Coastal Blog
June 2012
June 29 2012
5th Circuit Denies Amicus Brief in Beach Access Case
In a curt and unreasoned statement, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the application of Harris County, Texas, to file an amicus brief in support of rehearing of the Severance v. Patterson case. This recent case denied the State of Texas interpretation of the Texas Open Beaches Act to…
June 26 2012
Fly or Die - with Chris Jordan
I had the pleasure of chatting with Chris Jordan the other day and he is an inspiration. His work has moved people in many ways and to get his insights allows you to appreciate his work on another level. Chris is leaving today to fly to the middle of the…
June 24 2012
Congress Pushes to Expand Offshore Drilling (Again)
The House has approved a broad energy package that could dramatically expand offshore drilling in the U.S. Please express your opposition to offshore drilling by contacting your federal representatives and participating in Hands Across the Sand on August 4!
June 21 2012
Senate Briefing on Beach Act Funding
David Chokachi of former Baywatch fame spoke before a room full of policymakers in Washington, DC this week on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation. With the summer beach season fully upon us, David appealed to Congress to protect the health of the American beach-going public and restore funding for beach…
June 20 2012
School Green Team Takes Over Maintaining Their OFG
Parents of kids at this elementary school have agreed to take over maintenance of the OFG in front of the school. They worked with the West LA/Malibu OFG Sub-Committee on a plan, and engaged a parent who is a landscape professional as well as City and School District staff.
June 19 2012
What is a healthy beach?
We all love beaches and Surfrider Foundation has several programs and activities to protect beaches. But beyond being a great place to visit, do you know what beaches can do for you and the coastal environment?
June 19 2012
Hands Across the Sand: Coming to a Beach Near You!
Do you want to see our coasts protected from offshore drilling? Then sign up to participate in Hands Across the Sand on August 4, 2012!
June 15 2012
First Ever Paddle Across The Gulf Stream!
Last week two surfers and activists from the Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter completed the first ever paddle across the Gulf Stream as they completed a 60 mile journey from Bimini in the Bahamas to Miami, Florida! Bill Whiddon and Thaddeus Foote made history Saturday, June 9th, becoming the first to…
June 14 2012
Plastic Paradise
Plastic pollution awareness is reaching new heights as plastic bag bans in Hawaii and LA have made headlines internationally. Plastic bags are the tip of the plastic pollution iceberg and just one of many components of the plastic soup swirling around the ocean, migrating toward the gyres and/or 'spit out'…
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…
