Thursday, November 20, 2008
SOLV Citizenship Award
Congrats to the Newport Chapter for being named the 2008 SOLV Citizenship Award winner in the Community Group category. Surfrider Foundation and three other citizenship award winners were honored on October 30 at the Portland Art Museum...read more and check out the short video.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Support Protection of Special Places in Oregon's Ocean
The Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) will be meeting in Lincoln City this week on Monday and Tuesday (17th& 18th) for discussions and deliberations to establish Marine Protected Areas and Reserves at specific sites within Oregon's Territorial Sea before passing their recommendation onto Governor Kulongoski. The Surfrider Foundation has been engaged through our membership and chapters on this issue in Oregon since 2001 through our Special Places Initiative, to find out more on this topic click on the issues section. As ocean users, we have been working within communities throughout Oregon to promote education, foster dialogue, and taking steps towards an ecosystem-based management approach to our ocean environment.
The OPAC meeting will be held at the Chinook Winds Convention Center, Mikonotunne Room, 1777 NW 44th St, in Lincoln City from 8am to 5pm. Public comment period will be from 1pm to 5pm on Monday, please come and show your support of individual sites as well as a network of reserves along Oregon's coast. If you can't attend the meeting in person, please take 15 minutes to make your voice heard by providing your comments at:
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Surfer Exposure Study: Oregon
Scientists at Oregon State University and Oregon Dept. of Environmenta Quality have recently published a study 'Exposure Assessment and Risk of Gastrointestinal Illness Among Surfers'. The study used a web-based survey to collect responses from hundreds of surfers in Oregon. The results show that surfers ingest more water during a typical recreational day compared to swimmers and divers, and need to be considered in the context of public health or regulatory efforts. While the risk for Oregon surfers was not high for Gastrointestinal Illness (GI), their findings suggest that surfers who spend more time in recreational waters or who surf in highly contaminated locations are likely to be at higher risk of GI illness. The graphic illustration of risk is useful for public health and environmental officials who are responsible for beach sampling and advisory programs. To read the paper click hereSurfer%20Exposure%20Article.pdf
Thursday, November 06, 2008
POLITICS OF SAND: FILM PREMIERE
On Fri, Nov 14, 'The Politics of Sand,' a new documentary by filmaker Tom Olsen will debut at the Northwest Film Festival from 7-9pm at the Whitsell Auditorium (Portland Art Museum - 1219 SW Park Avenue). The film tells the incredible story of how the dark forces of private development were defeated to permanantly protect Oregon's ocean beaches for public use and enjoyment. It is an inspiring story that every Oregonian should know well and share with others (see photo: Gov. Tom McCall). After all, Oregon Governor Oswald West once declared Oregons ocean beaches the states 'great birthright' and all of us are now the stewards of this important legacy. The film will also screen at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum on Feb 21, 2009, from 7-9pm, and we hope that other coastal screenings will follow, as well. To learn more about the film click here. To purchase tickets for the Portland screening click here.Friday, October 31, 2008
Coos Bay Wave Energy
Oregon Wave Energy Partners I, LLC ("OPT") has filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") its Notification of Intent to File an Application for an Original License for the Coos Bay OPT Wave Park. The proposed one hundred (100) Megawatt Coos Bay OPT Wave Park would be located approximately 2.7 miles off the coast of Coos County, Oregon. The proposed location is west of the towns of Coos Bay and North Bend.The public is welcome to attend and participate in the Joint Agency and Public Meetings and site visit. These meetings will provide an overview of the proposed project for the public, stakeholders, and Federal and State Agencies. The meeting will also describe the consultative process which OPT proposes to use.
