Coastal Blog
July 24 2012
Illinois, Massachusetts and California Plastic Bills
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Three states have four big bills regarding plastic pollution in play and your help is needed! It's easy, all you have to do is pick up the phone and make a call, then sign and share an online action alert.
July 23 2012
More Evidence Plastic Bag Legislation Works
Plastic bag legislation is relatively new but the results are coming in shows them to be effective in reducing plastic bags with little resistance from consumers. Recent reports from Long Beach, CA, Sunnyvale, CA and Quebec Province in Canada all show positive results. Whether it's a plastic checkout bag ban…
July 20 2012
Portland Chapter Follows Rain Garden Class With Site Evaluation and Garden Building
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class HOW
Like the Newport, OR Chapter, the Portland, OR Chapter teamed up with a Soil and Water Conservation District to host a sustainable landscaping class. Surfrider staff, Pete Stauffer, volunteered his landscape to be the site to apply this new knowledge. Step 1: Site Evaluation.
July 20 2012
Spending cuts problems with old and failing sewers and storm systems
A funding bill has just been released from a House Committee that proposes drastic cuts to the State Clean Water Revolving Funds. What this means is less money going out to the states to fix broken sewers, maintaining stormwater systems and installing new, green ways of managing runoff.
July 19 2012
OFG Members Have Great 1st Meeting With County Stormwater & Smart Gardening Staff
After testifying at a hearing about a proposed Los Angeles County stormwater fee for all property owners, West LA/Malibu OFG Sub-Committee members wanted to know more about what resources the County was already offering to reduce polluted runoff, what gaps existed, and how to collaborate. So they set up a…
July 17 2012
Beach Water Testing Program in Hawaii Struggling
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
Hawaii's beach water testing program is already struggling to meet beach water testing requirements set by the BEACH Act. Impending federal budget cuts could devastate this program in a state whose economy is largely fueled by beach tourism.
July 17 2012
Resources for Hands Across the Sand
Thanks to the dozens of Surfrider chapters organizing Hands Across the Sand events on August 4! We have posted a toolkit of resources on Chapternet to help ensure the success of your events!
July 16 2012
Kaua’i Blue Water Task Force
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Solutions Source Identification Youth
The Kaua'i Chapter's Blue Water Task Force water testing program is providing valuable water quality information for surf sites around the island. They are investigating the local sources of water pollution and are trying to instill an ethic of coastal stewardship into the students they are reaching.
July 09 2012
RESTORE Act Passes! Gulf of Mexico to Benefit
Congress has passed the RESTORE Act to help support economic and ecological restoration in the Gulf of Mexico. Special thanks to our Florida Chapters and thousands of Surfrider activists who wrote to congress in support of the bill!
July 06 2012
Testing the Waters: NRDC’s 2012 Report
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
The Natural Resources Defense Council has just released their annual Testing the Waters Report for 2012. The number of beach closing and advisory days reported in 2011 was 23,481 days, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to experience significant water pollution that puts swimmers and local economies at risk.
July 02 2012
Have a Plastic-Free Holiday!
Independence Day is this Wednesday July 4th in the U.S. and one of the best days of the year to get out and celebrate with family and friends. July 5th is often the busiest day for cleanup crews at beaches and parks across the country. One big reason is that…
June 29 2012
5th Circuit Denies Amicus Brief in Beach Access Case
In a curt and unreasoned statement, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the application of Harris County, Texas, to file an amicus brief in support of rehearing of the Severance v. Patterson case. This recent case denied the State of Texas interpretation of the Texas Open Beaches Act to…
June 26 2012
Fly or Die - with Chris Jordan
I had the pleasure of chatting with Chris Jordan the other day and he is an inspiration. His work has moved people in many ways and to get his insights allows you to appreciate his work on another level. Chris is leaving today to fly to the middle of the…
June 24 2012
Congress Pushes to Expand Offshore Drilling (Again)
The House has approved a broad energy package that could dramatically expand offshore drilling in the U.S. Please express your opposition to offshore drilling by contacting your federal representatives and participating in Hands Across the Sand on August 4!
June 21 2012
Senate Briefing on Beach Act Funding
David Chokachi of former Baywatch fame spoke before a room full of policymakers in Washington, DC this week on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation. With the summer beach season fully upon us, David appealed to Congress to protect the health of the American beach-going public and restore funding for beach…
June 20 2012
School Green Team Takes Over Maintaining Their OFG
Parents of kids at this elementary school have agreed to take over maintenance of the OFG in front of the school. They worked with the West LA/Malibu OFG Sub-Committee on a plan, and engaged a parent who is a landscape professional as well as City and School District staff.
June 19 2012
What is a healthy beach?
We all love beaches and Surfrider Foundation has several programs and activities to protect beaches. But beyond being a great place to visit, do you know what beaches can do for you and the coastal environment?
June 19 2012
Hands Across the Sand: Coming to a Beach Near You!
Do you want to see our coasts protected from offshore drilling? Then sign up to participate in Hands Across the Sand on August 4, 2012!
June 15 2012
First Ever Paddle Across The Gulf Stream!
Last week two surfers and activists from the Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter completed the first ever paddle across the Gulf Stream as they completed a 60 mile journey from Bimini in the Bahamas to Miami, Florida! Bill Whiddon and Thaddeus Foote made history Saturday, June 9th, becoming the first to…
June 14 2012
Plastic Paradise
Plastic pollution awareness is reaching new heights as plastic bag bans in Hawaii and LA have made headlines internationally. Plastic bags are the tip of the plastic pollution iceberg and just one of many components of the plastic soup swirling around the ocean, migrating toward the gyres and/or 'spit out'…
