Shaping Room

STUDENTS COMPETE IN FIRST "I LOVE RINCÓN" POETRY & ART CONTEST

Rincón, PR - Students from the Manuel García Pérez High School were invited to participate in the first "I Love Rincón" Art & Poetry Contest. The contest was organized as part of Surfrider's ongoing education efforts in Rincón and provided students with the opportunity to express their feelings about this small coastal town and the magic of its natural resources.

 

 

 

The winners from the two categories, illustration and poetry, were announced on May 26 at the high school. Two of the winning art pieces were also converted into murals and were painted on high school walls by the winning artists with the help of some of their classmates.

 

Illustration/Painting Winners:

 

1st Prize - José Castro, 2nd Place - Deyson Lorenzo Rìos, 3rd Place- Natasha M. Muñiz

 

Poetry Winners:

 

1st Prize - Katia González Lorenzo, 2nd Place - José Ezequiel Santiago, 3rd Place - Roniel Mercado Chaparro

 

In addition to prize bags that included Surfrider memberships, t-shirts, underwater cameras, stickers and Tres Palmas Marine Reserve posters, the winners are invited on a private sail and snorkel trip by Katarina Sail Charters www.sailrinconpuertorico.com. For many students, the snorkel trip on Capt. Billy Bonbright and Tiffany Barry's Katarina will be their first "sea adventure". The June 5th excursion will allow the students to experience the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve firsthand from a new perspective. Students will learn about sailing, can help sail the vessel, will take underwater photos and share the experience with other winners while enjoying the Reserve. Congratulations to all the winners and keep the creative juices flowing.

 

 

Thanks to all the sponsors that made this contest possible: Katarina Sail Charters www.sailrinconpuertorico.com, Manuel García Perez High School and in particular Annette Blasini, Environmental Studies teacher Brenda Cardona and Math teacher Sonia Soto, Club C.E.S.A and Carlos Carrero.

NW Straits Chapter Races with Watershed Message

On Sunday the NW Straits Chapter raced in one of the Pacific Northwest's premier multi-sports race, Ski To Sea (www.skitosea.com) and used it as part of their snowrider project.  In partnership with Publicis the chapter put together a watershed message to accompany them as they raced from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay.  Organized by Volunteer Coordinator Brianne Silbaugh, the team included a cross country ski, downhill ski, run, road bike, canoe, mountain bike and sea kayak.  "We wanted to use the race - from mountain to the sea, as an educational tool.  It fits perfectly with the goals of our Snowrider Project" said Abigail McKinley, the chapter's Snowrider Project Coordinator.  The shirts read, "If We Lost Today Its Only Because We Stopped To Pick Up Trash."  Followed by, "The way we treat this watershed directly affects our environment downstream where we live and play".

When the Surf's Up, and Gone (The New York Times, John Weber)

Bradley Beach, N.J.

COASTAL towns and cities all around America are deciding whether to let the government pay 90 percent of the cost of having the Army Corps of Engineers protect property along their shore by dredging and pumping sand to replenish beaches that have suffered from decades of erosion and overdevelopment. With sea levels rising and stronger, more frequent storms all but certain, how can communities pass up this offer?

Recently, though, the City Council of Long Beach, the largest coastal community in Nassau County, voted unanimously against a corps proposal to protect them from storms.

more      http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/opinion/nyregionopinions/28LIweber.html

OP chapter responsds to 4 million gallon/day raw sewage spill...

The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation released the following statement yesterday after a massive overflow of raw sewage from Port Angeles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The spill representd the first time that many of the central Straits beaches have been closed due to a public health risk.  The spill is amongst the biggest in our area for some time.

Contacts:

 

Arnold Schouten

Chair, Olympic Peninsula Chapter

arndeb@olypen.com

360 452 9546

 

Surfrider Foundation Response to the Port Angeles Sewage Spill

 

 

Monday’s sewage pipe break on Valley Creek along the Port Angeles Waterfront was an incredibly embarrassing and unfortunate event for the City of Port Angeles.  The City of Port Angeles has been working for some years to address its aging sewage and stormwater infrastructure.  The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation supports this effort in the hopes that Monday’s spill, and others like it in the recent past, will be eliminated.  This spill is not the first - in 2005 the city reported 110 overflows into Port Angeles Harbor, discharging a total of over 33 million gallons of pollution into Port Angeles Harbor and adjacent waters (source:  www.cityofpa.us/pwcso.htm).

 

Monday’s spill leads us to call upon the City of Port Angeles to immediately address outstanding maintenance and repairs issues.  We offer our support and encouragement, through volunteer monitoring or other means, to that effort. 

