February 14, 2025 Friday

No Gray Whales observed in rough choppy surf today. The cold gusty winds and white caps made spotting whales difficult. The whales are late this year getting down to the lagoons and are traveling south in far offshore routes outside the Channel Islands. The next few days is typically the cross over with the beginning of Northern migration and late South Bound, but this year time will tell if the whales migrate north in same time frame. In past Unusual Mortality Events the timing lags as whales struggle to find adequate food to maintain body condition.

Surfers enjoyed wind surfing in the late afternoon. At Westward Beach there was evidence of yesterday’s rain storm with wide run off swales cut into the beach and large tree trunks littered the beaches along the coast.

The PCH remains closed after the Malibu Pier as crews continue to clean up the mud from rain run off and the mudslide where several homes where destroyed in the Palasades Fire.

The environmental impact from the devastating, catastrophic fires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties this winter (2024-2025) will affect the Santa Monica bay for years to come. The upcoming seasonal rain storms will cause toxic runoff and mudflow from burnt ground that is mixed with fire retardants, mircroplastics and other hazardous waste. Of concern to all those living in the area and in particular concern to the marine life and especially the migrating Gray Whales and other wildlife that live in these waters. The Gray Whales are bottom feeders sucking up the muddy sediment on the ocean floor. The LA TIMES reported that the ash was carried by the 80-100mph winds off shore 100 miles seen by research vessel with California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations. Another organization Heal the Bay, is doing a great job pushing for increased testing of the water for more toxins and heavy metals. As information becomes available I will post updates as it related to the Gray Whales and marine life in the area.

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