Wednesday, July 9, 2014
2nd Quarter Update for 2014.
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which gives $3 million to coastal agencies to address Sea Level Rise and Climate Change.
The Surfrider Foundation is working with local organizations, regional agencies, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to foster a statewide network of “community-based” councils to manage and protect Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout California. Since MPAs were officially established, local “collaboratives” have been budding around the State and creating projects such as: conducting education and outreach, biological monitoring, and helping the State install informational signs. Go 
Surfrider’s flagship campaign “Save Trestles” is still ticking despite toll road developers saying they are
NOAA is proposing to expand the Cordell Bank/Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary. Surfrider strongly supports the proposal to extend the boundaries of the two sanctuaries to add the northern area from Bodega Bay, Sonoma County to Alder Creek, Mendocino County. Surfrider has been actively working with a myriad of stakeholders to protect these special, biologically rich places and ecosystems. Read our comment letter 
First Quarterly Update 2014
Welcome to our first 2014 newsletter.
Our Chapters hit the ground running this year and we are excited
about recent victories. Before we jump into our update, we need your help. Please take 2 minutes to send an action alert to the Coastal Commission asking them to deny a mega-resort in Monterey Bay. This project does not belong on a sensitive habitat area that is subject to erosion and sea level rise. To read more about Surfrider’s concerns view a recent letter we submitted. And please send a message to the Commission here.
about recent victories. Before we jump into our update, we need your help. Please take 2 minutes to send an action alert to the Coastal Commission asking them to deny a mega-resort in Monterey Bay. This project does not belong on a sensitive habitat area that is subject to erosion and sea level rise. To read more about Surfrider’s concerns view a recent letter we submitted. And please send a message to the Commission here.
Pack it Up…Pack it In…
Our South Bay Chapter has been working full steam on banning plastics that foul our beaches. Last month, all the Chapter’s hard work paid off when the Manhattan Beach City Council voted to prohibit restaurants from distributing single-use carry-out plastic bags and to extend its ban on polystyrene products to include utensils, straws, cup lids and foam coolers. Check out the story and a great quote from out Chapter Chair.
Take Down that Gate Mr. Khosla.
Martin's Beach, south of Half Moon Bay, has been loved over generations by local families and tourists who have spent countless hours there. That came to an end in recent years once billionaire venture capitalist, Vinod Khosla, purchased the property adjacent
to the beach and decided to keep the public out. In addition to the initial action of blocking public access, he cloaked his identity as the property owner, refused requests to meet and discuss the matter, hired security to patrol the property and ward off beach goers, and sought a restraining order to keep the public from the beach. Send a letter to Mr. Khosla asking for his cooperation. Surfrider is also supporting legislation that will help resolve this matter.
to the beach and decided to keep the public out. In addition to the initial action of blocking public access, he cloaked his identity as the property owner, refused requests to meet and discuss the matter, hired security to patrol the property and ward off beach goers, and sought a restraining order to keep the public from the beach. Send a letter to Mr. Khosla asking for his cooperation. Surfrider is also supporting legislation that will help resolve this matter.
What the Frack?
As we mentioned in a recent quarterly update, fracking has been occurring off California’s coastline with little to no oversight. Surfrider and partners wrote a brief report outlining how we think the State ought to be regulating offshore fracking. Check out this piece from the Huffington Post that explains what Surfrider is asking for.
Helps Us Understand How Sea Level Rise Will Affect Surfing
The ocean is changing. Waves are changing. Surfers are on the frontlines of these changes. Who better to help document, explain, and predict these changes than surfers – no one else watches the ocean as carefully as we do! This is what science4surfing is all about. Giving surfers the opportunity to contribute their wave knowledge will improve our understanding of the threats facing the ocean, coasts, and waves. With this knowledge, we can better protect what we all share and love. Help by taking the survey here.
7th Annual Ocean Lobby Day a Success.
Surfrider, along with several statewide organizations, plans an annual “Ocean Day” where advocates hit the Capitol to s
peak with decision makers. This year was particularly exciting for Surfrider because 25% of our Chapter leadership attended the lobby day. In all, over 70 activists from various organizations visited 100 Senate and Assembly offices to discuss: climate change and sea level rise planning; ocean ecosystem protection; plastic pollution solutions; and various pieces of legislation that will help protect our ocean and coastline. Legendary author David Helvarg wrote a great piece for National Geographic highlighting the day. Photo of Speaker Perez Meeting with Coastal Advocates
peak with decision makers. This year was particularly exciting for Surfrider because 25% of our Chapter leadership attended the lobby day. In all, over 70 activists from various organizations visited 100 Senate and Assembly offices to discuss: climate change and sea level rise planning; ocean ecosystem protection; plastic pollution solutions; and various pieces of legislation that will help protect our ocean and coastline. Legendary author David Helvarg wrote a great piece for National Geographic highlighting the day. Photo of Speaker Perez Meeting with Coastal Advocates Thursday, December 19, 2013
2013 Fourth Quarter Update
As 2013 winds down, Surfrider California Chapters have a lot
to be proud about. They scored many
victories to protect California’s 1,100 miles of coastline—and their success
wouldn’t be possible without your support.
