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The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. One of the 80 chapters worldwide, ours was founded in the summer 2000 by environmentally conscious surfers in Austin, Texas. We welcome people of all ages who are interested in helping work toward our goals. The ability to surf is not a requirement.
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| Next Meeting -
June 4, 2008 |
Monthly Meeting First Wednesday of Each Month
6:30 Social Hour/7:30 Meeting
WEST 6TH
509 Rio Grande Street 
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Researcher claims that US rush to produce corn-based ethanol will worsen 'dead zone' in Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. government’s rush to produce corn-based ethanol as a fuel alternative will worsen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, increasing a “Dead Zone” that kills fish and aquatic life, according to University of British Columbia researcher Simon Donner.
Read the the full article here.
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Whose Beach Is This Anyway?
Read this Wall Street Journal article published last December regarding beach access and erosion issues in Surfside Beach, Texas.
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Passport to Texas on Texas Beach Access
Passport to Texas recently ran a short radio clip about Surfrider and the Texas Open Beaches Act. Read or listen to the clip.
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Statewide Board Raffle Fundraiser
We had our first ever statewide surfboard raffle with proceeds benefiting not only the four Texas chapters of the Surfrider Foundation but the Texas Surf Museum in Corpus Christi as well. We raffled three boards, each decorated by noted surf artists with the drawing being held in Corpus Christi in December.
The winners were:
Robert August board with Wade Koniakowsky art – Ted Nicholson of Port Aransas
Midget Smith board with Jon Steele art – Sterling Morris of Corpus Christi
Senator board with John Olvey art – Steve Walden of Belton
Congratulations to the winners and stay tuned for our next raffle in 2008.
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Thanks To Our 2007 Sponsors
We would like to thank those people and businesses philanthropic organizations that support our environmental endeavors and the surf community in Austin. Please return the favor.
Wahoo's Fish Taco
Tom Davis of Scholz Garten and Green Mesquite
Whole Earth Provision Company on North Lamar
Three Balls of Fire
Lattner Foundation
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Surfrider At The State Parks and Wildlife Expo
Surfrider participated again at the Texas Parks and Wildlife annual Expo
event the first weekend of October attended by over 42,000 people.
Located in the Texas Waterways
Ranches to Reefs tent our artificial wave served as one of the
interactive exhibits demonstrating watershed recreational activities.
Pictures were taken of people surfing and posted online, giving everyone
the opportunity to surf without enduring the dreaded paddle out. We
took almost 1000 pictures of kids, their parents and yes, the
occasional penguin. While people waited in line we shared info
about the Surfrider mission to those who were interested. In addition
we also had a booth set up in the exhibitor's area where we also
discussed the Surfrider principles with folks.
We'll see you there
again next year.
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International Surfing Day Celebration in Austin
Along with other Surfrider Foundation chapters around the world the Central Texas Chapter celebrated International Surfing Day by doing a "beach" cleanup. On June 21st we gathered to
clean up Barton Creek from below Barton Springs pool down to Town Lake.
About half of us walked the banks and picked up debris while attempting to avoid the ever present poison ivy. The other half paddled the Barton Creek outlet and made good use of our surfboards which allowed access to the steep bank areas.
A big thanks to all who came out and helped out with the pickup and a big thanks to Wahoo's Fish Tacos for providing dinner for all participants. |
Click on image above for larger view
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Federal Court Ruling Favors Access to Texas Beaches
The right of Texans to maintain access to the Texas coastline was preserved when U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by California attorney who purchased three Galveston Island homes in 2005. The houses were built on private property the state now considers public beaches, because of the encroaching coastline.
Under the Texas Open Beaches Act, state officials have sought to move or demolish buildings to ensure public access to the beaches. "This comes as no surprise," Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said in a statement issued by the state General Land Office. "The law is clear: Texas beaches belong to Texans — all Texans." Read the full article from the Houston Chronicle archives here (registration required).
