SAN MATEO CHAPTER
Happy Birthday!
Surfrider Foundation's San Mateo Chapter turned one this year, and has welcomed a new executive committee to tackle some ambitious projects. One issue deals with the effects that urban run-off and non-point source pollution are having on area water quality. The Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force is a volunteer driven water quality monitoring program designed to utilize the presence of surfers and recreational beach users daily experiences in the water.
    The San Mateo County Department of Environmental Health currently tests the coastal waters from Linda Mar to San Gregorio. Samples are analyzed for fecal and total coliform bacteria at all sites. San Mateo Chapter members of the Surfrider Foundation have begun to assist the county in the collection of water samples and the dissemination of the test results to the public.
    The County has welcomed the help of the San Mateo Chapter volunteers. The Chapter is currently creating a web site where the water quality information and weekly test results will be posted and also plans to submit this information to local surfshops and newspapers.

RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER
Testing the Smallest State
Rhode Island Chapter activists recently met with the Program Director for the University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch (URIWW). With the assistance of a grant acquired with the help of Surfrider Foundation National, chapter members will collect water samples from 10 surf spots from May thru October 2000.
    The Rhode Island Chapter of Surfrider Foundation will pay a testing fee to the URIWW who will analyze the samples for the chapter and the RI Department of Environmental Management. In addition, chapter members will be trained by the URIWW on sampling techniques. The chapter chose to implement their Blue Water Task Force with the assistance of a certified lab to help establish themselves as a credible source of water quality data.
    In conjunction with the kick-off of the Rhode Island Chapter's Blue Water Task Force Program, they will host a February 26th slide show of "25 Years on the RI Coast" at the Narragansett High School Auditorium. The event will be used to help recruit members and educate the public.

LONG BEACH CHAPTER
Welcome Aboard!
The City of Long Beach no longer has to share a chapter with Huntington Beach. The Surfrider Foundation officially chartered a Long Beach Chapter of Surfrider Foundation on January 29th. The existing Huntington/Long Beach Chapter will become the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter, thus maintaining the title of longest chapter name.
    The Long Beach Breakwater Task Force, which was established by the chapter to focus on the removal of the Long Beach Breakwater, spearheaded the effort to form a chapter solely focusing on issues which affect the 452,908 residents of Long Beach. Both chapters will continue to partner on issues that affect their coastal regions.
    Surfrider Foundation views the establishment of this new chapter as a credit to the dedication and outreach efforts of past and current members of the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter. Sadly, it also demonstrates that both communities are in much need of primary assistance in protecting, preserving and rejuvenating their coastlines.
   The new Long Beach Chapter will focus on water quality, coastal development, watershed protection, educational outreach and the removal of the Long Beach Breakwater. Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members will focus on the ongoing water pollution problems in Huntington Beach, educational outreach, protecting the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and numerous issues.