Surfrider Foundation Portland Chapter
Members present:
Garren Watkins
Markus Mead
Melissa Gilbert
Phillip Johnson
Rob Dies
Andi Bernard
Alison Cliath
Katie Breene
Haley Brown
Tina Torri
Meg Meradith
Beth Gergick
Carey Doyle
Ariel Frager
Rob Williams
Greg Misslin
1. Introductions
2. Clean Water Classic Surf Contest Review
This was the third annual benefit contest for the Washington Surfrider Chapters. It raised a substantial amount for each chapter and was an extremely well-run, successful event - way to go Jodi and the rest of the Washington volunteers!!
3. Vegetate – March 12-14th – this weekend!
Vegetate is a party up at Mount Hood Meadows to raise money to replant wild-flowers and other types of vegetation on the mountain for the non-ski-focussed/summer months. Meadows will kick down two free passes for the Surfrider volunteers. The booth will be in a great area, right near the half-pipe competition. We are being sponsored by Gorge Performance (thank you Bob Reuter!!!) – for the cost of the booth. Competitions are women’s and men’s – with a rail exhibition on Saturday night. For more information or to volunteer contact Katie at ktbreene@hotmail.com.
4. Tri-fold and Calendar
The goal is to have the tri-fold and calendar completed and printed by our next meeting for folding and mailing. The calendar awaits a few more dates and confirmation of events, it will then be passed on to Matthew for ‘beautification’ and printing. The tri-fold is in its final stages of review and printing.
5. Beach Protection Issues in Oregon – Phillip Johnson
Phillip is with the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and director of the CoastWatch program and will be discussing the current controversy over the state’s plan for Oregon’s beaches and protection measures for the Snowy Plover.
Thank you for opportunity to speak with your group.
Part of the problem is the number of people enjoying the Oregon coast. In the past it was not a problem to gather starfish or ride horses on the beach. But with the number of people who want to participate in these activities now, it is difficult to keep the environment intact while allowing these activities to continue unregulated.
There is a habitat conservation plan for the snowy plover. The important thing to remember is that some plan has to be done. The snowy plover is on the endangered species list. If the plan is rejected and the state does not come up with a plan, the government will come in and close down areas for us. If someone disrupts a plover nest, the state will be liable if there is no state plan in place… so something needs to happen. As is the case with endangered animals and vegetation, when you protect the animal, you are also protecting the area. There is an overall benefit of protecting the entire coast and area. We hope that you will write comments to the state, even simply stating ‘we support the plan as written.’
Send comments to:
Kathy Schutt – OPRD
725 Summer Street, NE, Suite C
Salem, OR 97301
View USMP plan at:
www.prd.state.or.us/osmp_hcp.php
All comments need to be in by March 19th.
There are many people against this issue due to erroneous facts being circulated. No beach will be entirely closed. There are 15 areas called emphasis areas – where there will be restrictions such as no vehicles, and dogs during the nesting season.
The last two hearings are coming up for this issue. Please come and participate:
· Pacific City – Kiwanda Senior Center – 7pm, Tuesday March 16th. This will be the heated hearing with many opponents to the plan, so get there early to find a parking space
· Tillamook High School – Wednesday the 17th, 7pm.
Please advocate for a policy by which the Oregon shoreline will not be degraded any further. If you have any specific comments about areas, in general, that should be protected from degradation please include them. If you have specific thoughts on protection from what (vehicles, pets, camping) and how (access roads, trash receptacles, footpaths) also include them.
All of the planning includes a balance for recreation and natural resource protection. But what 95-98% of us want to do, does not disturb the habitats – surfing, reading and walking on the beach, flying kites, etc. so there is not a conflict with the majority of us. It is the ATV bikers and the recreational miners who want to be able to do damaging things like these, and these are only 2-4% of the population. This is motorized destructive recreation.
We also feel other habitats and endangered species should be included in this plan. It should not be so plover-centric and be more overall for the Oregon natural resource areas on the coast. Other comments can include vehicles on the beach, prohibiting commercial removal of resources from the beach (driftwood, gravel and sand), day use fees, camping – day camping verses car camping, …
Other things Surfrider may be interesting in getting involved with is ripwrap and other beach structures. If there is an area you are particularly concerned about and would like to be on a mailing list or give comments, contact Steve Williams at steve.williams@state.or.us.
