Surfrider Foundation: MAKING WAVES, 4/98, Beachscape


	The Surfrider Foundation's Newest Program: BEACHSCAPE MAKING WAVES, April 1998

During 1998, which is the United Nations proclaimed International Year of the Ocean, the Surfrider Foundation is launching its new Beachscape program.
    Did you know that laws like the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and the Coastal Non-point Pollution Control Program encourage, but do not require, states to take action necessary to protect and preserve their coastal resources?
    Shocking as it may seem, even the most basic, baseline data and knowledge of our coastlines are grossly inadequate And the Surfrider Foundation's Beachscape program is the first cohesive effort dedicated to preparing and presenting comprehensive, historical, archival documentation of the state of our country'[s coastal waters, waves and beaches.
    Quite simply, the Surfrider Foundation's Chapters and volunteer activists cannot effectively protect and preserve threatened, endangered or at-risk areas unless and until we know where and what they are. Currently available resources include primarily aerial photographs. What's lacking is people actually documenting coastal areas from the ground. Perhaps even more critically important, the most impassioned beachgoing stakeholders are essential variables in both the Beachscape process, and in protecting and preserving our coastal resources in the years to come to ensure that our natural treasures can and will be enjoyed by future generations.
  For example:
    The San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation mapped and documented the county's outfall pipes and the status of beach erosion and access, for the first time ever. The County of San Diego continue to reply upon and utilize this critical data to this day.
    In 1994 the South Bay Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, in Los Angeles County, was the first group ever to have waves recognized as a threatened natural resource by the California Coastal Commission. In order to achieve this the Chapter first had to gather baseline data and take photographs, then demonstrate that the beaches were under massive attack and eroding.
    The Laguna Beach Chapter documented the location of local stormwater outfalls, then wrote and launched a successful campaign to have Stormwater Pollution Prevention Guidelines adopted by the City of Laguna Beach.
    These successes have been achieved through the Surfrider Foundation's effective grassroots Chapter and Member network. The Surfrider Foundation, its Chapters and Members truly are the Keepers of the Coasts.
    A generous International Year of the Ocean sponsor of the Surfrider Foundation's BeachScape program efforts is SIMA, the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. SIMA has pledged $50,000 of its proceeds which will be raised from this year's Watermanís Ball. The SIMA Environmental Fund will hold its Ninth Annual Watermanís Ball on Friday, July 31, 1998 at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, CA. Over the past eight years the SIMA Environmental Fund's efforts have raised more than $1 million which have supported the efforts of a number of leading environmental organization.
    The Surfrider Foundation wishes to thank SIMA for its generous, ongoing support, and for its special support this year of our critically important Beachscape program.

Surfrider Foundation USA:
122 S. El Camino Real #67
San Clemente, CA 92672
tel. (949) 492-8170
fax (949) 492-8142

Email addresses:
Membership: mmate@surfrider.org
Chapter Issues: emazzarella@surfrider.org
Envir. Issues: ekliszewski@surfrider.org
Legal Issues: mkremer@surfrider.org
Catalog: jwright@surfrider.org
Website Staff: mbabski@surfrider.org
Other: info@surfrider.org

See our feedback page.
Surfrider Website INDEX