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A State Land Grab or a Gambler's Loss?
Before anyone purchases coastal property in Texas, they are required to sign an agreement that they understand the ever changing coast line could render their property on the public side of the Texas beach.
A desire to live as close to the beach as possible is certainly understood, but the public's right to access an obstruction free shore line has been Texas' law since 1959. For example, a single sea wall build to protect a single beach house destroys the shoreline and renders that beach front unavailable for any shore access.
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Surfrider Texas Chapters Secures Grant
Last fall when the Coastal Bend Chapter was fighting to place an initiative on the city ballot to allow Corpus Christi residents the opportunity to decide whether the beach south of Packery Channel would be open to the public, all Texas Surfrider chapters appealed to the Surfrider national organization for help. The campaign to open the beach was successful and we all won with the recent announcement that we received $10,000 in grant money, to be split equally among the Texas chapters.
The grant was provided by the Lattner Family Foundation of Florida and will be used to help fund our educational outreach programs.
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Supporting the Texas Surf Museum - Women Wanted
The Texas Surf Museum in Corpus Christi is looking for women who have
had a significant impact on the sport to spotlight in our June 2008
exhibit, tentatively titled "Texas Women's Influence in Surfing". We
are seeking women surfers, pioneering surf shop owners, mentors, etc.
and we need your help. Please contact the museum at
info@texassurfmuseum.com or 361-888-SURF with your nominations, be sure
to include the reason why they are significant to Texas surfing and
contact informatioin for your nominee or their descendants.
Thank you for your help. We don't want to overlook anyone.
General information on the surf museum is
available at http://www.texassurfmuseum.com.
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Texas Open Beaches Act
Public Beaches
The state of Texas has some 367 miles of Gulf coast beaches. The Texas Open Beaches Act guarantees the public “free and unrestricted access to and use of the beach”. Since the time when Texas was an independent Republic the “wet sand” beach from the line of the low tide to the line of the high tide has been by common law “sovereign”,that is state owned public land. In 1959 the Texas Legislature passed the landmark Texas Open Beaches Act which officially established the right to recreational use of our beaches and tidal waters. Texas beaches are enjoyed by millions of people every year. Families, picnickers, campers, fishermen, surfers, birdwatchers and beachcombers are all guaranteed access to and use of the beach.
What This Means for Texas Beach Users
Basically, the beach washed by the daily tides is public land owned by the state of Texas. The rest of the beach from the high tide line up to the first line of vegetation (often but not always the dune line) may be privately owned but is subject to a public easement which means the public is free to use and enjoy the whole beach. Beachfront property owners may build landward beyond the line of vegetations but no private structure may be on the public beach. Counties and local communities are responsible for keeping the beaches clean and safe and may charge a reasonable access fee to help pay for services. If driving on the beach is restricted, pedestrian access must be provided. The Texas General Land Office administers all public land in Texas and is responsible for seeing that the Open Beaches Act is enforced.
The Texas Open Beaches Act is Threatened
Our Gulf Coast beaches are barrier islands made of sand. Currents, tides, storms and man made additions such as sea walls, jetties and channels all cause the sand to move and the beach to erode in some areas and grow in others. This is a natural process that has been happening for thousands of years. Anyone who builds along the beach, especially in Texas, takes a chance that natural forces will move the beach. Along the upper Texas coast erosion has left over 100 private structures, once behind the vegetation line, now sitting illegally on the public beach. Most of these property owners are understandably upset and fighting the state to prevent the removal of their beach houses. They blame their predicament on the Open Beaches Act and want to have it changed to allow private ownership of the public beach. They are joined by other beachfront property owners who wish to limit public access to the beach giving them in effect, a private beach.
You Can Help Protect the Open Beaches Act
-- Write, call or e-mail the Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, your state representative and state senator and tell them you support the Texas Open Beaches Act. Our elected officials listen to their constituents and you opinion matters.
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