On February 2, 2026, we held our very first Clean Bay Collective Community Training in Alamitos Bay. The weather carried that soft warmth of a Southern California winter. Snowy Egrets were resting on the docks. Boats moved steadily through the water. It felt like an ordinary day in the bay and yet, it felt like something new was beginning.
As community members began filing in, we quickly realized just how many people had shown up. Neighbors who were curious about our work. Families with kids interested in becoming scientists one day. Residents who live along the bay who wanted to better understand the waters they see every day. Teachers considering how to bring this learning back to their classrooms. Students, retirees, longtime locals, and recent transplants alike. Nearly 50 people from across Long Beach gathered that afternoon, spanning generations and backgrounds. All drawn together by a shared curiosity and a genuine care for this place.
In conversation, what stood out most was not just who they were, but why they came. Some were seeking a way to spend meaningful time outdoors. Others wanted to deepen their understanding of the ecosystem just beyond their doorsteps. Many were looking for a tangible way to contribute and connect.
Clean Bay Collective is rooted in that shared desire: the belief that community members are not bystanders to environmental change, but active participants in understanding and caring for their local waters.
Before heading onto the docks, we gathered for a presentation to walk through the goals of this new program and the science behind the monitoring work we are beginning together. We broke down each of the key water quality indicators we will be monitoring across the bay:
Turbidity
Turbidity measures water clarity. It tells us how much suspended material is in the water. Reduced visibility can impact aquatic life and signal runoff or disturbance.
Salinity
Alamitos Bay is an estuary, where freshwater and saltwater systems meet. Organisms here are adapted to specific salinity ranges. Sudden or dramatic shifts can disrupt these delicate balances.
pH
pH measures acidity and alkalinity. The ocean typically maintains a stable pH around 8.1. However, climate change is gradually shifting ocean chemistry. Monitoring pH locally helps us understand how global changes may show up in our own backyard.
Nitrate
Nitrates are nutrients that support plant growth. But too much can trigger algae blooms. When algae decay, they consume large amounts of oxygen, which can lead to fish die-offs.
Dissolved Oxygen
Aquatic animals, from zooplankton to fish to rays, rely on dissolved oxygen to breathe. Low oxygen levels can create stressful or even deadly conditions.
Temperature
Temperature influences all other measurements. It also directly impacts marine organisms, which are adapted to specific ranges. Even small shifts can matter.
After the overview, we shifted onto the dock and began sampling. Based on where people sat, we broke participants off into groups, which resulted in teams forming across generations. No matter how they first heard about the event, participants jumped in immediately. Kids and adults alike, worked side by side: learning together, observing their surroundings, and seeing the water through a new lens. Questions flowed with curiosity leading the way.
Our decision to start Clean Bay Collective felt right from the beginning. We were ready to give back to a space that has already given us so much through Algalita’s field trips, kayak programs, and community gatherings. This first training and all those who joined in affirmed that the community was ready for it as well. People showed up ready to be a voice for the bay and to understand this living, working ecosystem more deeply.
This training marked the beginning of a six-month water quality testing pilot program. Community members will continue testing at our sampling sites throughout the bay, and in late summer we will gather again to reflect, debrief, and incorporate feedback to strengthen and refine the monitoring program. In the meantime, the community can periodically check the data on our website here. Data inputs will start to be visible on the site in March.
Water quality testing is just one entry point into Clean Bay Collective. We know that people are drawn to the bay for different reasons. Some are curious about science. Some want to protect a place they love. Others are simply looking for a way to feel more connected to their local environment. That is why we designed this program with multiple pathways for involvement. No matter what brings you here, there is a place for you in this work.
Beyond water quality testing, here are other ways the community can get involved:
- Tracking Trash Map trash pollution hotspots so our community can take strategic, root-cause action for the Bay. Together, we tackle the sources, not just the symptoms.
- Community Events Participate in trainings, presentations, kayaking adventures, and other community-centered events free for all.
- Document Wildlife Collect evidence of the abundance of life in Alamitos Bay. Join our iNaturalist Group and send in your favorite photos. Help others see the beauty we have here.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inaugural training. The perspective, curiosity, and energy each of you brought helped transform an idea into something real and alive. While Algalita may be coordinating Clean Bay Collective, it is the community that gives the program meaning and momentum. This is just the beginning, and we are so grateful to be building it alongside you!