Tuesday, May 06, 2008
STORM DRAIN MARKING - 2008!
Fellow Surfriders and friends of clean water...May marks the beginning of the fourth season of Catch Basin Marking (Catch Basins are the grated inlets in streets that channel water to the City's storm drain systems). The Portland Chapter of Surfrider continues with its Community Service Project sponsored by the City of Portland. The City provides all the necessary supplies to volunteers and volunteers provide the enthusiasm. (that's YOU!) Since we began this project, Surfrider volunteers have marked approximately 850 catch basins. Every month, we will meet on the third Tuesday and the following Saturday morning for a couple of hours (except May). I will have maps showing the locations of the catch basins in the area and all the supplies. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your neighbors ... this event is open to all volunteers!WHERE: SE Schiller St (two blocks SOUTH of SE Holgate St.) & SE 43rd Ave.
WHEN: Tues, May 20th at 6 PM. If it looks like rain will fall 12 hours either side of this time, I will postpone the event to Sat, May 31. If you have a question about the weather conditions or anything else please feel free to call ... For the Oceans ...John Thompson @503-936-8052.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Clean Water Classic - May 16-18
Please join us for the 2008 Clean Water Classic to be held in Westport, WA on May 16-18! The Clean Water Classic is Surfrider's annual surfing contest that raises crucial funds for our chapters in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Weekend will feature great surfing, silent auction, live music, raffle, and collection of some of the coolest folks in PNW. Also, there will be lots of information on Surfrider campaigns and programs and how to get involved! Open divisions include Pro-Am, Mens, Womens, Masters, Juniors, Keiki, and Stand-Up Paddle. Every surfer that enters receives free Surfrider membership! We are doing online registration this year, so please sign up soon before it fills up at the event website: http://www.cleanwaterclassic.com/. Also, volunteers are desperately needed to help us staff event. Please contact Matty Darcy at rimquiv108@comcast.net. to sign up! Thanks to Global Surf Industries, the Islander Hotel, and the rest of our sponsors.Saturday, April 19, 2008
Cinco De Mayo: Plastics Campaign Event!
On May 5 at 7pm, Portland Chapter will host Monterey Surfrider Activist, Ximena Waissbluth's traveling presentation on marine debris and the effects of plastics in our oceans at Ecotrust Building, Billy Frank Jr. Conferenc Rm (721 NW 9th Ave). This event will mark the kickoff of Portland Surfrider's statewide plastics campaign. Ximena's presentation will last about 45 minutes. The purpose of the event is education and networking for non-profits and activists working in the Portland area who are interested in building a coalition for change on our state's relationship to plastics in the environment. Much of the evening will be devoted to hob-nobbing, and Portland Surfrider will provide free Hot Lips Pizza and beer. Come and invite your friends!Saturday, April 12, 2008
MARINE RESERVES UPDATE
On March 23, Governor Kulongoski issued an Executive Order directing the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW) to serve as lead agency for the marine reserve recommendation process. ODFW will work with the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) to identify nine or less marine reserve 'study areas' by Jan 1, 2009. The nomination process will be supported by local nearshore action teams, comprised of coastal residents, ocean users, and other interested parties. Marine reserves are places in the ocean that are protected from human impacts, including extraction and habitat damage. Science shows that reserves almost always result in greater abundance, size, and diversity of marine organisms inside their boundaries. Please join a coalition of ocean users that's participating and supporting this process. On April 21, the OPAC Marine Reserve Workgroup will meet in Lincoln City with opportunities for public comment. For more info on Oregon's planning process http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net/. For info to get involved pstauffer@surfrider.org.WAVE ENERGY NEWS
The State of Oregon and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate procedures for review of wave energy projects in state waters. The agreement should provide Oregons state agencies and coastal communities with an enhanced role in wave energy planning to ensure that projects are sited thoughtfully and minimize impacts to the environment and ocean users. We thank the Governor for his leadership on this important issue! In other news, Oceanlinx recently withdrew their permit application for a project off Florence. Surfriders Florence Organizing Committee had filed a Motion of Intervention on this project, citing environmental, aesthetic, recreational, and public safety concerns with the project as proposed. Congrats to Gus and the rest of the Florence crew on this victory! Finally, Surfrider continues to participate in a settlement process with Ocean Power Technologies, state and federal agencies, and other stakeholders to agree on terms for installation of 1o wave energy buoys off Reedsport. Key elements include scientific monitoring and an adaptive managment program. Surfrider supports renewable energy, but we want to make sure projects minimize impacts to the ocean environment and are sited thoughfully. To read Oregon Chapters Statement on Wave Energy: http://www.surfrider.org/oregon/issues.htmlFriday, March 28, 2008
Surfrider Provides Input on Pulp Mill Permit
