Coastal Blog — Coastal Preservation
April 26 2013
Congress Looks to Bypass Environmental Protections for Beach and Water Projects
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote in the coming weeks on a Water Resources Development Act, or "WRDA" for short. Several bad provisions make this bill unacceptable and it needs to be reworked.
April 08 2013
California’s Landmark Law Under Attack
Beach Access Blue Water Task Force Coastal Preservation Know Your H20 Ocean Ecosystems Water Quality
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is one of California’s most important laws—not only because it helps protect our environment and “quality of life”, but CEQA also promotes democratic participation in the decision-making process—giving citizens a say in what happens in their local communities. Unfortunately over the past few years,…
March 29 2013
Responding to Sandy
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill Shoreline Armoring
Almost five months after Hurricane Sandy slammed into the northeast the region is still in recovery mode. It is a real challenge to balance the competing interests of the urgency and importance of rebuilding with thoughtful planning to make the necessary changes to avoid a similar disaster in the future.…
December 17 2012
Hijacking our Beaches for Sandy Relief
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
President Obama and Congress are rightfully moving to provide federal assistance for those impacted by Hurricane (Superstorm) Sandy. Unfortunately in their zeal for action the Senate is proposing to go far and beyond what is needed for disaster recovery, threatening the future health and vitality of our coastal beaches and…
December 12 2012
Beachfills, Dunes, and Seawalls Oh My!
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill Shoreline Armoring
We don't really like seawalls at Surfrider Foundation, I know. But to put a large structure on the ocean side of a seawall, now that's just a lose, lose proposition. Exhibit A from Sea Bright, NJ.
November 01 2012
Surfrider Foundation Issues Statement On Hurricane Sandy
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Surfrider Foundation has issued the following statement.
October 31 2012
From King Tides to Sea Level Rise
“King tides” are extreme high tide events that tend to be more dramatic in the winter when storms cause increased wind and wave activity along the coast. These high water events allow us to visualize now how flooding from rising sea levels will impact our beaches, coastal areas and shoreline…
October 19 2012
Beach Fill Comes to San Diego
Beachapedia Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill Surf Protection
San Diego County is currently pumping sand onto 8 beaches in the area. Surfrider's chapter is monitoring for impacts to surf spots.
August 13 2012
Beach Driving: Part 2
Beach Access Coastal Preservation Legal
Beach driving not only involves ecological considerations; it also involves beach access and freedom to enjoy coastal resources. This blog explores how beach driving has shaped the law and, in turn, how the law has responded to beach driving.
August 03 2012
Beach Driving: Part 1
Beach Access Coastal Preservation
This is part 1 of a 3-part blog series that explores issues related to beach driving through several case studies as well as by highlighting impacts that can occur even in places that do not allow public beach driving.
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?
May 07 2012
Ma’alaea Saved
Coastal Preservation Shoreline Armoring Ocean Ecosystems Surf Protection
Environmental campaigns are most often marathons, not sprints. You have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. An extreme example of this is our Save Ma'alaea campaign, which has extended for over 20 years. Ma'alaea, on the island of Maui, is home to a small boat…
May 02 2012
Another Beachfill Botched!
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
In trying to remedy one problem of beachfill, steep and dangerous beaches, the Army Corps has created another problem; a beach full of rocks in Cape May, NJ.
April 02 2012
Peter Douglas 1942 -2012
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of a legendary advocate of coastal protection in California and beyond.
January 27 2012
Leatherback Sea Turtles Get Protection Along West Coast
Coastal Preservation Know Your H20 Desalination Ocean Ecosystems Rise Above Plastics
Regulators designated nearly 42,000 square miles of ocean on the West Coast as critical habitat for endangered leatherback sea turtles, protecting them from ocean-related development projects and pollution.
January 06 2012
Florida’s Coastal and Ocean Future: An Updated Blueprint for Economic and Environmental Leadership
Beachapedia Coastal Preservation Ocean Ecosystems Water Quality
This updated report is the latest from the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition, which Surfrider Foundation is a member, and addresses Florida's most challenging coastal and marine topics and recommends actions for protecting and preserving the future of Florida's coasts and oceans.
December 16 2011
From King Tides to Sea Level Rise
Coastal Preservation Shoreline Armoring
“King tides” are extreme high tide events that tend to be more dramatic in the winter when storms cause increased wind and wave activity along the coast. These high water events allow us to visualize now how flooding from rising sea levels will impact our beaches, coastal areas and shoreline…
October 10 2011
TransparentSea Shines Spotlight on Surfrider’s Save Gaviota Campaign
Coastal Preservation Ocean Ecosystems
TransparentSea is an ongoing awareness campaign aimed at highlighting coastal environmental issues with particular attention given to cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and the waters they inhabit. They're following the southern migration of the California Grey Whale whale throughout the month of October, joining them near Santa Barbara on October 1st,…
September 04 2011
Making Beaches Smaller for Safety
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
Cape May, NJ is planning to have the Army Corps remove sand from one of their many replenished beaches. The volume of sand is causing a steep beach which in turn leads to increased number of shorebreak injuries; many of them c-spine injuries.
September 02 2011
2011 Enviro Intern Clara Cartwright works on Beach Ecology
Clara Cartwright is the 2011 Dillon Henry Memorial Intern in the Environmental Department of the Surfrider Foundation. Clara has been working on improving the Beach Ecology indicator for our State of the Beach report and is finalizing some case studies on best practices for considering beach ecology while managing beaches.…
