Richmond residents have long protested the air pollution caused by industries and the Chevron refinery, but poisons in the soil and water often go unnoticed.

That’s where our story begins. 

Richmond Shoreline Alliance has been advocating for cleanup of the soil and water along Richmond’s shoreline since 2018, first focusing on the Zeneca site and more recently, the United Heckathorn Superfund site . 

Our work is inspired by local environmental justice leaders Ethel Dotson and Sherry Padgett, who both battled cancer likely linked to toxic exposure at the Zeneca site. Dotson’s suspicions led to the creation of the Richmond Southeast Shoreline Area Community Advisory Group in 2005, of which Padgett is a founding member.

Today we’re expanding our focus to sea level and groundwater rise. While we can’t stop the water, we can create a more resilient shoreline. That’s why we partner with local groups working to preserve and restore wetlands that provide natural flood buffers and stabilize shorelines.