90% filled with silt, sediment and debris.
Ventura Chapter members of the Surfrider Foundation hope that this is a first step in having unneeded dams removed to help restore our retreating shorelines.
Delaware
Delaware Chapter members had a great turnout for our nation's annual Coastal Clean up Day in September. Surfrider Foundation's Delaware Chapter activists met at the Northside of Indian River Inlet and helped coordinate the Tower Road area both Ocean and Bay side. Participants gathered about 50 bags of debris and trash. Once again, the biggest trash item collected was cigarette butts.
The Delaware Chapter is continuing their efforts to get a response from the Department of Air and Waste Management regarding a sewage spill at the Delaware Seashore State Park Sewage Treatment Plant in August. The chapter is conducting a survey on sewage spills in the inland bays from Indian River to Lewes, DE.
Chapter members are also making progress in organizing their Blue Water Task Force water quality monitoring program so that they can conduct independent water testing in Sussex County. The chapter is currently recruiting members who are willing to collect samples and perform the lab work necessary to produce accurate data.
District of Columbia
On an unseasonably overcast, late, chilly August morning, Surfrider Foundation's Washington DC Chapter members joined forces with the American Oceans Campaign and Center for Marine Conservation for the 4th Annual Surfrider Foundation Paddle for Clean Water.
Over 20 enthusiasts came to paddle down the Potomac River on surfboards, canoes, and kayaks to show their support for the BEACH Bill and concerns about coastal water quality.
Surfrider Foundation founding Capitol Chapter member and National Board of Director, Darryl Hatheway, stated at the event,"The issue of the need for national beach water quality standards and legislation, like the BEACH Bill, have garnered the recognition it has long been due thanks to support of the coastal environmental organizations and events like the Surfrider Clean Water Paddle." "Now it is time to raise the stakes and ask the 106th Congress to work together and send the BEACH Bill to President Bill Clinton for passage into law now!"
The Capitol Chapter of Surfrider Foundation's 4th Annual Clean Water Paddle Out event received excellent press coverage on NBC and Fox News, with API photographer catching the event on film-and raising the level of awareness of the need for healthy coastal waters.
The Surfrider Foundation would like to give special thanks to Darryl Hatheway who finishes his last term as National Board of Director this year. Darryl has done an outstanding job of spreading the message of the Surfrider Foundation on both a national and community wide level. Thanks DJ!
FLORIDA
Palm Beach
Palm Beach County Chapter members recently participated in the planting of mangrove trees as part of a restoration project in North Palm Beach County. The restoration project is part of an 80 acre "island" of scrub and mangrove associated with the Jupiter Lighthouse, which straddles the towns of Jupiter and
