Los Angeles Waterkeeper

What Los Angeles Waterkeeper does

Los Angeles Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1994 (originally as Santa Monica Baykeeper, rebranded in 2012) that protects inland and coastal waters across Los Angeles County through three integrated levers: legal enforcement, scientific research, and community action. The organization is headquartered at 360 E 2nd Street, Suite 250 in Los Angeles and operates programs in Pollution Prevention, Healthy Habitats, Systems Change, and the River Assessment Field Team (RAFT), alongside education initiatives such as the Creeks to Coast (C2C) program for high school students. Its core outputs are not products but advocacy outcomes — environmental litigation, regulatory comments, policy advocacy, and direct community engagement — delivered free of charge to the public.

Name

Los Angeles Waterkeeper

Legal name

Los Angeles Waterkeeper

Website

https://lawaterkeeper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Los Angeles Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental advocacy organization that protects LA County's inland and coastal waters through legal action, science, and community engagement, serving the public and frontline communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation) (BPAIAJAE), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy services
• Water quality protection
• Watershed conservation
• Environmental litigation
• Clean water programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: LA Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies primarily on public donations. The website features a prominent 'Donate' button and the organization states that all contributions are tax-deductible in the United States to the fullest extent of the law.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: As a nonprofit environmental organization, LA Waterkeeper likely receives grants from foundations and government agencies for environmental programs, though specific grant details are not explicitly listed in the source material.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Los Angeles Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses legal action, science, and community advocacy to protect and restore LA County's inland and coastal waters from pollution. It pursues litigation against polluters and regulatory bodies, conducts river and watershed monitoring, advocates for sustainable water policy and wastewater recycling, and runs volunteer cleanup and education programs for the public.

Product overview

Los Angeles Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that serves as a water advocacy group and watchdog organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers programs focused on pollution prevention, healthy habitats, systems change, river assessment (RAFT), wastewater recycling advocacy, and community education programs including Creeks to Coast and MPA Watch. These are advocacy, legal, educational, and community programs rather than technology products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pollution Prevention Program Ongoing advocacy and enforcement program that works to eliminate ongoing pollution from sewage spills, industrial facilities, and urban runoff in Los Angeles County's waterways.
• Healthy Habitats Program Restoration-focused program that works to restore ecological integrity to LA County's coastal and inland waterways, including efforts around the LA River and open-space protections.
• Systems Change Program Policy and systems advocacy program that pursues fundamental changes to the way water is managed in the LA region to be smarter, more equitable, and more sustainable, including wastewater recycling and 4R/OneWater initiatives.
• River Assessment Field Team (RAFT) Scientific monitoring program in which volunteers and staff conduct fieldwork assessments of LA River and other local waterways to gather data supporting LA Waterkeeper's advocacy and litigation.
• Creeks to Coast (C2C) Education Program Hands-on environmental science education program for high school students from underserved communities, providing watershed education and nature connection experiences along LA County's creeks and coast.
• MPA Watch Program Volunteer-based monitoring and stewardship program supporting marine protected areas off the Southern California coast.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% reduction in sewage spills since 2000 following LA Waterkeeper litigation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Riverpark CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026LA Waterkeeper and Riverpark Coalition partnered on a landmark settlement for the Pacific Place project along the Los Angeles River. The settlement enhances public open space, improves regional trail connectivity, and protects the LA River from further development. Both organizations filed joint CEQA lawsuit against the City of Long Beach to preserve open space in frontline communities.
• Water Renaissance CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026LA Waterkeeper is part of a coalition of 11 conservation groups and Tribes that released the 'Water Renaissance Plan for California.' The plan identifies strategies for developing drought-proof water supplies in SoCal by 2045. Coalition includes California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Defenders of Wildlife, Friends of the River, Golden State Salmon Association, Resource Renewal Institute, Restore the Delta, San Francisco Baykeeper, Sierra Club California, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, and Yosemite Rivers Alliance.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Waterkeeper and NRDC have a long-standing partnership including joint litigation against Los Angeles County for stormwater violations, cases that reached the US Supreme Court. The organizations also partnered on MS4 permit challenges and Safe Clean Water Program advocacy.
• Smarter Water LA CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Waterkeeper co-founded the Smarter Water LA Coalition which advocated against ocean desalination and for a '4-R' Integrated Approach to Water Management (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore). The coalition successfully defeated West Basin's desalination project through combined litigation and advocacy.
• Heal the BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Waterkeeper and Heal the Bay partner on water quality advocacy, Hyperion facility tours, beach protection efforts, and joint litigation including the landmark TMDL lawsuit that spurred California's TMDL program.
• Baldwin Hills ConservancyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner on the Milton Green Street project which captures and infiltrates stormwater runoff. The Conservancy provided executive support at ribbon cutting events and collaborates on nature-based watershed improvements.
• Winnemem Wintu TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Winnemem Wintu Tribe is a key partner in the Water Renaissance Coalition, advocating for tribal beneficial uses to be recognized and protected in water permitting decisions, and opposing projects like the Delta Tunnel that would impact tribal water and land uses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Heal the Bay: Long-standing LA-based water advocacy nonprofit that partners with LA Waterkeeper on beach protection, the Hyperion facility, and the landmark TMDL lawsuit. Directly comparable as a Southern California coastal water quality and environmental education organization.
• San Francisco Baykeeper: Sister Waterkeeper organization under the Waterkeeper Alliance umbrella and a named coalition partner in the Water Renaissance Plan. Directly comparable mission on urban and bay water pollution enforcement via litigation and advocacy.
• Surfrider Foundation: National coastal water quality advocacy nonprofit active in California on beach water quality, plastic pollution and ocean protection. Comparable in leveraging volunteers, litigation and policy advocacy to defend coastal water resources.
• San Diego Coastkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate and former organization of LA Waterkeeper's Executive Director Bruce Reznik (11 years). Directly comparable as a SoCal water advocacy nonprofit combining enforcement, education, and watershed protection.
• Miami Waterkeeper: Waterkeeper Alliance affiliate and former employer of LA Waterkeeper Urban Resilience Director Audrey Siu. Comparable as a coastal water-quality and Biscayne Bay/stormwater-focused advocacy organization using legal and science-based tools.

Broad incumbents

• Waterkeeper Alliance: Umbrella network of nearly 350 Waterkeeper organizations including LA Waterkeeper. Comparable as the parent-style support structure providing shared legal resources, training, and brand that LA Waterkeeper operates under.
• Earthjustice: National public-interest environmental law organization. Comparable in using impact litigation to enforce clean water and clean air statutes, often as co-counsel or peer in cases where LA Waterkeeper appears.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): National environmental advocacy organization that has been LA Waterkeeper's long-standing co-litigant in LA County MS4 and stormwater cases reaching the US Supreme Court. Comparable as a repeat litigation ally in clean water enforcement.
• Sierra Club California: State-level arm of Sierra Club and a named member of the Water Renaissance Coalition alongside LA Waterkeeper. Comparable in policy advocacy on California water supply, rivers, and conservation funding.

Others

• California Coastkeeper Alliance: Statewide coalition supporting California Waterkeeper groups including LA Waterkeeper. Comparable as an aggregating/advocacy infrastructure that amplifies LA Waterkeeper's voice at the state legislature and water boards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LAWaterkeeper
• Instagraminstagram.com/LAWaterkeeper
• Facebookfacebook.com/LAWaterkeeper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Waterkeeper