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Surfrider Chapter News MAKING WAVES, Aug./Sept. 1998 |
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Washington State Chapter The Washington State Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation held its Third Annual Clean Water Paddle on July 11,1998. According to Chapter Chair Kevin "Wookie" Ranker, it was the greatest event they've held so far. It began at 10:00AM with 75 people participating in a beach clean-up, filling four state park trucks with trash and recyclables. The award for the most unique item found goes to Chapter member Mike Wheeler for finding a whole marine toilet, complete with the lid. At 12 noon the 3rd Annual Clean Water Paddle began with 52 people paddling the 1/2 mile loop, complete with a Coast Guard escort and Surfrider Foundation's M.O.M. album playing on the beach. Paddle participants rode kayaks, longboards, shortboards and paddleboards around the channel marker for Grays Harbor, then gathered in a circle in the middle of Half Moon Bay before finishing. That evening in West Port, the Chapter held the Clean Water Celebration and the presentation of the 1998 Washington State Waterman's Award. In between sets of the "Dirty Birds" show, the crowd cooled off and listen to presentations regarding water quality in the Chehalis Watershed and coastal erosion issues, and how we can promote sustainable alternatives to seawalls for Half Moon Bay and Ocean Shores, Washington. Awards were presented to Christine Hanna, John Lake, George Kaminski and Randy Baugh for their outstanding contributions to Surfrider Foundation's Washington State Chapter's efforts to protect and preserve our coastal resources. The Third Annual Paddle for Clean Water was huge! Congratulations to all the participants of this great event! South Bay Chapter The battle over the proposed development and destruction of the Ballona Wetlands by the powerful Dreamworks Studios team, is far from being a done deal. In a recent US District Court decision, Judge Ronald Lew ruled in favor of the Wetlands Action Network, Ballona Wetlands Land Trust and CalPIRG in their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lawsuit against the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The USACE is responsible for granting the permits required for a developer to fill wetlands. Surfrider Foundation's South Bay Chapter has been actively supporting these groups with the assistance of Surfrider Foundation's Environmental Director Eve Kliszewski. Eve has been working on behalf of the South Bay Chapter as a wetlands restoration expert and has prepared a declaration in support of Wetlands Action Network's request for a site evaluation. This was recently granted and Eve will be participating in a site evaluation along with three other experts on or before August 28th. South Bay Chapter members first brought attention to this important development issue by holding a 75-person "paddle out" in October 1997. The judge called the Corps' decision to issue the permit arbitrary, capricious, and otherwise not in accordance with the law. At that time the permit was rescinded and all construction activities on the permitted area stopped until and unless the Corps complies with its NEPA obligations. This is not the end of the war, but a major victory has been won. Healthy wetlands are part of a healthy coastal ecosystem. Already, 95% of the county's wetlands are gone. We can't afford to lose the 1100 acres comprising the Ballona Wetlands and the South Bay Chapter will do everything they can to make sure we don't! San Francisco Chapter Like many coastal areas in 1998, El Nino winter storms severely damaged beaches that were in its path. Ocean Beach in San Francisco was eroded away along many areas, including the parking lot at the foot of Sloat Blvd. The City of San Francisco is currently considering options for a temporary rock abutment and permanent seawall to stop erosion along the bluffs between Sloat Blvd. and the southern parking lot. Surfrider Foundation's San Francisco Chapter wants to make sure that they have input in the process and that all feasible options are considered, including a no-project alternative. The city must obtain a permit for any work at Ocean Beach through the National Park Service (NPS), as they have jurisdiction of the property. The NPS has told the San Francisco Chapter that they want public involvement and welcome their suggestions. The Chapter is concerned that this issue will become an "emergency" project and that environmental issues may be bulldozed over to quick-fix a problem that has been brewing for years. Should a seawall even be built? How will it change erosion patterns along the bluffs to the south and to the dunes to the north? (Both of these areas are endangered species habitat). If a seawall is built how will it effect the surf there? The chapter would like its members to tell them what they think. If you would like to give comments or help with this issue please call Mike Paquet at (510) 654-5520. Washington D.C. On June 26,1997 Congressional Representatives in the House introduced H.R. 2094, the Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure and Health Act (the "BEACH Bill"). Senators introduced the same bill in the U.S. Senate, S.971. Surfrider Foundation members' hopes were high that the bill would bring consistency in beach water quality testing programs nationwide. It's now one year later and the BEACH Bill is still in limbo. Surfrider Foundation's Capitol Chapter has been very active in educating members on the importance of such a bill. There are currently only four states that comprehensively monitor water quality at ALL their beaches-DE, NH, NJ, and NY. However, even these coastal states use different standards and monitoring protocols, and methods of posting hazards. There are also eight states that lack ANY regular monitoring-AL, GA, LA, MI, NC, SC, OR, and WA. After a year-long campaign of letter writing, paddle-outs, awareness events and congressional meetings, Capitol Chapter members continue to put the pressure on. By cranking up Surfrider Foundation's grassroots efforts and increasing the number of bill co-sponsors, we will help show the House and Senate committees that the BEACH Bill deserves a hearing now. As of June 28, 1998 12 out of the 22 coastal states have no Representatives signed on as co-sponsors for H.R. 2094-AL, AK, DE, FL, HI, LA, NH, NC, SC, TX, VA, and WA. Ten other coastal states have numerous BEACH Bill co-sponsors-CA, CT, GA, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NY, OR, and RI. The number of co-sponsors is still growing and with continued grassroots support by the Capitol Chapter and Surfrider Foundation's Chapter Network we can increase this list significantly in 1998. San Clemente Chapter San Clemente Chapter members are gearing up for what will be one of the Chapter's biggest environmental campaigns to date. The last segment of the planned Foothill South toll road will slice through the last undeveloped part of South Orange County. This section of the toll road will run parallel to San Mateo Creek and connect at Interstate Hwy 5, very close to the Trestles surf spot and park. The ramifications of highway construction and development of San Mateo Point (Courtesy of the USMC) next to the creek bed are well known. Without a doubt, this latest development project will impact the environmentally sensitive area greatly. There will be considerable runoff coming from the toll road that will flow right into the Trestles surf break! Plus the flow of sand from the creek, which is crucial to the quality of the Trestles surf break (as well as San Onofre and a good deal of beach area), will be affected severely. To add to this senseless development, Representative Ron Packard (48th District,CA.) crafted an unusual provision in HR 4328 that would limit environmental review of the controversial Foothill South toll road. In a related matter, Rep. Packard has also accepted $7,000 in campaign donations from the toll road's Washington Lobbyist since 1989, records show. The agencies running the Foothill, Eastern and San Joaquin Hills toll roads are poised to hand a new $800,000, three-year contract to lobbyist Jim McConnel to influence lawmakers in Washington. The existing San Joaquin Hills toll road's ridership is still below projections, and an increase is needed for the corridor to meet its debts, a staff report says. Discount weekend prices on the San Joaquin Hills toll road failed to lure the hoped-for droves of drivers. What can you do? Besides writing your city council and elected representatives (especially if you reside in the city of San Clemente), you can help Surfrider Foundation by volunteering to monitor this issue. Check out what city councils, state park officials and other planners are saying about this, and make Surfrider's voice heard, too! It's not over yet. The following Memorial Donations have recently been made. The Surfrider Foundation extends good thoughts to all those who have lost a loved one. |
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