Newport, OR - The Surfrider Foundation today submitted a report to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with formal recommendations for strengthening the wastewater permit of the Georgia Pacific Pulp and Paper Mill in Toledo. The report is intended to support DEQs ongoing reconsideration of the Georgia Pacific permit, and bring the agency closer to compliance with state and federal laws that protect water quality. Some of the reports recommendations focus on the need for enhanced monitoring of marine species and the nearshore environment near the mills ocean outfall. Other recommendations provide guidance and data resources for improving scientific analyses used to evaluate potential ecological and public health impacts. The primary outfall of the mill is located 3,800 feet off Nye Beach and the facility releases an average of 11 million gallons a day of treated wastewater in the vicinity of important recreational areas and fishing grounds (see photo). Back in September 2006, Surfrider and four other organizations formally petitioned DEQ to reconsider the terms of the NPDES wastewater permit of the Georgia Pacific mill. DEQ accepted the Petition on October 18th, 2006 and has been working to complete the reconsideration since then. Sufriders Environmental Issues Team has recently met with DEQ staff on this issue and is committed to providing constructive input to support the reconsideration process. To read the full report, please click here:WORD Doc.: Surfrider_ScienceBasedRecommendations_GP_Mill_NPDES_Final.doc
PDF: Surfrider_ScienceBasedRecommendations_GP_Mill_NPDES_Final.pdf
Thursday, March 27, 2008
BEACH ACT REAUTHORIZATION
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Congress is considering a bill that would increase funding for water quality monitoring at recreational beaches, and would also help states utilize the latest technology to test beach waters for contaminants. H.R. 2537 would reauthorize the BEACH Act of 2000 and require EPA to approve rapid contaminant testing methods so authorities can quickly close beaches to the public. Current water quality monitoring tests only for bacteria levels and takes 24 to 48 hours to produce reliable results, leaving beachgoers in danger in the interim period. The new technology would allow authorities to detect contaminants within six hours. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), increases money for state water quality grants from $30 million to $40 million through 2012. It also expands the scope of the grants to include pollution source tracking and prevention efforts. If you haven't already, please complete the action alert to let your elected officials know you support water quality http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/beachact_2007Sunday, March 23, 2008
Beach Preservation
This has been a stormy winter on the Oregon coast! Due to consistently higher than average surf over the past few months, Oregons beaches have eroded significantly more than usual, particularly on the north coast. The most notable erosion occurred during storms in December and January when wave heights reached 45 feet. While loss of beach sand is normal during the winter months, this seaons loss appears to be part of a longer term trend of beach retreat that extends back at least a decade. Experts have correlated this trend with a cycle of bigger waves and more frequent storms. The current beach erosion issues underscore the need for effective coastal planning, including adequate setbacks of shoreline structures so that armoring of dunes and bluffs is unnecessary. So far this winter, Oregon State Parks has issued emergency permits to emplace riprap on the beach in front of ten properties in Rockaway Beach and three in Neskowin. Surfrider is currently working to ramp up our commitment to shoreline preservation, including education and grassroots activism. To read more about our position on shoreline preservation http://www.surfrider.org/oregon/issues.htmlTuesday, March 18, 2008
OPAC in NEWPORT
On March 27-28, the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) will hold meetings in Newport on marine reserve planning and wave energy development. On Thurs morning, the Marine Reserve Work Group will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m, with public comments taken at 12:30. On Thurs afternoon, the Wave Energy Work Group will meet from 4:30 to 5:30pm with public comments taken at the end. On Friday, the full OPAC will convene from 8:30 - 5pm with public comments at 1pm. All meetings will be held at the Agate Beach Best Western (3019 North Coast Hwy). Please come out to speak in support of Oregon's marine reserve planning effort and responsible practices for wave energy development! For more info and OPAC agenda: http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net/Saturday, March 15, 2008
CLEAN WATER CLASSIC: MAY 16-18
Registration is now open for the 2008 Clean Water Classic to be held in Westport, WA on May 16-18! The Clean Water Classic is Surfrider's annual surfing contest that raises crucial funds for our chapters in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Weekend will feature great surfing, ocean education, silent auction, live music, raffle, and collection of some of the coolest folks in PNW. Openings remain in all divisions including Pro-Am, Mens, Womens, Masters, Juniors, Keiki, and Stand-Up Paddle. Every surfer that enters receives free Surfrider membership! We are doing online registration this year, so please sign up at event website: http://www.cleanwaterclassic.com/. Also, volunteers are desperately needed to help us staff event. Please contact your chapter's volunteer coordinator to sign up! Thanks to Global Surf Industries and the rest of our sponsors. See ya there! (photo: Pro-Am winners from 2006: Peter Devries (R) and 2007: Noah Cohen (L)Friday, March 14, 2008
WATER QUALITY VICTORY - NEWPORT!
