Giving Compass' Take:

• Here is an interview with Ally Celones Senturk, who works with the San Diego Blue Water Task Force, to help address the water quality issues after the February spill in the Tijuana River Valley.

• How can donors support local beaches and clean-up efforts that address pollution? 

• Read about how philanthropists can fund ocean cleanup. 

Activist Spotlight: Ally Celones Senturk with the San Diego Blue Water Task Force

Q: Why and when did you get involved with the Surfrider Foundation?

In 2017, I stumbled upon our chapter’s Blue Water Task Force page after researching volunteer positions in San Diego’s water quality sector. I was completely taken aback after reading about the February spill event that discharged over 143 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Tijuana River Valley and onto our beaches.

Q: What are some local issues that are affecting your ocean, waves and beaches?

Although the toxic border sewage crisis has been an ongoing problem for at least the last 30 years, it continues to surprise me how very little people know about it. I have worked for the last year three years to better educate myself on San Diego’s coastal water quality policies and monitoring programs so that I can help communicate issues that affect our region to more communities and advocate for more support.

Q: What is the most important thing you tell others about Surfrider?

You don’t have to be a surfer to get involved! I am actually quite terrible at surfing...but I don’t let that stop me from trying whenever I can.

Read the full article about spotlight activist at Surfrider Foundation