Coastal Blog
March 11 2013
Can a First Coast City be the First City in Florida to Refuse Plastic Bags?
Florida is a state that limits 'home rule' when it comes to plastic bags - municipalities are not allowed to enact a plastic bag ban or fee-based ordinance per state law. That did not slow down a group of Flagler College students who are working to eliminate plastic bag litter…
March 10 2013
Senator Vitter Wants To Drill Off Your Coast
Senator David Vitter has introduced legislation to expand oil and gas drilling off every U.S. coastline.
March 08 2013
Desalination verses Conservation: Who wins?
In a recent Southern California article, Surfrider's Joe Geever highlights the multiple benefits of increased water conservation verses the multiple negative impacts of ocean desalination.
March 07 2013
Talks and Walks - An Easy On-ramp to OFG
Ocean Friendly Gardens Lawn Patrol
Whether your chapter is just getting going with OFG or has been at it for awhile, giving talks and leading walks are easy on-ramps for volunteers. A talk can be given to any group, and walks can be lead from any garden.
March 07 2013
Plastic Bag Freedom. HUH?
America's Founding Fathers obviously did not have plastic bags in mind when seeking freedom, but in desperate efforts, some plastic bag proponents are trying to associate plastic bags with freedom. "On Tuesday, Rep. Drew Springer (Muenster) filed HB 2416 "The Shopping Bag Freedom Act" to give retailers and consumers the…
March 04 2013
Want to Find Sewer Spills and Leaks? Ask a Dog
Blue Water Task Force Source Identification Water Quality
A frequent problem in coastal watersheds is detection of high bacteria counts at beaches. Tracking the sources of the bacteria back up rivers, creeks and storm drains is difficult, time consuming and costly. But there may be a better way - using a trained, sewage-sniffing dog. We wrote about the…
March 04 2013
Chasing away the birds
Introducing the Goosinator: a new device that has been developed in the Great Lakes to chase away flocks of geese and gulls from public beaches.
March 01 2013
Surfrider Foundation 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities
Surfrider Foundation has a focused, few legislative priorities at the federal level that bubble up from our 84 grassroots Chapters on the ground. For 2013, our priorities at the national level are Clean Water, Ocean Ecosystems, and our Not the Answer campaign. We are also monitoring for Rise Above Plastics…
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.