Thank you for engaging with the Surfrider Foundation to protect our
oceans, waves and beaches.
Enjoy this statewide update and have a wonderful holiday
season!
Sea Level Rise on
The Rise
Surfrider views Sea Level Rise as one the biggest challenges
California will face in the coming decades.
A recent report by National Research Council estimates that sea levels
could rise two feet in many parts of the state by 2050. Super-Storm Sandy
offered a window into what we can expect from climate change. Given accelerating Sea Level Rise and the increase in
sever storms, we can no longer overlook climate change connections along our
coast.
Fortunately
the Coastal Commission released a draft Sea Level Rise guidance document to work with local
municipalities and planning agencies to implement strategies that can protect
coastal resources and communities. Surfirder and our colleagues attended the
Commission hearing to discuss the document.
Read comments made by Commissioners during the hearing.
Today in State History
It has been one year since California
established a network of marine protected areas (MPAs). On this one-year anniversary, it’s time to
reflect on this milestone and celebrate California being the only state in the
nation with a complete system of MPAs. Studies
show MPAs improve ocean health and resiliency.
But did you know MPAs are also considered some of the best places to
surf? Check out this recent article
about surfing in MPAs and click to here to see a new video produced by our
friends at the Ocean Conservancy. Happy
Birthday, California MPAs!
Think Coastal
Act Local
With a Grain of
Salt
After nearly ten years of the Surfrider Foundation and local
residents raising concerns about plans to build a seawater desalination facility
in Huntington Beach, the Coastal Commission reviewed the project and sent it
back for improvements. The Commission made it clear to Poseidon that new
facilities must be designed with modern technology to avoid impacts to marine
life and water quality whenever feasible. Here is a great article about the
hearing.
Keep Informed and Help!
We’re committed to keeping you up to date on California's coastal issues. We send an email every quarter with important statewide policy issues and high profile campaigns. The idea is to provide our supporters with more substantive content. Please consider actively supporting Surfrider’s work by becoming a member or making a donation
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Sea Level Rise Planning.
Sea Level Rise (SLR) will inevitably impact coastal resources. Surfrider Foundation is striving to better understand exactly how climate change will alter our coast and what we can do to mitigate harm to nearshore ecosystems, public access and recreation.
Fortunately the Coastal Commission is also taking climate change seriously and has recently released a SLR Guidance document. This document will help local municipalities and planning agencies implement policy changes that will not only protect coastal resources, but will also safeguard California's pocket book by implementing long-term, comprehensive land management.
The Commission is taking comments from the public on their document. We strongly encourage people to get involved. Surfrider will be submitting a formal comment letter on the document and will be presenting testimony at the December hearing. If you want to better understand the issue, read the document and sign up for a webinar the CCC is hosting.
We will keep you updated as the process unfolds.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
2013 Third Quarter Update
Fracking
Unfolds
Legislative
Season
The legislative season often feels like the World Series of baseball—there are always curve balls thrown and the games leading up to the final playoff are always nerve-wracking. Surfrider monitored nearly a dozen bills this legislative season. In the end, our coast didn’t win the World Series—unfortunately special interests came to Sacramento with a heavy hand. This biggest loss (read: curve ball) was the defeat of AB 976—a bill that would have given the Coastal Commission authority to administer fines to violators. Surfrider worked hard on this bill and we are hopeful we can successfully pass it next year. On a positive note, two small victories came when the Governor signed:
- AB 691—requires an assessment of sea-level rise impacts to public trust lands.
- AB 754—that puts “check-off box” on the state tax return allocating money to the fund that pays for Whale Tail grants.
125 Surfrider activists from California, Europe, Japan, Australia, Peru, Jamaica, and Canada recently spent a weekend discussing current issues impacting our protect our oceans, waves and beaches. Topics included: plastic pollution, offshore oil drilling, climate change/sea level rise, offshore fracking, wave protection, volunteer training and our CEO provided an excellent “state of the state” of Surfrider is and where we are going. These conferences are the heart and soul of Surfrider. Get more involved with your local chapter so you can attend fun events like this.
In Case You Missed It:
- The Tides are a Changing (no Bob Dylan pun): The Coastal Commission recently released a document providing an overview of science on sea-level rise and steps to combat the growing issue. Surfrider is delving more into understanding the implications of sea-level rise and recently attended a training held by NOAA to actively plan for climate change adaptation.
- Boom, Boom, Boom…Surfrider submitted a comment letter to the State Lands Commission regarding the process of conducting seismic testing off our coast. You can read it here.
- Oil Drilling Precedent: There is a new proposal to drill for oil off Hermosa Beach (if city voters approve a ballot measure). If this project moves forward it would set a horrible statewide precedent. We recently submitted this letter to express our concerns.
