Coastal Blog
June 2011
June 30 2011
Bad News and Good News, Heartbreaking and Uplifting
Shocking news out of Australia recently as stories started circulating about the sea turtle in Australia that was ashore dead with 317 pieces of plastic ingested in it's stomach and intestines. Uplifting news out of California as the Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter hosted it's second annual Rise Above Plastics…
June 30 2011
Bacteria Pollution at Larrabee Park, Washington
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Source Identification Water Quality
The Northwest Straits Chapter fears continued high bacteria levels at popular beach may lead to a permanent beach closure.
June 30 2011
Illegal Wastewater Discharges in Maui
Know Your H20 Wastewater Water Quality
The Surfrider Foundation joins other community groups in filing a notice of intent to sue the County of Maui to force them to comply with the Clean Water Act and get the needed discharge permits to continue injecting their wastewater into the island's groundwater.
June 29 2011
New Rulemaking for Coastal Power Plants
Our Environmental Protection Agency is currently allowing coastal power plants to continue using a cooling system that sucks in and grinds fish, flattens them on screens - or, if they make it through that process, the fish still face boiling hot water through the entrainment process. Virtually no marine life…
June 28 2011
Can artificial surf reefs reduce crowds?
Surf Protection Surf Economics
Paul Holmes recently published a provocative article about artificial surfing reefs in The Surfer’s Journal, “Artificial Surf Reefs: Boon or Bust?” (Vol 20 Num 3). In that article, he quoted me regarding whether or not artificial surfing reefs (ASRs) could reduce crowds. I replied with some back of the envelope…
June 28 2011
Sewage Spill along Gulf Coast of Florida
Approximately 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage poured into Manatee River last week through pipes operated by a wastewater treatment plant in Bradenton, Florida.
June 24 2011
Update on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern California and New MPA Science
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas
Last December, the California Fish and Game Commission approved a final plan for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in southern California. Next week (June 29), the Commission will meet to discuss the timeline for implementation of protected areas and review MPAs proposed for the far north coast. This week several reports…
June 23 2011
Sewage Spill Right-to-Know Bill in Nassau County, NY
A new bill has been introduced in Nassau County, NY which would require public notification of sewage spills and wastewater discharges that severely exceed permit limits.
June 22 2011
Spraying Herbicides and Pesticides Near Water - What’s Wrong With This Picture?
A recent article in the Oregonian pointed out that the effects of the use of weed killers (herbicides) on humans and plants is raising concerns nationwide. Partially in response to this, Oregon recently passed what may be the strictest standards for toxic water pollution in the United States. Meanwhile, a…
June 21 2011
Albertson’s Goes Bagless!
Albertson's grocery chain announced earlier this year that two of their stores in California were going bagless - no more plastic or paper disposable bags, only reusable bags would be offered! It kicked off for Earth Day and featured reusable bag giveaways to get the community more free bags in…
June 21 2011
California’s Coastal Parks in Peril
For about three years, the state of California has delicately danced around the idea of closing state parks in order to "close the budget gap." While California is the 8th largest economy in the world, its budget demands often require brutal cutbacks. Unfortunately the ax fell on May 13 when…
June 17 2011
California Coastal Commission 2010 Voting Record and 2011 Outlook
This week, Surfrider Foundation and partners released the 2010 California Coastal Commission Voting Chart. The Conservation Voting Chart tracks the voting record of the members of the California Coastal Commission and provides critical insight into Commissioner performance relating to its impact on natural coastal resources and their potential to set…
June 16 2011
‘Plastic: A Toxic Love Story’ Book Discussion
This week the Surfrider Foundation Portland Chapter hosted a book discussion with Susan Frienkel about her new book, ‘Plastics: A Toxic Love Story.” It was held at a local coffee shop and Portland Mayor Sam Adams kicked off the evening with a call to action to ‘Ban The Bag’ in…
June 15 2011
LA to Follow OC’s Lead on Wastewater Recycling
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is following the lead of Orange County in implementing both and Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) system and an expansion of their "purple pipe" reclaimed water system.
June 14 2011
Santa Barbara Ocean Friendly Gardens Program Kicks Off With Basics Class
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class
The Santa Barbara and Isla Vista Chapters launched their OFG Program with a OFG Basics Class. It's the first part of an OFG Series, to be followed up with a Hands-On Workshop on Site Evaluation, Garden Assistance Program Workday, Lawn Patrol and one-day training for professionals. The Series is funded…
June 13 2011
Virginia’s Five-Cent Fee Fails To Gather Support
The 2011 legislative session in Virginia featured three proposals to limit plastic bag use: an outright ban, a 20 cent fee on plastic bags modeled on Ireland’s ordinance, and a five-cent fee on plastic and paper bags as used in neighboring Washington, DC. The Surfrider Foundation’s DC Chapter, as part…
June 13 2011
Maryland’s Proposes Five-Cent Fee On Disposable Plastic And Paper Bags
The Surfrider Foundation and their coalition work together to collect more than 5,000 signatures from Maryland residents to support a five-cent feel on disposable plastic and paper bags.
June 13 2011
A Bill Whose Time Has Come…And Will Come Again
Nothing symbolizes the Plastic Age and our disposable, throwaway culture more than the single-use plastic bag. How many of us have drawers or closets full of these colorful bags that we don’t know what to do with? And how often do we see these toxic tumbleweeds blowing in the wind,…
June 13 2011
Oregon’s Statewide Bag Ban Fails To Make It Out Of Committee
Building upon the great efforts led by the Portland Chapter over the past three years to ban single-use plastic checkout bags within the City of Portland, Senators Mark Hass and Jason Atkinson, and Representatives Ben Cannon and Vick Gilliam introduced SB 536, giving Oregon the opportunity to be the first…
June 13 2011
California Legislators Address Marine Debris With SB 568
Even though AB 1998 failed to pass out of the Senate last year, legislators are currently working to address another prevalent form of plastic pollution - Polystyrene Food Containers, with the introduction of SB 568.