 

Incidents like this spill do pose environmental health risks.  While not of the magnitude of an oil spill, sewage does contain nutrients, toxins and oils that can damage coastal ecosystems, fish and birds.  The public health impacts are also significant.  This incident represents the first public health closures of many of the Central Straits most highly-used beaches.  We support any and all efforts on the part of the City of Port Angeles such that this incident is the last of its kind. 

 

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 62 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil.

 

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L.A. County Replete With State's Dirtiest Beaches (LA Times)

Summer beachgoers should pack caution along with sunscreen and towels now that an environmental group has rated Los Angeles-area shores the most polluted coastal waters in California.

In an annual statewide beach survey released Wednesday by Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay, most of the 10 most polluted beaches are in Los Angeles County, including the five worst in the state.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-beach25may25,0,2394906.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Beautiful Son: A message greater than the ocean?

Many of us that have ridden a wave understand how special it is. We've shaped our lives so that we can have perhaps the richest lives possible by living in coastal communities, traveling to far lands and experiencing local cultures.

 

But not all of us have the same ability to have such majestic experiences.

 

I was just made aware of a film being made about Don King’s son Beau, who has autism.

 

Don King is among the crème de la crème of ocean photographers/cinematographers. He has shared some of the most amazing perspectives our vast oceans have to offer… and yet his son has autism so sharing these same experiences with his son is probably more challenging than most of us might imagine. I know this as my son has autism as well.

 

Today 1 in 166 children are diagnosed with autism, that’s a sixty-fold increase from 1987.

 

In the same way that waterwoman Rell Sun’s life became a message that lived on in the film “Heart of the Sea” an equally powerful message is being captured in the film “Beautiful Son: A documentary about healing autism”

 

A simple way for you to support this noble effort is to come alongside those that are supporting this film. One simple way to support this effort is to support Laird Hamilton’s newest project, a crossing from London to Paris, which is being done to raise funds to finish this film. More information and donate here.

 

The ocean is a thing of wonder, so are our families. Let’s work together to support and protect those things that matter most.

 

Jim Moriarty

Executive Director

 

San Diego County Chapter's Art Gala was a huge success.

The 6th Annual Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter Art Gala went down in fine style last thursday at the Powerhouse in Del Mar.  The consensus is that a good time was had by all and we were able to raise well over $25,000 for our local chapter!!  May thanks to all of the artists that donated, the volunteers that helped and everyone that attended.  Click here for some of the photos coutesy of www.70percent.org

For any info on how to set up something similar for your chapter, feel free to email me,  bill@surfridersd.org

Bill Hickman

Chapter Coordinator

San Diego County Chapter

 

Treasure Coast FL Chapter

By SUZANNE WENTLEY suzanne.wentley@scripps.com May 23, 2006 STUART — With hundreds of flyers sent to voters throughout the Treasure Coast, state Sen. Ken Pruitt on Monday said he is working with surfers to defeat a controversial sand project. Less than two weeks after two public meetings called by the Army Corps of Engineers described a plan to use sand off Treasure Coast beaches for restoring a Miami-Dade coastline, Pruitt initiated a grassroots effort to stop the corps from even studying the idea. Advertisement "This is a call to action," he said. "There's no stronger voice than when the masses come together. I feel the people are going to mobilize around this. We're going to band together." On Monday, Pruitt said he planned to attend a Treasure Coast Surfrider Foundation meeting where the proposal — to dredge more than a million cubic yards of sand from a nearby shoal to renourish 13 miles of Miami-Dade beaches — will be discussed. Pruitt said he hoped to be one of the first people to sign the Surfrider petition against the project, and he's also asked voters to send in their signature on a postcard attached to the flyer. "If it takes us going out with boats, we've got to stop this," he said. "Once this begins, there will be no stopping this. Once they take the first grain of sand, that's it." Pruitt, who is in line to be the next Senate president, said he also will work with other legislators to stop any state funding requested for the project. He said he's lost respect for the Army Corps of Engineers, which still is accepting comments on the proposal until May 31 at Terri.L.Jordan@ usace.army.mil. "I don't trust them anymore. We're tired of their stonewalling," he said. "They want to come up and ruin our resources? I don't think so." If you go What: Surfrider Foundation meeting Where: The Refuge, 2196 Ocean Blvd. in Stuart When: 7 p.m. today

Bacteria in Sand - A Problem?

Researchers at UCLA just released a study that found the same bacteria that we use as an indicator for water quality is often found in beach sand, even when it is not found in the water.  The problem seems to be particularly acute at "enclosed" beaches where parents often bring their small children to play.  Is this a problem?  Are the bacteria in the sand associated with the presence of pathogens that cause disease or not? No one knows at this point and more studies will surely follow.

