Coastal Blog
June 14 2013
OFG Registering Well With Newspaper Reporters
News reporters are always looking for a good story, with a "hook" (angle) that catches the interest of a reader. This Newport Beach, CA story connects runoff prevention, ocean water quality, and government turf removal rebates.
June 14 2013
Mana Kai Film Series
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
MANA KAI (means 'Spirit of the Ocean' in Hawaiian Language) is a short film created by Surfrider activist Pasha Reshikov exploring the relationship of humans and the ocean, touching on the spirit of the oceans and their response to human pollution. Mana Kai is told through the story of a…
June 13 2013
Chicago Plastic Bag Recycling Falls Short
In 2009 a citywide ordinance for Chicago was implemented to help increase plastic bag recycling but a recent report shows that the program has not been successful. The ordinance called for recycling messaging on plastic checkout bags, recycling bins in every store, to recycle or reuse the bags, and to…
June 11 2013
Bag Ban Closing Arguments
In late May a plastic bag ban bill failed to advance out of the California State Senate by three votes. As in years past, there was a heated debate on the floor. The legislators opposing the bill used the same old arguments while SB 405 author Senator Alex Padilla made…
June 09 2013
Doc Hastings Introduces Bill to Expand Offshore Drilling
Congressman Doc Hastings has introduced a bill to vastly expand offshore drilling in the United States. The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act (HR 2231) would open parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to offshore drilling including areas off South Carolina, Virginia, and Southern California.
June 06 2013
OFG Principles Part of Classes To Reach 19 Million People in Southern California
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class
Thanks to the Surfrider chapter partners at G3/The Green Gardens Group, OFG concepts of CPR - Conservation, Permeability and Retention - are being incorporated into a landscape class G3 will teach for water agencies representing 19 million people throughout Southern California! It is scaling-up OFG well beyond the capacity of…
June 06 2013
How Many Plastic Bags Does It Take To Kill A Dolphin? 4.
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
A disturbing story was recently reported in New York where a "dolphin had swallowed four plastic bags and it starved to death because the bags disrupted its digestive process." Plastic bag reduction opponents often claim that impacts to wildlife are overblown. The reality is that it's tough to get solid…
June 06 2013
China Leads the Way. Or Does It?
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Reducing plastic pollution is a global priority as the ocean is turning into a plastic soup. Many people see reducing plastic checkout bags as a great first step. While there are over a hundred local checkout bag ordinances in the U.S., no state government has acted yet to reduce plastic…
May 31 2013
Students teaching students in Santa Monica
The Heal the Bay Surfrider Club at Santa Monica High School just conducted a mentorship program introducing over 40 middle school students and their teachers to water testing methodology and local water pollution issues.
May 31 2013
Dirty Water in Rincón, Puerto Rico
The latest batch of water samples tested by the Rincón Chapter showed high levels of bacteria present at local beaches. Here's their BWTF Coordinator's explanation of water quality problems in their corner of Puerto Rico, as sent out with their weekly water quality report.
May 30 2013
Settlement Protects Coastal Waters from Harms of Oil Spill Dispersants
Surfrider Foundation filed a settlement today that requires the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure that toxic oil-dispersing chemicals will not adversely impact sea life and our coastal resources. Surfrider Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Environment originally filed a lawsuit against the EPA and…
May 24 2013
Building Support for Beach Testing Programs
With the summer beach season upon us, support within the US Senate is building to restore funding to the federal budget to pay for beach water testing programs that protect swimmers and surfers from getting sick from polluted water.
May 22 2013
Worldwide Beach Litter Stats - Plastics Lead The List
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
The Ocean Conservancy recently released the totals from last years' worldwide Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) and each of the top seven items picked up are typically made from plastic. CCD provides a one day snapshot of beach litter with over half a million volunteers picking up over ten million pounds…
May 22 2013
Lawsuit Resurrected to Kill Zombie Toll Road
Back from the dead, a proposal to build the first segment of the 241 toll road was certified by the Transportation Corridor Agencies ("TCA") on April 18, 2013. Today, May 22, 2013, the vigilant group of environmentalists, including Surfrider Foundation, resurrected our California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") lawsuit that challenged…
May 21 2013
6 Ocean Friendly Gardens Events In One Day in Southern California!
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class GAP HOW
Temperatures are warming and people are thinking about garden plans. Interest among property owners and water agencies is growing for an approach like OFG that combines water quality, water supply and other issues. 6 OFG events, sponsored by Surfrider chapters or private- and public-sector partners, took place in just one…
May 20 2013
Surfrider Chapters Join Hands to Say No to Offshore Drilling
This weekend, over 25 Surfrider Chapters participated in Hands Across the Sand events across the country, joining thousands of activists around the world in saying NO to offshore drilling and YES to clean energy!
May 20 2013
The 2012 BWTF Annual Report
The Surfrider chapters, volunteers, teachers & students that make up the Blue Water Task Force supported by Emergen-C Blue®, undertook a massive water monitoring effort at their local beaches during 2012.
May 20 2013
The Story of Bacterial Problems at Larrabee State Park
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Solutions Source Identification Water Quality
Read about the long and complicated path the Northwest Straits Chapter has followed to discover, investigate and help solve water pollution problems at Larrabee State Park in Bellingham, Washington. Written in the Chapter Chair, Eleanor Hines, own words.
May 17 2013
Progressive Stormwater Permit Approved In San Diego
Know Your H20 Low Impact Development
On May 8th, 2013 the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) unanimously approved a new regional MS4 permit implementing a watershed-based approach to stormwater management with an increased reliance on Low Impact Development (LID).
May 16 2013
Gradients of Surf Protection
A look at how strategic approach, local community action and legal protection predicts the likely outcome of surf protection.