CoastWatch Mile-by-Mile Program is an adopt-a-mile volunteer program along the Oregon Coast . Volunteers who adopt-a-mile watch for issues in their adopted mile that need to be brought to the attention of the general public. Environmental or regulatory issues, etc. We invite all of you to participate with us.
As a windsurfer I know that there is an area that is being considered in the plan as a protected area for the Snowy Plover that windsurfers use for recreation. The plan would restrict access for windsurfers. How do we work with this?
It is important to include comments about areas that you know about. If there is an area where windsurfing is quite good and popular, let the committee know this. Suggest building a walking path to the beach so as to disrupt the snowy plovers and the habitat as little as possible while still having access to the area you are concerned about. The state needs to protect the snowy plover and the coastal habitat, but exactly where and how is up for consideration. Let them know your support for protecting our coastlines, but your concern with that particular area.
7. Opens
· Mother Ocean Day. Melissa has been playing phone tag with the park service in Cannon Beach, but they are excited about our event. Details regarding permits, waved entrance fees, etc are still being worked out. Please contact Melissa (mgilbert@mesd.k12.or.us) or Tina (tiamotina@cs.com) for more information or to volunteer for this event.
· Logo – Jesse has been working on a logo for the Portland chapter that integrates the mountain, rivers, and ocean. It has been very well received by volunteers. Please contact Rob (portlandsurfrider@hotmail.com) to view the logos and give input.
· Drew Kampion has offered to have a historic surf slide show presentation and showing of the surf movie Litmus at the Ecotust Building, as a fundraiser for the Portland Chapter. Patagonia has given us one of their reserved dates for the building, meaning it will not cost us anything. It will need promoting and attendance. Date TBA. Please contact Haley (haleymarie9@hotmail.com) or Melissa (mgilbert@mesd.k12.or.us) to volunteer or be involved in this event.
- Carey is OLCC licensed and can bartend.
- Tina will make cookies for a bake-sale/donation.
- Ariel will talk with the owners of Hot Lips Pizza for donated pizza or a donation to Surfrider on pizza sales the evening of the event.
· There will not be a PNW Training Conference this year. Instead there will be a Regional Conference in the summer and we are trying to get the executive council members down to California for this conference.
· The Washington Chapters are putting together a PNW newsletter and we have been invited to join them in this venture. For the first issue we will only need to provide some text.
· There was a sewage spill in Yaquina Bay in Newport over the weekend. No one knows why or how it happened. Our water testing kits for Newport are dismantled and in transit so we were not able to test the water after the spill.
Thank you to the Lucky Lab for continuing to allow us to meet here. Please support them by purchasing food and drink!
6. Calendar of Events
For more information contact: haleymarie9@hotmail.com or mgilbert@mesd.k12.or.us.
11-14th Vegetate. Mt. Hood. Superpipe and freestyle competition. A benefit to raise funds to replant native wildflowers on the mountain in the off-season. We plan to have a booth. Contact Katie to volunteer ktbreene@hotmail.com.
3 Road Clean Up. Meet us (and the Oregon Hanggliding Association) at the Moolack Beach parking lot at 11am to help us clean up our adopted stretch of the Coast Highway. Please bring gloves and appropriate clothing.
13 Portland Chapter Meeting, 7pm, Southeast Lucky Lab Pub.
21-22 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Snowrider volunteers will have a booth.
It will be at REI in the Pearl District. For more information or to volunteer contact Butch @ butch.bannon@comcast.net.
23-25 Oregon Surfrider Retreat, Coos Bay, OR. Join the executive councils and active volunteers from all of the Oregon chapters and organizing committees for this annual working retreat.
May
8 Mother Ocean Day. Indian Beach in Ecola State Park. Celebrate the ocean with us the day before Mother’s Day with a beach clean up at noon, and an informal family-oriented sandcastle contest at 2pm.
11 Portland Meeting. 7pm. Lucky Lab on SE Hawthorne.
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 at 7:00pm.
Lucky Lab Pub on SE Hawthorne Blvd