Rick Wilson

By Gary Polakovic
Times Staff Writer

May 23, 2006

Polluted water isn't the only health threat for Southern California beachgoers: The sand at some of the region's most popular beaches can be laced with bacteria even when the water is clean.

A UCLA study to be released today of Santa Monica Bay beaches from Malibu to Redondo shows that, although water bacteria levels may meet state health standards, sand acts as an incubator in which microbes can flourish and contaminate water used by swimmers and surfers.

"It can actually grow in the sand," said Jennifer Jay, UCLA professor of environmental engineering who headed the study. "Even on days when the water is very clean, bacteria is still in the sand for a week. We feel it can be an important exposure route" for contamination.

Researchers found the worst offenders were the sheltered side of Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica Beach near the pier and Topanga Beach in Malibu. Sheltered or enclosed beaches showed persistent elevated levels of bacteria.

Health standards for beach sediment have not been developed, however, so it is difficult to evaluate how much of a health risk these bacteria pose, Jay said. More

"Surf into Summer" Moving from Bowls due to Sewage Spill

Sewage stirs surf contest to move
The Memorial Day amateur event will go to Sandy Beach

By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com
An amateur surf contest that has been held at Ala Moana Bowls on Memorial Day Weekend for the last six years will be held at Sandy Beach this year because of concern about post-sewage spill water quality.

"Surf Into Summer" organizers decided this month to move the 300-contestant event, said Tim Mock, a retail general manager for contest co-sponsor Local Motion.

"We were on the fence" about whether water quality in the wake of a late-March 48 million-gallon sewage spill into the Ala Wai Canal would recover in time for the event, Mock said. "We decided to make the call early, so everyone who was interested would know."

Surfers who have signed up for the event at Sandy Beach have been "split 50-50" over whether they like the change or would rather have the event at Ala Moana Bowls.

Even without water quality concerns, "it's a good reason to try another venue," Mock said.

"Historically, there are a lot of things going on on Magic Island on Memorial Day Weekend," and the Sandy Beach location might offer more room for spectators, he said.

Marvin Heskett, an executive committee member of the Surfrider Foundation, said he believes the contest promoters made the right call because Ala Moana Bowls continues to be posted for contaminated water. The surf spot is where the Ala Wai Canal and Harbor empty into the ocean.

Also still posted in Waikiki are Ala Wai Canal, Harbor and Channel, Magic Island and the Ala Moana Boat Ramp. Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling clubs that long used the Ala Wai Canal for practice have moved to other locations for the year.

The only other location posted for sewage contamination in the state is Kualoa Regional Park, where a malfunctioning restroom is believed to be the cause of high bacteria levels in the water.

The "Surf Into Summer" contest features competitions for amateur surfers of all ages, in shortboard, longboard and bodyboard categories. This year's contest will be held May 27-29 at Sandy Beach, with finals on the last day.

The event started in 1985 at Queen's Beach in Waikiki, then moved to Ala Moana Bowls in 2000, according to event sponsors Local Motion Hawaiian Surf Co. and O'Neill Clothing.

Georgia Pacific Permit - Toledo, Oregon

Final Words From Long Beach, NY

The video link below shows Jeff Kupferman of Long Beach, NY giving a 3 minute speech to wrap up a 3 year campaign on beach replenishment.  He's not a life-long activist, he's a regular guy who probably never went to city hall much before this.  Moments later the entire City Council voted down an Army Corps plan unanimously, 5-0.  Check the SF stickers on members of the crowd.  The text of his speech is below.  Video by Bridget Devane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz53nbO4rpg  If you are not yet familiar with YouTube, it deserves a look.

 

In November of 2004 I attended the ACOE Beach Project informational session at East School. After that meeting, I felt I had no choice but to get involved, and take the public position of opposing this project. You see, that night, I felt my home and community were being threatened.  Be aware that I’m not talking about being threatened from storm, wind, or surge. I’ve been aware of those threats for a long time. All the way back to 1960 when I first moved here and Hurricane Donna arrived just several months after I did. I have chosen to make my home here on this barrier island and am well aware of the risks, as are so many of my neighbors. The threat I felt that night was from a project based on a set of generic guidelines, created by an outside agency with a less than stellar history, and apparent little knowledge or regard for our community.

 

Attending the Council Meetings this past year has been an education. I’ve almost learned how to make my point in three minutes.  Particularly though, I have learned what a difficult job each of you has. Your job entails making decisions with life long and life altering consequences.  You are our elected officials. You were elected to carry out the will of the people who trusted you enough to put you in office.

