Coastal Blog
March 01 2013
Pollution Source Tracking Guide
Blue Water Task Force Source Identification Water Quality
The City of Santa Barbara and UCSB have developed 2 new resources to help track the sources of water pollution in coastal watersheds.
March 01 2013
Friday Inspiration
It's a beautiful day in Southern California and I'm itching to head to the beach. But, some work needs to be done before I sneak out a little early this afternoon. Going through some emails and files quickly provided some inspiration to keep me fired up: some great outreach from…
February 26 2013
Community Presentation of BWTF Data in Kaua’i
The Kaua'i Chapter continues its good efforts to educate the public about their water testing program and local water quality problems at the Hale Halawai Community Center.
February 25 2013
High School Students Connect Water Quality Testing & Ocean Friendly Gardens
Students at this high school had already been actively participating in local water quality testing through Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force (BWTF). After helping to create an Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) at their high school, the students will be monitoring how well garden's soil acts like a sponge to absorb…
February 22 2013
Appeals Court Rules for LA County Bag Ban and Against Plastics Industry
Legal Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans
On February 21, 2013, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District affirmed the lower court judgment in favor of Los Angeles County in defending their municipal bag ban ordinance from an attack brought by the plastics industry, including Hilex Poly Co., in Schmeer et al v. County…
February 21 2013
Turn a T-shirt Into a Reusable Bag!
Surfrider Chapters across the country have been reducing waste and creating reusable bags at the same time!! Sure, you can dump old or unwanted clothes at your local thrift store, but there are few ways to truly recycle t-shirts. There are lots of examples online, here are a few of…
February 15 2013
Stop The Plastic Invasion
Surfrider Foundation Europe has developed another great ad campaign with Young & Rubicam Paris, France. This great graphic art is the theme for the international Ocean Initiatives cleanup efforts - Let's Reduce Our Plastic Footprint, The Sea Is Full.
February 14 2013
Home Soda - All It’s Fizzed Up To Be?
There was quite a bit of buzz last week around a rejected football game ad for a home soda maker. After being out of the office I finally took time to search it out and was a bit disappointed. While I had secretly hoped it might be too risqué by…
February 12 2013
Surfing & MPAs: Putting the Stoke in Conservation
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas Surf Protection Surfing Reserves
Millions of Americans go surfing in marine protected areas (MPAs) every year. MPAs help protect some of the best surfing spots in the country and often enjoy a reciprocal relationship with the surfing community.
February 11 2013
One Step Closer to Historic Designation for Trestles and San Onofre
The "Trestles Historic District," encompassing Trestles and San Onofre beaches, was supported by the CA State Historical Resources Commission for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
February 11 2013
Reusable Bags Are Dangerous? Don’t Believe The HYPE!
Over the past couple of weeks numerous stories and LTE's have focused on recent 'research' claiming a link between unwashed reusable bags and deaths in San Francisco. This flawed research builds on the misleading research started in 2010 between University of Arizona and Loma Linda University that was funded by…
January 31 2013
Federal Leaders Voice Opposition to Seismic Testing in the Atlantic Ocean
Eight Senators and twenty-seven House members have sent letters to President Obama asking him to cancel plans for seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean. Seismic airgun testing would cause devastating impacts to wildlife and bring the Atlantic coast closer to the risky practice of offshore oil drilling.
January 30 2013
Plastic Sushi - Still A Hit!
A little over a year ago we 'launched' a couple of new print PSA's created by our friends at Pollinate in Oregon. The plastic sushi piece was an instant hit on Facebook and was quickly shared over 20,000 times from various Surfrider Foundation related pages. Many people shared it again…
January 24 2013
Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan Approved
Ocean Ecosystems Ocean Energy Surf Protection
After five years of stakeholder engagement, Oregon's Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted amendments for Oregon's Territorial Sea Plan that provides suitable locations for siting renewable ocean energy, and protects important habitats and existing uses like ocean recreation.
January 24 2013
Plastic Pollution Solution Kits
This video provides an overview of the Plastic Pollution Solutions educational kit that was developed by 5 Gyres Institute and the Surfrider Foundation. These kits were initially intended for Surfrider Chapters and Marcus from 5 Gyres made extras so that additional Chapters or other interested activists can get one.
January 23 2013
My year of surfing in review
Surf Protection Surf Economics
Surfers are a pretty avid bunch - meaning they tend to surf a lot. I tracked my surfing in 2012 and made an infographic summarizing the year. This is essential information for surfonomics. Check it out and tell us about your surfing.
January 22 2013
Surfrider Overcomes Big Challenge to Access on the Big Island!
In Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation’s Hilo Chapter has fought for over the past two years to open up trail access to Papaikou Mill Beach, one of the few sandy beaches on the East side of the Big Island. Known as a popular surfing, fishing and recreational spot, the beach is also…
January 18 2013
Can California’s Marine Protected Areas protect surfing?
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas Surf Protection
California recently established the largest network of marine protection in the continental United States. One of the outstanding questions during the MPA designation process was, will these marine protected areas benefit surfing in any way? Answers are starting to come in...
January 15 2013
2013 Rise Above Plastics Program Plan
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Here is a four minute video that provides an overview of the Rise Above Plastics program and our goals for this year. If you are not involved with a Surfrider Chapter, you can find the closest one at www.surfrider.org/chapters.
January 10 2013
Help Get Trestles and San Onofre Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
San Onofre and Trestles have been synonymous with California surfing since the 1930s. We now have the opportunity to have it recognized for its historical contributions by being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
