in an outpouring of public comments supporting stormwater and climate-friendly green infrastructure funding before the San Diego City Council. We are inspired by the success of this program, and will continue to train the future keepers of our waters.

Last but not least, we saw years of research, dogged advocacy, and legal action culminate in the historic groundbreaking for construction of Phase 1 of Pure Water San Diego. This initial phase will bring 30 million gallons per day of safe, clean, sustainable water to San Diegans by 2023. All told, Pure Water San Diego will provide nearly 50 percent of San Diego’s water supply locally by the end of 2035. The project offers a cost-effective and climate-resilient investment in meeting San Diego’s water needs while reducing polluted discharges into the ocean.

We are again honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this team and this important movement throughout our San Diego communities in 2021. We thank you for your support, without which our vital work would not be possible.