Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Marine Protected Areas Soon to be Adopted by Fish and Game Commission
The Surfrider Foundation has been working on the Marine Life Protection Act in southern California for nearly 2 years, and the final "adoption process" of protected areas is coming to close.
Last year, Surfrider Foundation recommended that Fish and Game Commission adopt the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA) map. The Commission has taken over a year to review all the maps before them and has to chosen the IPA as the most feasible map. The IPA will now officially go forward in environmental review (i.e through a state law called the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA).
It is important the Commission still hear from individual about the importance of implementing the IPA. The Surfrider Foundation created this action alert that will go directly to the Commissioners, please take a few seconds to sign and share with your friends. Go here to sign.
Park Protection Efforts Move Forward.
Last winter we wrote about the poor state of our state park system. The Surfrider Foundation has an affinity for parks--not only because our Save Trestles campaign stopped a toll road from running through San Onofre State Park (and potentially ruining the surrounding watershed); but we also appreciate the state park system because 7 of the top 10 most popular parks in California are located along our precious coastline!
California's state parks are falling apart because of decades of underfunding. State budget cuts are causing parks to 'fall behind in the system' and there is currently more than $1 billion 'backlog' of maintenance. Our state parks are struggling financially and need permanent funding to ensure they are maintained (i.e. hiking trials, campsites, bathrooms, visitor centers, kiosks, etc), AND that enough staff and personal are hired to ensure our parks are safe (i.e. lifeguards, rangers, facility managers, etc). Last November, the Surfrider Foundation supported the California State Park and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 as a way to maintain healthy parks.This summer, the California State Park and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act officially qualified for the November ballot; now called Proposition 21. Prop 21, slated for the Nov 2 election, will create stable and adequate funding for parks. The funding would come from an annual "State Park Access Pass" surcharge of $18 per California vehicle. The surcharge will apply to California vehicles and in exchange, they would receive free day-use admission to Parks throughout the year.
The folks running the ballot initiative are looking for supporters and volunteers, please visit their website.
Please review a recent blog post about why Surfrider is supporting park protection efforts.
Pro-Oil Drilling Legislation Defeated in CA and Thousands Gather in Opposition to Drilling.
Every spring and summer several bills go through the state legislature. Fortunately, the Surfrider Foundation caught Assembly Bill 2719, which would have opened our coastlines to more drilling in California state waters. The bill was defeated after staunch opposition from the Surfrider Foundation and Environment California. Surfrider, along with Environment California, headed out on a "Not the Answer Road Show" of five California towns to educate local communities about the dangers of drilling and the importance of defeating the bill. Toward the end of the "road show" the bill was defeated in the Natural Resource Committee.
To learn more about our Not the Answer Campaign go here.
In other oil news... on June 26th, thousands of Californians joined hands in opposition to offshore oil drilling. The "Hands Across the Sand" movement started in Florida and has now become a worldwide movement of grassroots citizens. On June 26 over 100,000 people joined hands around the world at 900 different sites. The event was featured on CNN, New York Times, and other major media outlets. The Surfrider Foundation was the main sponsor for a press conference at the Santa Monica Pier which drew celebrities, elected officials, and concerned citizens.
Here are a few videos from the event.
This video was shown on CNN iReport featuring Laird Hamilton, Here is another video from the press conference
,
And this 15 sec video was taken by a lifeguard from his tower. Great birds-eye view!
To learn more about our Not the Answer Campaign go here.
In other oil news... on June 26th, thousands of Californians joined hands in opposition to offshore oil drilling. The "Hands Across the Sand" movement started in Florida and has now become a worldwide movement of grassroots citizens. On June 26 over 100,000 people joined hands around the world at 900 different sites. The event was featured on CNN, New York Times, and other major media outlets. The Surfrider Foundation was the main sponsor for a press conference at the Santa Monica Pier which drew celebrities, elected officials, and concerned citizens.
Here are a few videos from the event.
This video was shown on CNN iReport featuring Laird Hamilton, Here is another video from the press conference
,
And this 15 sec video was taken by a lifeguard from his tower. Great birds-eye view!
