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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Hoskinson, Communications Coordinator September 18, 2000 tel. (949) 492-8170 email: info@surfrider.org NATION'S FIRST ARTIFICIAL SURFING REEF Chevron USA provided funding for experimental reef in an attempt to restore wave riding to a public beach. SAN CLEMENTE, CA - Construction of the nation's first Artificial Surf Reef -- better known as Pratte's Reef -- is scheduled to begin on September 19, 2000 in El Segundo, California after more than twelve years of negotiations, research and planning. The reef is scheduled to be completed on September 26, 2000. Pratte's Reef is the result of a landmark ruling by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in 1994. The ruling determined that a rock groin, built by Chevron, U.S.A. between 1984 and 1986 to protect pipes leading to its El Segundo refinery from storm waves, was responsible for diminishing a surf break. 
Chris Evans, the Executive Director of the Surfrider Foundation, said, "The recognition of 'surfable' waves as a natural resource will further serve to limit unsound coastal development; particularly those forms of development, such as fabrication of groin structures, which have consistently proven to be detrimental to our coastline."
The precedent-setting CCC ruling represents the first time a governmental agency has acknowledged that breaking waves are a natural and public resource that needed to be protected. Further, this acknowledgment determined that the act of surfing waves is of significant recreational value to the American public. As a result of the 1994 ruling, Chevron, U.S.A., entered into a joint effort with the Surfrider Foundation and the California Coastal Commission agreeing to pay $300,000 for the construction of what has now become known as "Pratte's Reef." The reef is named after the late Thomas Pratte who was one of the founders of the Surfrider Foundation. Pratte played a key role in the outcome of the CCC ruling. It is the first attempt in the United States to restore surfing to an area depleted of its waves by a man made structure. "Thomas Pratte, surfing's first environmental advocate, began a passionate fight to protect coastal resources for all people," said Evans. "Pratte's actions paved the way for the establishment of the Surfrider Foundation. An effort that unified the voice of surfers and ocean-lovers worldwide to protect the world's oceans, waves and beaches." Surfrider Foundation, which has donated a great deal of time and money to the research and development of Pratte's Reef, considers the construction effort as an acceptable outcome of the restoration process. "The reef should not be viewed as a replacement of a natural surf break but instead as compensation for the loss of a natural resource," said Evans. "Surfrider's efforts represent a bold initiative to rehabilitate a surf break that was lost to the public as a result of coastal armoring." The construction of Pratte's Reef is very much an experiment in the relatively new science of surf break restoration. "Pratte's Reef will be built using an ecologically sound 'geotextile' sandbag construction and will be continually monitored to insure that no negative environmental effects result," said Surfrider's Environmental Director, Chad Nelsen. "If a problem arises, the Reef can be removed from the water quickly, easily, and without damage to the surrounding ecosystem." More information on Pratte's Reef can be found online at www.surfrider.org/artificialreef. The Surfrider Foundation is an international 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches, for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. |
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Surfrider Foundation USA: 122 S. El Camino Real #67 San Clemente, CA 92672 tel. (949) 492-8170 fax (949) 492-8142 
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