Event: Joint Agency and Public Meeting, Evening Session
Time and Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: South Umpqua Room, Red Lion Hotel,
1313 N. Bayshore Drive, Coos Bay
Event: Joint Agency and Public Meeting, Morning Session
Time and Date: 9:00 a.m., Friday, November 7, 2008
Location: Coquille Room, Red Lion Hotel,
1313 N. Bayshore Drive, Coos Bay
Event: Site visit to the proposed Coos Bay OPT Wave Park
Time and date: 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 7, 2008
Location: Will depart from the Red Lion Hotel
For more information on the agenda of these meetings, see first comment on this post
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
OPAC & Heceta Head Conference in Florence
The Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) will be meeting in Florence this Thursday & Friday from 8am to 6pm at the Florence Events Center to review the 20 site proposals for Marine Reserves that have been submitted to ODFW by the public. On Thursday morning, ODFW will present an analysis of the proposals based upon ecological significance, minimizing socioeconomic impacts, and community collaboration. On Thursday afternoon the groups that have proposed the sites will be given the opportunity to give presentations on the proposals. Friday's meeting will largely be dedicated to public comment starting at 8am, if you are interested please come and show your support for protecting special places in Oregon's territorial sea.
Also, in Florence on Friday evening, and Saturday will be the 4th annual Heceta Head Coastal Conference featuring keynote presentations by world renowned marine scientist Dr. Bill Ballantine from New Zealand. To register for the conference, visit http://www.hecetaheadconference.org/
For more information, please contact Gus Gates @ ggates@surfrider.org
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Community Proposals
On October 1st, the public proposal period closed for recommending potential sites for marine reserves and marine protected areas (MPAs) in Oregons Territorial Sea. The process has been supported by nearshore action teams, comprised of coastal residents, ocean users, and other interested parties. Surfrider members and volunteers participated in the develpment of five of these proposals, including nominations off Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Florence, Port Orford, and Pistol River. Proposed sites will be subject to several phases of evaluation based on ecological and socioeconomic criteria. All proposals received by ODFW be posted online this week click here . Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are protected from human extraction or disturbance and science shows that reserves typically result in greater abundance, size, and diversity of marine organisms inside their boundaries. Please join a coalition of ocean users that is participating and supporting this process.Monday, September 29, 2008
'The Pact' to benefit Snowrider Project
The Portland debut of the film 'The Pact' will screen on Oct 10 at 7pm McMenamins Kennedy School in SE. The event will feature a raffle with great stuff to benefit the Snowrider Project of Portland Chapter. The Powderwhore film features incredible ski and tele footage from around the world with powder, lots and lots of powder. Admission is $10, age 21 and over. Mitch Weber of Teletips offers up a nice review. Click here for a high bandwidth peep show of The Pact. If you would like to purchase tickets in advance click here. The Surfrider Foundation began the Snowrider Project in 1997 to create greater understanding of the hydrological cycle and foster a sense of stewardship for alpine and valley watersheds. The Snowrider Project in Oregon is working on a host of mountain issues in and around Mt. Hood. For more info on Snowrider please click here.Monday, September 22, 2008
Fall Beach Cleanups Big Success!
Great job by all of our beach captains and volunteers for coming out for this year's SOLV Fall Beach Cleanup. Over 40,000 pounds of garbage and nearly 4,000 volunteers showed up for the effort along the 360 miles of coastline in Oregon. Check out some of the highlights from Zone 7 on the central coast. Our volunteers stepped up this year captaining 8 sites from Cannon Beach to Florence. Great work team! Related articles: http://www.beachconnection.net/news/beachc092108_329.php
Thursday, September 18, 2008
RISE ABOVE PLASTICS
Did you know that 60 to 80% of all debris in the ocean is plastic? Plastics take hundreds of years to break down at sea and most types never truly biodegrade. As a result, marine animals often get entangled in the debris or mistake it for food. That is why Portland Chapter of Surfrider is working with Leave No Plastic Behind to reduce consumption of plastics in our state. This month offers some exciting ways to get involved and support the effort. On Sept 22 Recycling Advocates will host a Plastic Bag Dilemma Public Forum: 'Solving the Plastic Bag Dilemma: Is Oregon Ready?' Portland is considering a mandatory fee (or ban) on plastic grocery bags to reduce waste and encourage people to shop with reusable bags. This will follow the example of Oakland, Seattle, and other west coast cities that have passed bans on single-use plastic bags. Please join us on Sept 22 for this important forum! Also please sign our online petition to the Portland City Commissioners!Wednesday, September 17, 2008
SOLV Beach Cleanups This Saturday!