Monday, April 26, 2010
BAN the BAG through California Legislation
Many of California's cities have been trying to regulate plastic bag consumption for years, recognizing that something must be done about the flimsy petroleum-based product that is difficult to recycle and all too often ends up as a littered eyesore.
Due to the outcry of our Chapters to address the issue of plastic pollution on our oceans and beaches, Surfrider Foundation has been working to support statewide legislation to Ban the Bag. Right now, Assembly Bill 1998 (Brownley) is being assessed by our legislature. The bill would ban all single-use carryout plastic bags, limit the distribution of paper bags, and require reusable bags to be available for purchase. This is the most progressive effort of any other state in the nation!
To find out more and take action, check out this action alert from Heal the Bay and Environment California, our partner organizations for addressing plastic pollution.
Labels: plastic bags, RAP
Friday, March 5, 2010
New Bill to Ban Plastic Bags in California
Assembly Bill 1998 will reduce dangerous plastic bag litter pollution by banning plastic bags at large retail outlets and charging a 25 cent "green bag fee" for any paper bag purchases. The money from the fee will go to the Paper Bag Pollution Clean Up Fund, which provides for reusable bag giveaway programs.
Plastic bags are a primary component of ocean litter. Over one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year from ingestion or entanglement in plastics. This is why on World Oceans Day 2009, the Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme called for an outright ban on thin-film plastic bags worldwide. The plastic litter problem is also costing our state tens of millions of dollars in litter clean up and abatement costs each year.
To read more in a OpEd from Assemblymember Julia Brownley and Enviroment California, click here.
Labels: plastic bags, RAP
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
California Know Your H20 Policy Update
The animated video is progressing very well. The plan is to launch the video on World Water Day (March 22nd) with some coordinated events, media and video screenings.
This film depicts the Surfrider Foundation's vision of current problems with the way we manage freshwater, and solutions that can not only provide sustainable future supplies but take meaningful steps towards restoring our coast and ocean. It gives everyone from homeowners to government agencies a blueprint for change.
The film was made possible by countless hours from talented and dedicated volunteers, and financial contributions from several chapters.
Ocean Desalination Projects:
Our Request for Revocation based on a flawed greenhouse gas mitigation plan was voted down by the Coastal Commission. However, they also voted down Poseidon's motion that eliminated the findings that they had intentionally misled the Commission by refusing to provide documents undermining their GHG mitigation calculation. The action by the Coastal Commission was weak, but we believe compulsory mitigation of greenhouse gases is a marginal victory and important legal precedent for future desal proposals.
We are waiting to hear from the State Water Resources Control Board on their decision whether or not to go forward with our challenge of the Poseidon-Carlsbad intake permit. We hope to hear something in the next week or so. This decision will also be critical to ensuring only proposals that use the best design, location and technology to minimize marine life mortality are approved for Carlsbad and any future desal proposal.
Poseidon-Huntington is now preparing a Supplemental EIR. We have not seen the issues they plan to address. But our experience in Carlsbad makes us better prepared to comment on the SEIR in Huntington Beach.
Ocean Friendly Gardens:
We presented the OFG program to the Coastal Commission and Coastal Conservancy staff last week. They are interested in doing a pilot "urban watershed renovation" project with multiple NGOs to document the benefits of LID, OFG, daylighting urban creeks, etc. We think it might make sense to just do a carefully selected neighborhood and get some before and after data on dry & wet weather runoff — both volume and pollutant loading. They liked it and we are scheduled to go back in March to walk a neighborhood in San Francisco that may serve as a pilot. We hope to convince the Coastal Conservancy to do a pilot in Southern California as well — maybe the San Jon sub-watershed in Ventura that the Ventura Chapter has identified. Check it out here:
http://www.venturariver.org/2008/01/urban-watershed-planning-ventura-ca.html
Recycled Wastewater:
The study in San Diego is moving forward and the progress is positive - yet slow.
