Audubon California’s Sarah Rose Joins State and Environmental Leaders to Call for End to Offshore Oil Drilling

On October 1, 2021, a broken pipeline operated by Beta Operating Company began to leak, eventually releasing more than 144,000 gallons of oil into the ocean along the Orange County, California, coast. Audubon California executive director Sarah Rose joined state and environmental leaders in calling for the end of offshore oil.

In addition to her comments in the linked video,  Rose has explained why the spill is so harmful, both in its timing and location: “A spill of this magnitude is a disaster whenever it occurs, but this one occurred in an especially sensitive area at critical time, as many bird species head south for the winter. This spill—in virtually the same spot as a devastating 1990 spill—is a reminder that petroleum and water are a dangerous mix along California’s precious coast and that continued reliance on oil kills birds and other wildlife, threatens our public health, and harms local economies and recreational opportunities. The Bolsa Chica Reserve and other marshy areas around the mouth of the Santa Ana River are state treasures that provide invaluable habitat for migratory birds [...] and are among the few remaining wetlands left along the Southern California coast, making them vital stopovers for bird species along the Pacific Flyway.”

Click on the video to hear from Sarah Rose and others who participated in this call to action.