 

We the people of this community as well as those who visit our community have made it clear that we do not want this project as it is. We have done so with petitions, letters, co-op resolutions, postcards, phone calls, emails, and a room with over 500 people. The message was crystal clear. We oppose a project that pumps dredged materials on our beaches and into our swimming and surfzones. We oppose an expensive project that by the Corps’ own admission will not protect us from the big one, especially when our City has so many other critical financial needs.

The Surfrider Foundation’s six point plan was an attempt to participate in a way that would address the safety issue as well as meet the environmental and recreational needs of the community. Unfortunately, our most critical points were ignored. The Corps has made it clear. No jetties or barrier without the sand on the beaches and in the surfzone. Take it or leave it. 

 

We oppose entering into an agreement with the Federal Government with the mindset that because we like certain parts of the project, we’ll take a chance on the whole thing, or take the risk of attempting to modify it during implementation. That in itself would be madness.  And, we oppose a project motivated by fear, politics, and misinformation, as was just coincidentally, attempted today in the NY Times.  The five of you were chosen to represent and lead this community. The voice of the people has been loud and clear.

 

If you’ve been listening, you know you have no choice but to vote no on this project.  

 

Thank you.

 

Jeff Kupferman

May 04, 2006

 

San Diego County Chapter presents it's Sixth Annual Art Gala.

Set amid ocean breezes and the sound of crashing waves, an evening of beautiful art, fine food and drink, and coastal conservation will combine in an upscale affair when the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation hosts its Sixth Annual Art Gala, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday, May 18 at the Del Mar Powerhouse, 1658 Coast Blvd. in Del Mar.

The environmentally inspired event will include silent and live auctions of ocean and surf artwork from renowned local and national artists including Aaron Chang, Leroy Grannis, Michael Cassidy, Wade Koniakowski, Nicholas Mirandon, Drew Brophy, Jeff Yeomans, Susie Ferry, Tony Spineto,  John Sterling, Don Doerfler, Jorge Macfarland, Stephen King and Shag.

Attendees can also bid on surf resort stays, a shape your own board experience, 'Eat For a Year' San Diego County dining package, and other items. Food from restaurants throughout San Diego County will be available, as well as beer and wine from select local and brewers and vintners.

The evening's program will include an awards ceremony recognizing San Diego County individuals' and businesses' contributions to protecting the coastal environment, speeches by local environmental leaders, a slide show, live music and dancing.

Proceeds from the ticket sales and auctions fund the chapter and local programs including water quality testing, education outreach, beach cleanups, pollution monitoring and advocacy efforts.

Touring Florida: A1A, dozers and the land of world champs

One of the most intelligent things I’ve done since taking over the Executive Director position is to leave the office and spend time understanding regional issues. This past week I toured the east coast of Florida to do just that with one of our newest staff additions; Florida Regional Manager Ericka D’Avanzo.

 

To paint a picture of why Surfrider exists… a woman walks up to a few of us as we walked the beach in Lake Worth and asked if we lived there. Tom, our local Palm Beach County chapter chair, responded “yes”. What followed was an exchange of the woman asking what had happened to the beach she grew up on, the beach her mom grew upon… why it had been buried with black silt dunes and mud dumped on the tide pools her son played in (and she played in… and her mom played in… which are now lifeless). She didn’t know where to turn to understand what was happening, her mom now wanted to move for the first time in her life due to the radical changes to her once pristine beach. It was moving to see the emotion in her face. This story is why we exist.

 

These are the stories I hear as I tour our 64 chapter network in the United States. The following is a brief overview of the eastern Florida chapters.

 

The first stop- Jacksonville. One of the larger issues hitting Florida is overdevelopment. I think a person could perch atop a high building and take stop-action photos to capture buildings going up in real time. Of all the areas I’ve been to in this job and otherwise, I’m not sure I’ve seen the cadence and appetite for development than what is hitting the Florida coast.

 

With large-scale McMansions going up daily, one could guess that beach access is probably also an issue…that guess would be right.

 

Below are Scott Shine and Larry Hart, representing some core members of the First Coast Surfrider Foundation Chapter. They are vigilant about protecting beach access all along this changing coast.

 

(Note: pictures are low quality due to the fact I took them on my phone)

 

 

This second photo is a close up of the sign. I happen to love the words “Access maintained by” and then the image of our logo.