Also, Surfrider Foundation is now a member of the multi-stakeholder Los Angeles Recycled Wastewater planning group and will attend our first meeting on Feb 25.
Finally, California Senator Pavley has drafted a bill directing the Department of Public Health to promulgate drinking water quality standards for recycled wastewater. As is, we think the bill is a step in the right direction. We are looking into the bill and we'll be talking to PCL (who sponsored the bill), and then maybe Senator Pavley's office with some suggested improvements.
City Ordinances:
Los Angeles is considering some fairly progressive ordinances to implement LID and "green streets."
Also, cities statewide are trying to meet the deadlines for implementing their own landscape/irrigation ordinances for new development - or just implement the State’s model ordinance. Finding and highlighting innovative ordinances will be one way that we can promote best practices.
Labels: California Coastal Commission, know your h20
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
California Stemming the Tide of Plastics to our Oceans
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ABC News recently did a special report following Algalita Marine Research Foundation's work on plastics in our ocean and in our fish and marine life. While the report mentions that coastal communities are addressing the problem by trying to prevent plastics and litter from entering our oceans, waves and beaches, it does not mention the statewide efforts that are underway in Hawaii, Oregon, DC, Florida and elsewhere. Here in California, the following bills have been proposed:
- SB 4 Cigarette Butt Ban on our Beaches and Parks
- AB 925 Leash your Lid to prevent bottle caps from entering waterways
- Stemming the Tide of Plastic Bags (through a fee or ban)
- Polystyrene Ban for take out ware
- Extended Producer Responsibility ("EPR")
Surfrider Foundation is working directly to support these initiatives and with the help of other organizations in the Clean Seas Coalition to make our voices heard in the State Capitol and to our local representatives.
Labels: cigarette butt, EPR, marine debris, plastic bags, RAP
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
State Parks Being Held for Ransom?
Our last blog post explored new efforts to protect our State Parks (the "State Park Access Pass" ballot initiative...and (unfortunately) this blog post explores another haphazard plan by the Governor to hold our Parks for ransom.
The Governor released a new budget scheme to fund parks through revenues generated by offshore oil drilling near Santa Barbara, CA. Never mind that the oil drilling project has been rejected twice (once by the State Lands Commission and then again in the legislative budget process).
Surfrider launched a campaign: "Not the Answer". The campaign asks the fundamental question: why are decision-makers still advocating for environmentally harmful ways to meet oil needs, when they should be seeking a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable plan that includes conservation and alternative energy?
The answer to this question certianly doesn't reside in the Governors new plan to hold our parks ransom.
Take action and tell your elected officials the Governor's plan is not the answer!
Click here to read Surfrider's official response to the swindle.
The Governor released a new budget scheme to fund parks through revenues generated by offshore oil drilling near Santa Barbara, CA. Never mind that the oil drilling project has been rejected twice (once by the State Lands Commission and then again in the legislative budget process).
Assemblyman Huffman summarizes the situation best: "Blackmail might be a better term for it," said Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, who chairs the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. "He's saying I'll fund the parks if you'll open up the coast to new oil drilling."The Governor's plan rubs Surfrider wrong for many reasons. First, we are partnering with other organizations to protect our state park system--aside from fighting to keep a six-lane toll road out of San Onofre State Beach, we are working to safeguard our underfunded "park system" so our members can enjoy safe and clean state beaches. Secondly, we think this 'new plan' is especially appalling because California's ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures that will be polluted by increased oil drilling.
Surfrider launched a campaign: "Not the Answer". The campaign asks the fundamental question: why are decision-makers still advocating for environmentally harmful ways to meet oil needs, when they should be seeking a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable plan that includes conservation and alternative energy?
The answer to this question certianly doesn't reside in the Governors new plan to hold our parks ransom.
Take action and tell your elected officials the Governor's plan is not the answer!
Click here to read Surfrider's official response to the swindle.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Most Popular State Parks are Along the Coastline--Help Protect Them!
