Coastal Blog
June 11 2012
Help build support for beach water testing programs!
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
Activist Toolkit now available for our Restore Beach Act Funding Campaign. Use this toolkit at your Chapter events and meetings this summer to build community awareness and to appeal to your Senators in DC to support funding for the BEACH Act program.
June 08 2012
San Diego Chapter OFG “Uses The Force” At County Fair: Wins 3 Awards
This year's San Diego County Fair theme is, "Out of This World," and the local Chapter OFG Committee "used the force" to show they tackle real world landscape issues. The three honors were for the best display representing the diversity of San Diego landscape, for benefit to the environment, and…
June 07 2012
Report Card Gives Mixed Reviews on U.S. Ocean Policy
This week the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative released its 2012 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card. The report card praises the efforts of states and regions to implement the National Ocean Policy, but gives mixed reviews to the federal government.
June 04 2012
It’s Overflowing, the Sea is Full
A large amount of our rubbish ends up in the oceans and seas thus disturbing the planet's coastal ecosystems. Discover the dramatic consequences of marine litter on the environment and its species in this great ten minute video from Surfrider Europe.
June 04 2012
The BWTF in Rincón, Puerto Rico
Blue Water Task Force Source Identification Youth
The Rincón Chapter tests 14 marine and freshwater sites in northwestern Puerto Rico on a weekly basis, collecting over 500 water samples in 2011 alone. Learn more about their busy program that is providing vital information on the safety and health of local waters in areas where where there is…
May 31 2012
Texas Open Beaches Act Takes a Hit
On March 30, 2012, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of private property rights over the public beach access rights of the people of Texas. Surfrider Foundation Texas Chapters have pledged to resurge support to strengthen the state's beach access law.
May 30 2012
Illinois Call To Action - Prevent A Bad Bag Bill
June 4th Update: IL SB 3442 bill thinly passed the House and State Senate so it now sits on the Governor's desk for final approval or veto. Ask Governor Quinn to veto this horrible bill by signing our action alert TODAY!
May 23 2012
LA and SB Move Forward with Plastic Bag Bans!
The Los Angeles and Santa Barbara City Councils each voted this week to move forward with plans to ban plastic checkout bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and similar retailers within each of their respective city limits. Both cities have held a series of public hearings on the issue and…
May 22 2012
Does Recycling Increase Consumption?
The world marvels at how much Americans consume, whether if it's a disproportionate share of world energy, lots of fresh water in our daily lives or throwing away over four pounds of trash per person per day. A recent study shows how providing recycling bins can lead to an increase…
May 18 2012
Give A Hoot: Replace NPK With OWL
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class
What's in a typical bag of fertilizer at the neighborhood nursery? More than you thought - and not what you hoped for. What is the Ocean Friendly Garden approach to building soil health, the foundation of an OFG?
May 18 2012
West is Best: Relocation of the Malibu Lagoon Inlet
Given that this system is already highly managed, we are advocating for additional management of the location of the inlet breach. Our goal is to establish a management plan for inlet relocation so that inlet breach is mechanically moved to the West.
May 17 2012
How Big is the Floating Island of Plastic in the Pacific?
That's a trick question because there is no floating 'island' of plastic pollution but researchers recently released a study showing that plastic in the ocean has increased 100-fold in the past 40 years. Yes, that's correct. Plastic pollution did not double or triple during that time, it increased by a…
May 14 2012
Ventura Chapter Teams With City For Ocean Friendly Gardens Program Series
Slightly overcast weather - perfect for working - greeted 30+ volunteers at an OFG Workday. The Workday was the next step in the OFG Series,
May 14 2012
Hawaii Becomes the First State in the U.S. to Ban Plastic Bags!
When the Mayor of Honolulu signed into law the plastic bag ban on May 11, Hawaii became the first state in the nation where every county is covered by a plastic bag ban. This was not done by the state legislature, but instead by all four County Councils - a…
May 14 2012
Will your reusable bag make you sick?
Nope – but any inanimate object could potentially carry a virus, germs, bacteria or mold. A recent report from Oregon documented norovirus virus was transferred on a bag of groceries that was being kept in a hotel bathroom. The report stressed that the carrier could be any inanimate object or…
May 10 2012
Atlantic Coast: Seismic Surveys Proposed for Energy Exploration
The federal government has proposed seismic surveys off the South and Mid-Atlantic coasts to assess potential oil & gas resources. Check out our Not the Answer page for information on how to take action by the May 30 comment deadline!
May 07 2012
Ma’alaea Saved
Coastal Preservation Shoreline Armoring Ocean Ecosystems Surf Protection
Environmental campaigns are most often marathons, not sprints. You have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. An extreme example of this is our Save Ma'alaea campaign, which has extended for over 20 years. Ma'alaea, on the island of Maui, is home to a small boat…
May 07 2012
Why I Support the National Ocean Policy (And You Should Too)
Despite a lack of support from congress, the National Ocean Policy is taking hold in states and regions across the country. It's now time for the federal government to match the efforts being made on the ground.
May 02 2012
Another Beachfill Botched!
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
In trying to remedy one problem of beachfill, steep and dangerous beaches, the Army Corps has created another problem; a beach full of rocks in Cape May, NJ.
April 18 2012
Surfrider Taking Action on Toxic Dispersants
Two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, EPA still hasn't studied the effects of toxic chemical dispersants on water quality and wildlife. Surfrider Foundation, Center for Bioligical Diversity and Pacific Environment filed suit today to challenge the authorization of such chemicals in oil spill response plans.
