Commencement Bay Patrols

Our waters are unique. In Commencement Bay, you can find port operations, deep open water, and many of the Pacific Northwest’s iconic animals. Such a complex and diverse area requires equally diverse strategies to protect our waters and community. As the only environmental organization with a patrol vessel in the South Sound, Communities for a Healthy Bay has a unique ability to quickly identify and tackle pollution that would otherwise go unnoticed or unchecked. Bay Patrol is supported by contracts with the City of Tacoma and works closely with the Department of Ecology, the United States Coast Guard, and other state & local agencies. 

If you have any questions or are curious about how you or your organization can get involved, please email baypatrol@healthybay.org.

Water Pollution Hotline:

To report a spill on or near the water, improper disposal of chemicals or hazardous waste, contaminants running into a storm drain, derelict or abandoned vessels, or any other forms of water pollution, please email our Water Pollution Reporting service at baypatrol@healthybay.org.

*For incidents occurring within the City of Tacoma limits, you may call the Tacoma FIRST hotline by dialing 311, or call (253) 591-5000 from anywhere else.

Questions about 311? Visit the 311 website.

Download the 311 app for mobile: AppleAndroid

When making a report, please provide the following information:

  • A description of what you are reporting
  • The date and time the pollution was seen
  • A precise location, such as a street address, business name, lat/long, or landmark

Reporting party information is kept confidential, and anonymous reports are accepted, though someone may attempt to call or message you back to request additional details.

If you call during non-business hours, please be sure to leave a voicemail with the above information.

Thank you to our Bay Patrol Community Partners