Did you know that the first ever statewide volunteer beach cleanup in the world happened here in Oregon as an event called the "Plague of Plastics"? That's right, the plastic plague on our beaches is what started this twice a year effort by volunteers across Oregon! We're partnering with SOLV again this year and captaining beaches up and down the coast to help support the annual fall beach cleanup. Please come out to your favorite beach and help with the effort. Pre-register at: http://www.solv.org/volunteers/safety_info.asp for a speedy check-in at the beach! Newport Chapter captaining locations: South Beach State Park, Nye Beach, Agate Beach Wayside, and Beverly Beach State Park; Portland Chpater captaining location: Cannon Beach; Siuslaw Chapter captaining location: South Jetty Florence. Come out and help support clean beaches!Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Marine Reserve Workshops
Oregon has entered the final month of a public proposal process to identify potential sites for marine reserves or marine protected areas (MPAs). The process is being supported by nearshore action teams, comprised of coastal residents, ocean users, and other interested parties. Proposed sites will be subject to several phases of evaluation based on ecological and socioeconomic criteria. Next week, Oregon Sea Grant and ODFW will host two technical workshops to assist public groups with their marine reserve proposals. The purpose is to provide groups an opportunity to discuss their draft proposals and receive feedback and assistance from state resource managers and others with local knowledge of the areas potentially being proposed. The workshops will be held from 1pm - 6pm on Sept. 15 in Charleston (OIMB Boathouse) and Sept. 18 in Pacific City (Kiwanda Community Center). Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are protected from human extraction or disturbance and science shows that reserves typically result in greater abundance, size, and diversity of marine organisms inside their boundaries. Please join a coalition of ocean users that is participating and supporting this process. For more info on Oregon's planning process click hereThursday, September 04, 2008
Introducing The Beach Shark!
This shark is designed to take a bite out of littered beaches! At last month's Newport Chapter meeting the Lincoln City Green Drinks came out to present to us on their fabulous Beach Shark cleanup mobile! The concept came from the group's effort to make the central coast beaches the cleanest in the world. So what did they decide to do? By a vehicle, run it on veggie oil and use it as often as possible to run large beach cleanup efforts...now who can object to that? The group is hoping that there concept becomes viral and that the model can be used to start up beach shark efforts around the globe! Great work and our hats off to this group and thier efforts! Pictured at right is the crew that drove down from Lincoln City to discuss thier growing effort with the cleanup mobile...Next up is the Rogue contest this weekend, where we'll hopefully team up to clean up after the Gathering!Friday, August 29, 2008
Ocean Renewable Energy - Coos Bay
On Sept 25-26, the Oregon Wave Energy Trust will host the third annual Ocean Renewable Energy Conference at the Mill Convention Center in Coos Bay. The conference will present on all aspects of project development from early stage community engagement to final deployment and energy generation. As part of the program, Surfrider Foundation will participate in a panel discussion on Friday morning on Community Perspectives. Please join community leaders, developers, utilities, state and federal agency staff that are working on this important issue here in Oregon. Also, on Sept 24, an Open House on Community Involvement will be held at the Southern Oregon Community College from 6-8 pm. To register for the conference please visit http://www.oregonwave.org/ See you there.Sunday, August 24, 2008
Offshore Oil Drilling?
In 1981, Congress protected America's coasts and marine ecosystems from the threats of oil and gas development through adopting the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Moratorium. The moratorium prevents the leasing of coastal waters for the purpose of fossil fuel development. However, with rising consumer prices for fuel, there have been ongoing calls this summer for Congress to lift the long-standing ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling. In response, the Surfrider Foundation has released a statement on its position against offshore oil drilling. 'Surfrider Foundation is opposed to any attempt to lift the federal moratorium on offshore oil drilling,' said Environmental Director Chad Nelsen. 'Our nations oceans, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures that will be polluted by an increase in offshore oil drilling. Instead of advocating for transient and environmentally harmful ways to meet Americas oil needs, we should seek a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable energy plan that includes energy conservation.' For more info, including a discussion of myths vs. facts, please click here OffshoreDrillingMyths.doc