In late February, the Newport City Council voted 7-0 in favor of a watershed protection ordinance, stormwater utility and disconnect program, pet waste ordinance, and nuisance ordinances protecting the watershed to name a few. This package of water quality measures was heavily based on recommendations provided by Surfriders Central Coast Chapter. The watershed management ordinances and codes were sent back and forth to the council workgroup sessions 3 times before finally passing all recommendations made by the chapter. Additionally, the Dept of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently accepted chapter and city plans for a supplemental environmental project (SEP) for a biopond and DNA testing along Nye Creek. The project will begin this summer and end in the fall of 2009. This spring the chapter will be launching a new campaign (Stop the Sewage), in light of sewer and stormwater cross-connects discovered during the chapter and citys source ID testing this winter. The codes are in place now to enforce this important issue and the chapter and city of Newport have begun a smoke and dye testing project aimed at identifying the households in violation.Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Beach Cleanups Are Coming March 29!
Please let us know if you'd like to help us volunteer or captain a clean up site for the annual event on Saturday, March 29th!Surfrider Volunteer Contacts for Captain and Volunteer Coordination:
North Coast: Jocelyn Gary at garyjocelyn@gmail.com
Mid Coast: Beth Wiley at wileybe@onid.orst.edu
Yachats to Florence: Gus Gates at ggates@surfrider.org
For more information on the SOLV Spring Beach Cleanup:
http://www.solv.org/programs/spring_beach_cleanup.asp
Friday, February 22, 2008
PORT ORFORD WATER FESTIVAL
The Port Orford Ocean Resource Team and Surfrider Foundation present the Port Orford Water Festival 2008! The first annual Water Festival will be held on March 7-8th at the Community Center in Port Orford. Come learn about the ocean, the rivers, and the people protecting them by visiting a variety of display booths! Dissect a fish, win the scavenger hunt, and learn to fish on the mighty Elk River! Take a walk down to the dock and learn about the boats and the port. Come play with some of the creatures that live under the sea. Learn about Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force Program in Port Orford. The Festival will kick off at 6pm Friday with our keynote speaker Dr. Jane Lubchenco, who will be speaking at the Savoy Theater on her paper, 'A New Ocean Ethic'. This is your chance to learn more about our water resources and how to protect them! All activities are free! For more information, or to volunteer at the event, contact pstauffer@surfrider.org . Click here for more info: Kid%27s_flyer.pdfThursday, February 14, 2008
Surfrider Portland Launches Astoria Lab!
This fall the Surfrider Foundation Portland chapter moved their Blue Water Task Force to Astoria High School's Applied Science Center. Over the course of the first semester, Astoria High science teacher Tim Roth worked to get the lab up and running and develop the program into his cellular biology unit's curriculum. With the assistance of local volunteers, Astoria high school students will be running water quality samples for some of the most popular recreational beaches from Oswald West to Astoria. Volunteers are needed to help pick up samples! Water sampling is a fun and easy way to volunteer. Samples are collected on Monday mornings and dropped off at Cold Water Surf Shop by Noon. Contact and further volunteer information can be found at: http://www.surfrider.org/oregon/volunteers.html#PORTLAND. Major kudos to Mark "Finger" Taylor and Cold Water Surf for this great partnership!Friday, February 01, 2008
Marine Reserves: Listening & Learning
Oregon Sea Grant is organizing an outreach effort to inform the public about marine reserves and gather feedback about the concept and the process. Public Forums are being held in coastal communities this month and a complete schedule is on our event calendar. The results will be compiled and forwarded to OPAC for use as they finalize an Oregon Marine Reserve Policy guidance document later in 2008. During Phase 1 (Jan-March) Sea Grant will conduct listening and information-gathering in communities on the Oregon coast. One desired outcome is the formation of local working groups to further study the issue and, if they choose, nominate areas in their regions as potential marine reserves. During Phase 2, (April-June) Oregon Sea Grant will support local working groups and assist OPAC and the state in communicating with the public about the marine reserve nomination process. Be sure to check out the website http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/outreach/reserves.html for more info on how to get involved. And please email marinereserves@oregonstate.edu to provide your input - make your voice heard!
