Monday, July 23, 2012
Surfrider’s Perspective on Department of Parks and Recreation Surplus Funds.
On July 20, 2012 the
Sacramento Bee published information about an investigation that found the
Department of Parks and Recreation concealed approximately $54 million in
surplus funds. Surfrider Foundation was shocked and extremely disappointed to hear about the news; and we were dismayed that the funds were not used to help keep parks open when the State was
planning to close nearly 70 parks because of a supposed lack of funds.
Despite the realization
there are extra funds in Department of Parks and Recreation, our state park
system is not out of the woods. The economic situation that led to potential closures
does not go away, even with the newly discovered funds. Surfrider Foundation will continue to work with the Save our State Parks coalition to ensure that the newly discovered funds will be
directed to keeping parks open, functioning, and ensuring long term financial
plans. Continue to check this
blog to stay up-to-date on the issue; and if you have questions, please email
Stefanie at: Ssekich@surfrider.org
Surfrider recently wrote about how the parks that were slated to close will now
remain open (due to local contracts with nonprofits and because the Governor
and the legislature approved funds for the next fiscal year). Read that post here.
Monday, July 9, 2012
June Updates
Keeping an Eye on
Tsunami Debris
Over the last few months, our neighbors to the north witnessed
the first signs of debris from the 2011 tsunami that devastated Japan. In Washington State, a 20-foot boat
washed ashore and a 66-foot pier washed up in Oregon. Knowing it’s only matter of time before
the debris makes its way down to California, Surfrider Foundation volunteers
are working with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help
identify potential debris and plan cleanup efforts.
California Establishes Nation’s First Statewide Network of Marine Protected Areas.
On
June 5th, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to adopt the
final set of coastal Marine Protected Areas (MPA)-- establishing the Nation’s
first complete network of MPAs.
For several years, the State of California has been working with local
communities to establish MPAs through legislation that was passed in 1999. In order to implement MPAs
effectively, and with community involvement, the State was divided up into
sections (north coast, south coast, central coast and north central coast). Surfrider has been supporting the
implementation of MPAs throughout the state and we are pleased to see the final
section has been adopted. Here’s a great article talking about the new MPAs
that stretch from Oregon to Mexico.
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| Tsunami Debris. Photo NOAA |
Cea Higgins, from the Sonoma Coast chapter of the Surfrider
Foundation, is featured in an article describing the work she is doing with
NOAA to prepare and monitor for potential debris. As Cea says…. right now it’s too early, but winter storms will
bring debris to California beaches.
Read the article here.
California Establishes Nation’s First Statewide Network of Marine Protected Areas.
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| Photo Dana Murrary. |
(Still) Saving Trestles…
For over 10 years, Surfrider and our Coalition partners have
been working to stop a toll road from running through San Onofre State
Beach. In 2008, thousands of
people attended public hearings to defend Trestles and San Onofre--beating down
the project! While Trestles and
San Onofre are technically safe, toll road developers (TCA) are not giving up
on their plan to build the road. Surfrider routinely attends TCA’s public Board
meetings to keep an eye on them. Currently, the TCA is proposing to
complete the road in 4 segments (the exact same road that was rejected by the Coastal Commission and Bush administration in 2008). However, there are
several flaws with this approach. For
starters, they don’t know where the last segment of the road will be located
(considering that part of the road is highly contentious and would be near the
State Park and Camp Pendleton). Secondly,
they do not have funding to complete the road, nor a comprehensive plan to fund
it. And of course, they are
glossing over environmental impacts (not only for the first section of the road, but also the other sections of the road). Read our
latest blog about TCA shenanigans and what Surfrider is doing to keep the road
at bay. Rest assured, this road will not happen on our watch!
Every year, Surfrider hosts International Surfing Day in
June. The idea is to celebrate the sport of surfing and to give something back
to the oceans, waves and beaches that give us all so much. This year the Surfrider Foundation
successfully coordinated 138 separate International Surfing Day events in 22
countries (including 90 events here in the United States). Event
activities included beach cleanups, habitat restorations, learn-to-surf
clinics, movie nights and more. Everyone
at Surfrider enjoyed the day and we are celebrating the new members we added to
our tribe. If you’re not already a
member (or you want to buy a membership for someone) go here.
On August 4th, join hands to oppose offshore oil
drilling and demand clean energy! People will be gathering on beaches around
the world to draw a metaphorical and an actual line in the sand against the
threats oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment. You can join an already organized
event, or create your own. To find
out more, go here.
Hands Across the Sand
On August 4th, join hands to oppose offshore oil
drilling and demand clean energy! People will be gathering on beaches around
the world to draw a metaphorical and an actual line in the sand against the
threats oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment. You can join an already organized
event, or create your own. To find
out more, go here. 
