This episode explores the US Coast Guard’s internal transition from traditional pyrotechnic flares to electronic Visual Distress Signaling Devices (eVDSDs) and highlights California’s decade of leadership on expired marine flare disposal. Experts from state agencies, counties, and the Coast Guard discuss safety performance, environmental risks, new statewide data, and what boaters need to know as distress‑signal technology evolves. To help us unpack all of this, we were joined by:

• Doug Leavell, Recreational Boating Program Specialist, US Coast Guard Southwest,
• Vivian Matuk, California State Parks and the California Coastal Commission Environmental Boating Program Manager,
• Virginia McCormick, Senior Associate with the California Product Stewardship Council
• Bruce Fritz, chief of the Alameda County Health Household Hazardous Waste Division, , and
• Kathy Rico/Wall, Senior Planner with Marin County Household Hazardous Waste

Resources

• https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/marineflares
• Upcoming marine flare collection events
• Join the listserv to get updates about the upcoming marine flares collection events.
• Flare video: https://youtu.be/eTwvp0Kbil4?si=b4KdpURuFZqmhtVa
• US Coast Guard Boating Safety
• ABCs of California Boating Laws

California’s salmon are making a comeback — and we’re diving into how it’s happening. California Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery expert join us to explain the innovations, monitoring, and on‑the‑groundwork behind this year’s encouraging numbers. A clear, grounded look at the science and strategy supporting salmon recovery.

Additional Resources

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6f45105f8a10460286db5b20582d344e https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries

In this episode we talk to Merijn Tinga — the Plastic Soup Surfer who paddles thousands of kilometers to fight plastic pollution. From crossing the North Sea on a board made of bottles to using AI and citizen science to map waste, Merijn turns extreme adventures into real change. This episode dives into his missions, his data‑driven activism, and what you can do to protect the waters you love. Additional Resources:

• https://www.plasticsoupsurfer.org/
• California Coastal Cleanup Day
• Clean Swell App