"Sort of closed, sort of open." That's how Greg Retsinas, an editor at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, summed up the cutbacks to California's beleaguered state park system. See more articles about the 'State of State Parks' here and here.
Why Surfrider Wants Park Protection:
1.) Popularity and Number of State Beaches
- State Beaches are the most visited parks within the California State Park system.
- 8 of the top 10 most popular parks are State Beaches.
- California has over 320 miles of beachfront State Parks. That's almost 30% of our State coastline!
- State beaches and coastal park units encompass half of the total coastal land in California open to the public.
- There are 278 (classified and unclassified) park units in California. 125 of those units are located on the coast. (Parks and Recreation Department, 2008)
- Clearly, our State Beaches occupy a large portion of the coastline, they are extremely popular, and they need protecting.
2.) Park Visitors Bring Economic Stimulus
Every year, millions of people visit State Parks and spend money in local economies. A study prepared in 2002 for the Parks and Recreation Department concluded that $2.6 billion was generated by visitor spending in local communities.
- A study by California Polytechnic University found that visitors to Morro Bay State Park added $15 million to the local economy over two years. The visitors expenditures were responsible for 364 jobs in Morro Bay primarily in recreation, amusement, hotels, restaurants, and retail shops.
- UCLA researchers have found that surfers attracted to Trestles generate millions of dollars for the local economy by spending money at restaurants, local shops, gas stations, rentals and other beach-related items.
3.) The Importance of Public Access to the Coast, Especially Low-Cost Access
- A major tenet of the Surfrider Foundation is to promote the right of low-impact, free, and open access to the world's waves and beaches for all people.
- The proposed State Park Access Pass is an ideal way to lift current economic barriers in place by eliminating costly, daily beach fees (which are members pay regularly).
- The Surfrider Foundation believes State Parks need to be protected and properly funded to ensure universal access to State beaches.
4.) Surfrider Campaign to Save our State Parks! Defeating a Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach
- San Onofre draws in more than 2.5 million people annually and is the 6th most visited State Park.
- The San Mateo Watershed, also within San Onofre, is one of the last undeveloped watersheds in California and feeds clean water to Trestles Beach.
- If the toll road were constructed, it would have sent send polluted runoff into both San Mateo Creek and Trestles Beach.
- The toll road would have reduced access to surrounding surf breaks.
Join Surfrider Foundation in Standing up for Our Parks.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Trash TMDLs with TEETH
Yesterday marked a great victory for keeping trash out of our ocean due to the action of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The LA Water Board voted to incorporate the Zero Trash TMDL (total maximum daily load) into the Municipal Stormwater Permit (or MS4 permits). The vote was recommended by staff and recieved a unanimous 5-0 vote from the Board. The action will help stem the trash that flows into the Los Angeles River and, of course, flows downstream to Long Beach (LB City Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal was present to testify on what it does to the shoreline).
The Regional Board's action is a big step forward in reducing trash in the LA River and reducing the amount of Marine Debris in our ocean. This will complement Surfrider's hard work on our Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Gardens and Ballona Creek clean up and restoration effots. For more info, check out this LA Times article.
The Regional Board's action is a big step forward in reducing trash in the LA River and reducing the amount of Marine Debris in our ocean. This will complement Surfrider's hard work on our Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Gardens and Ballona Creek clean up and restoration effots. For more info, check out this LA Times article.
Labels: marine debris, OFG, TMDL
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Richard Bloom appointed as new Coastal Commissioner
Santa Monica City Councilman Richard Bloom was appointed as California's newest Coastal Commissioner today by the Senate Rules Committee and President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. Bloom will be the South Coast area representative on the Commission, filling one of the six "electeds" seats on the Commission, as one of the twelve voting members.
When interviewing with Surfrider Foundation and other environmental groups for this position, Bloom affirmed his priority for protecting the environment above all other factors and especially public parks, which he regards as our legacy to the future. This won him the recommendation of the environmental groups, along with Gerrie Shipske from Long Beach and Pam O'Connor from Santa Monica.
Bloom is an attorney by profession and also chairs the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. For more information on Bloom's appointment, click here.
