Coastal Blog
July 2012
July 31 2012
How the Legal System Saves the Surf
The value of surfing to society is undeniable. This blog speaks about how the legal system protects these valuable resources.
July 31 2012
Three Essential Truths about New Offshore Oil Drilling
We challenge all elected officials to acknowledge these three essential truths when considering any new offshore drilling proposals.
July 30 2012
Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project and Joshua Radin
2012 marks the sixth year the Barefoot Wine and Bubbly has teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation for the Beach Rescue Project to help keep beaches, rivers and lakes barefoot friendly. This year Joshua Radin has been involved at various locations across the country as his schedule permits - a…
July 30 2012
Fed Up With Foam Litter? Pass SB 568!
Rise Above Plastics Expanded Polystyrene Foam
California Senate Bill 568 is groundbreaking legislation that would phase out expanded polystyrene (EPS) food and drink containers at restaurants statewide by 2016. Sign our action alert and call your State Assemblymember to support this bill to clean up our beaches and support sustainable foodware products by phasing out the…
July 25 2012
Two Plastic Reduction Victories in Santa Cruz
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Last night the Santa Cruz City Council gave their final approval on a plastic bag ban and expanded their existing foam foodware ban to include most disposable retail items made from EPS foam. The Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapters was one of the first to focus on plastic pollution issues…
July 24 2012
Illinois, Massachusetts and California Plastic Bills
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Three states have four big bills regarding plastic pollution in play and your help is needed! It's easy, all you have to do is pick up the phone and make a call, then sign and share an online action alert.
July 23 2012
More Evidence Plastic Bag Legislation Works
Plastic bag legislation is relatively new but the results are coming in shows them to be effective in reducing plastic bags with little resistance from consumers. Recent reports from Long Beach, CA, Sunnyvale, CA and Quebec Province in Canada all show positive results. Whether it's a plastic checkout bag ban…
July 20 2012
Portland Chapter Follows Rain Garden Class With Site Evaluation and Garden Building
Ocean Friendly Gardens Basic Class HOW
Like the Newport, OR Chapter, the Portland, OR Chapter teamed up with a Soil and Water Conservation District to host a sustainable landscaping class. Surfrider staff, Pete Stauffer, volunteered his landscape to be the site to apply this new knowledge. Step 1: Site Evaluation.
July 20 2012
Spending cuts problems with old and failing sewers and storm systems
A funding bill has just been released from a House Committee that proposes drastic cuts to the State Clean Water Revolving Funds. What this means is less money going out to the states to fix broken sewers, maintaining stormwater systems and installing new, green ways of managing runoff.
July 19 2012
OFG Members Have Great 1st Meeting With County Stormwater & Smart Gardening Staff
After testifying at a hearing about a proposed Los Angeles County stormwater fee for all property owners, West LA/Malibu OFG Sub-Committee members wanted to know more about what resources the County was already offering to reduce polluted runoff, what gaps existed, and how to collaborate. So they set up a…
July 17 2012
Beach Water Testing Program in Hawaii Struggling
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
Hawaii's beach water testing program is already struggling to meet beach water testing requirements set by the BEACH Act. Impending federal budget cuts could devastate this program in a state whose economy is largely fueled by beach tourism.
July 17 2012
Resources for Hands Across the Sand
Thanks to the dozens of Surfrider chapters organizing Hands Across the Sand events on August 4! We have posted a toolkit of resources on Chapternet to help ensure the success of your events!
July 16 2012
Kaua’i Blue Water Task Force
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Solutions Source Identification Youth
The Kaua'i Chapter's Blue Water Task Force water testing program is providing valuable water quality information for surf sites around the island. They are investigating the local sources of water pollution and are trying to instill an ethic of coastal stewardship into the students they are reaching.
July 09 2012
RESTORE Act Passes! Gulf of Mexico to Benefit
Congress has passed the RESTORE Act to help support economic and ecological restoration in the Gulf of Mexico. Special thanks to our Florida Chapters and thousands of Surfrider activists who wrote to congress in support of the bill!
July 06 2012
Testing the Waters: NRDC’s 2012 Report
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
The Natural Resources Defense Council has just released their annual Testing the Waters Report for 2012. The number of beach closing and advisory days reported in 2011 was 23,481 days, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to experience significant water pollution that puts swimmers and local economies at risk.
July 02 2012
Have a Plastic-Free Holiday!
Independence Day is this Wednesday July 4th in the U.S. and one of the best days of the year to get out and celebrate with family and friends. July 5th is often the busiest day for cleanup crews at beaches and parks across the country. One big reason is that…
