Coastal Blog
April 2011
April 29 2011
Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Office of Science recently collected baseline ecological/natural resource data for baseline studies in waters off New Jersey’s coast to determine the current distribution and usage of this area by ecological resources. The scope of work included the collection of data on the distribution,…
April 28 2011
Check Out the Latest on Beachapedia
Need information on a coastal/ocean topic? Check out our very own coastal encyclopedia - Beachapedia! Recent articles have been written on Tsunamis and Aquaculture. Find out what a tombolo is. Do you know the definition of wrack?
April 27 2011
Increased Water Self-Sufficiency in the Northwest
Two recent articles pointed out efforts in the Northwest to increase water recycling and thereby increase water self-sufficiency. In Oregon, the Department of Environmental Quality is developing proposed rules for the reuse of graywater, or non-potable water. In Washington, an elementary school in Seattle is taking the bold step of…
April 27 2011
Another Failed South Florida Dredging Project
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
The federal government had to issue a cease-and-desist order in April for a beach-nourishment dredging project off Hillsboro Beach and Deerfield Beach. Residents had noticed high levels of turbidity, or muddy water, moving along the shoreline. The order cites a leaky pipe that dumped sand on an area of "hardbottom,"…
April 25 2011
Site off Newport, Oregon Chosen for Wave Energy Test Facility
A one-square-mile site off the coast near Newport has been selected for a new wave energy test program, the first of its kind in the United States and the closest one this side of Scotland. The siting decision was announced Wednesday by officials from the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy…
April 18 2011
Environmental Attorney Marti Collins Fights for Surfrider Foundation’s Mission in Florida
This past weekend was Surfrider Foundation's Florida Chapters Meeting. Environmental attorney Martha Collins from Collins Law Group was able to participate in the conference to give an overview on the new Florida Administration and What Surfrider Can Do to affect policy change.
April 15 2011
Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference
On April 28th-29th, the fourth annual Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. This conference will explore how to create a more sustainable energy future with a diverse power generation portfolio including marine renewable energy technologies.
April 15 2011
Teach and Test at the LA County Science Fair
Today student leaders from Santa Monica High School's Teach and Test program exhibited at the Los Angeles County Science Fair.
April 14 2011
One Year Later - Still Oil in the Sand
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Oil Spill
Surfrider volunteers recently conducted testing for oil and dispersants in the sand at Dune Allen Beach in Florida. The volunteers used a special ultraviolet light which revealed veins of what has been termed a “crude/Corexit compound” in the sand. Surfrider Foundation will communicate their findings and methods with BP to…
April 14 2011
Tidal Power Testing in Washington
This spring, the Snohomish Public Utility District in Washington will submit its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to install two test turbines on the bottom of Admiralty Inlet. The turbines would look like large “donut-shaped” rings, spanning 33 feet across, positioned several feet above the…
April 12 2011
Opposition to Hasting’s oil drilling bills
The Surfrider Foundation joins 48 organizations representing millions of American's in opposition to three bills sponsored by Doc Hastings (R-WA) that would promote new offshore drilling in US coastal waters
April 11 2011
“Garden Raising” Brings Out Neighbors & Surfrider Members
Though Surfrider is not raising barns these days, we did do a "garden raising" yesterday. The couple that owns the home and garden mentioned how the experience made things a lot less intimidating. Now they can help the new neighbors they met and the ones they already knew do the…
April 06 2011
Testing Gulf Beaches for Oil and Dispersants
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Oil Spill
Check out these videos describing the Emerald Coast Chapter's new venture testing beach sand for oil and dispersant contamination using UV light.
April 05 2011
We Can Capture More Stormwater
Know Your H20 Low Impact Development
A recent Op-Ed by Richard Atwater, executive director of the Southern California Water Committee, makes the point that we can capture up to 1 million acre-feet of stormwater per year (double the current amount), significantly enhancing local supplies, reducing reliance on imported sources, and reducing pollution that flows to the…
April 01 2011
Surfrider Teams with ELLE Magazine & Aveeno at School OFG
The Surfrider-West LA/Malibu Chapter partnered with ELLE Magazine and Aveeno to transform a 2,000 sq. ft. grassy "carpet" in front of a school in Santa Monica, CA into an Ocean Friendly Garden. It'll be a great learning tool for the elementary students, their parents, the school district and the neighbors.