When interviewing with Surfrider Foundation and other environmental groups for this position, Bloom affirmed his priority for protecting the environment above all other factors and especially public parks, which he regards as our legacy to the future. This won him the recommendation of the environmental groups, along with Gerrie Shipske from Long Beach and Pam O'Connor from Santa Monica.
Bloom is an attorney by profession and also chairs the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. For more information on Bloom's appointment, click here.
Labels: California Coastal Commission
Friday, November 20, 2009
Last Chance to Speak Up on South Coast Marine Protected Areas
Attend Commission Hearing on Dec 9th in LA
The 'end of the line' for South Coast Marine Protected Areas has arrived! Dec 9th marks the final meeting in a 'yearlong process', and we need you to attend. Recently, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward a final map to the Fish and Game Commission. The map, called the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), is a hybrid map representing diverse Stakeholder views.
The MLPA, as a law, was designed and written to ensure diverse views were incorporated into the final map. Surfrider fully supports the IPA because we believe it contains a balance of conservation and fishing interests--and perspectives from all ocean users. The Commission will base its decision on public support--and that's why they need to hear from you on Dec 9th!
To see the IPA go here: If you would like help with talking points for the Dec 9th meeting, please contact Stefanie at: Ssekich@surfrider.org To stay updated about Surfrider MLPA efforts and to send an action alert to the Commission here:
Radisson Hotel--LAX
6225 W. Century Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
**please note, the agenda has note been released, but we are assuming public comment will be in the early afternoon. Please visit our blog regularly for the times**
Friday, November 13, 2009
Attend a Hearing to Defeat a Proposal to Build a Landfill atop an Aquifer
Thought a toll road running through a State Park seemed like a bad concept. How about a landfill on top of an aquifer and near an aqueduct in a geologically unstable region containing Native American scared sites. Unfortunately that is what proponents of the Gregory Landfill are pushing (and have been for for many, many years).
We need activists in San Diego to attend an important hearing Nov 18th in San Diego. To learn more about this horrible project and why we need you to attend the hearing on Nov 18, go here
Marine Life Protection Act Final Map sent to Fish and Game Commission.
This week, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA) map to the Fish and Game Commission. The IPA is a hybrid map containing shapes from all the Regional Stakeholder Group maps.
Surfrider is pleased with the map because we believe some of our recommendations were considered and incorporated into the final map. The BRTF will present the IPA to the Fish and Game Commission on Dec 9 and the Commission will make a final decision early in 2010.
See a write up on Surfrider's thoughts about the final map here.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Offshore Drilling Risks to Economy and Proposed Oil Severance Tax in California
Last week, Environment America published an expertly written report using dollar signs to elucidate the risks to our coastal economies from any increase in offshore drilling. According to "Oceans Under the Gun," a new report written by Environment America, our clean beaches and oceans support a vibrant coastal tourism and fishing economy that generates $55 billion per year in California. "Our oceans are truly 'under the gun,' threatened by Big Oil and their allies in Congress who want to expand offshore drilling," said Gina Goodhill, Ocean Advocate with Environment California.
"Offshore drilling severely threatens our national treasures: the beautiful oceans, waves and beaches that provide irreplaceable recreational, economic and ecological resources," states Surfrider Foundation's Legal Manager, Angela Howe. "Now more than ever, we need our California State Legislature and the U.S. Congress to stand strong against any new offshore drilling and incentivize a shift to a more environmentally sustainable energy plan."
The California Legislature has an opportunity to do just that by enacting the Oil Industry Fair Share Act AB 6X (Nava) to charge an oil severance tax on oil companies to pay their fair share. California is the third largest oil producing state in the nation and the only major oil producing state that does not charge this oil severance tax.
This bill would establish a 10% severance tax on the gross value of every barrel of oil produced in the state and prohibit oil companies from passing on the tax to the consumers in the form of higher gas prices. The deposits revenues from the oil severance tax would go into the state's General Fund.
Labels: coastal economy, offshore drilling, oil, severance tax