 

 

Next stop was New Smyrna Beach. Here is Ericka and Randy Richtenberg standing in front of a navigational groin project we have been challenging with success. The Army Corps wanted to extend it, but it would shadow the few top areas that break in New Smyrna. For those that haven’t been to this part of the world, Florida is a very flat coast. Anything that causes sand to clump into sand bars is seen as most positive. As I was standing in this spot I could literally see spinner sharks jump out of the water as they were feeding and spawning. New Smyrna is shark bite capital of the Florida, due to the water being somewhat cloudy from to fine sand grains moving around in currents and the bait moving out of the inlet.

 

Interestingly, Randy started out as a surfboard shaper and today is a well respected Commissioner, another indicator that our constituency is deeply involved in coastal communities and issues. Randy is interested in having New Smyrna, as a city, become the first “Surfrider charter city” where they would align their municipal principals with Surfrider’s tenets for coastal conservation.

 

 

If driving on the beach isn’t novel enough, how about coming up on speed limit signs?

 

Driving on the beach, in many areas, is seen as environmentally taxing. This issue is somewhat illustrative of our challenge with coming alongside locals and understanding their cultures, norms and beach environments and yet not leaving our core mantra of protecting and enjoying oceans waves and beaches.

 

The solution in New Smyrna is to take advantage of their extremely wide beaches and designate a small passageway for people to drive. The photo I’m not showing you is Ericka getting stuck in her rental car.

 

 

Next stop was Cocoa Beach. The picture below is Rick Hayes with fly-away hair. The issue in Cocoa Beach is with historical surf access at the pier (in the background of this photo.) The owner of the pier is trying to severely limit the areas that surfers can use. Due to fact that this pier is one of the few places that trap sand, it’s one of the few places surfers can surf. The Sebastian Inlet chapter is working with locals to protect access to surf at this location.

 

 

After visiting Kelly Slater Street, a few miles down the road, we stopped in to see what can only really be understood by standing on a mound of sand and seeing a loud, massive beach armoring process taking place. They are putting in large tubes filled with sand (Erika has dubbed them “sand condoms”) which are being used in lieu of sea walls. Look at how close the buildings are to the ocean, hurricanes routinely spin off shore and hammer these structures. I believe it’s safe to say that the coast of Florida, with the crazy pace of development happening literally on the beach, is a tragedy in the making. Hurricanes coming through this area aren’t a question of “if” but “when” and “how many”.

 

This second picture illustrates that the ‘dozers will essentially do anything to dig, move and pile sand and dirt. The wildlife in and around these areas are impacted tremendously.

 

 

 

 

The famed Sebastian Inlet and first peak was the next stop. This break made me pause and truly understand the significance of this region as it relates to producing the worlds best surfers. This break was a local break for Kelly Slater as well as the Hobgoods. The list of champions from Florida exceeds any other region including Lisa Anderson, Frieda Zamba (the list just keeps going). When we pause and think about the economic value of a beach or a wave it makes sense to take into consideration the amazing, sport-changing talent that has come from these regions.

 

The issue Surfrider Foundation is engaged in at Sebastian Inlet is maintaining these resources and in the near future will be engaging in an economic study of how much surfing is worth to Brevard County. 

 

 

Next stop was Southeast Florida, stopping at Lake Worth (a town name, not a lake). The issue here is incompatible beach fill. Due to the various currents coming together (ie. gulf stream) in this area the sand is large quartz, shells as the picture below beautifully illustrates. The water is as aquamarine teal as I’ve seen (beyond the archipelago outside Venezuela) mostly due to the size and weight of the sand falling to the bottom quite quickly. 

 

 

This is an area of high diversity (turtle nesting, etc) and our fights are to stop poorly managed dredge-and-fill projects like the one in the photo below. Tom Warnke, our local chapter chairman isn’t in a shadow of the building… that is black, ground-up silt that was dumped on the sand as a cheap and ugly form of beach fill.

 

The locals, as you might guess, aren’t pleased. And so we fight.

Jim Moriarty

Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Floatie in the house (Victoria British Columbia)

Yes, it is sad that Mr. Floatie even needs to exist, but as long as he is around, the Surfrider Foundation should be there for him.  On Saturday May 6th the Victoria Organizing Committee in Victoria British Columbia held one of their regularly scheduled beach clean-ups - and Mr. Floatie was there!  Victoria has the distinction of being one of the few remaining major cities in North America that does not treat its sewage, and while the Surfrider Foundation organizing committee (www.surfridervictoria.org) is ramping up its efforts to fight this long-time issue, they are also supporting already on-going efforts.  Mr. Floatie, a creation of People Opposed to Outfall Pollution (POOP - www.poopvictoria.ca), travels around Victoria educating residents and visitors alike to the fate of their ***.  Mr. Floatie even made a run at the mayor position during the last election rounds!

Surfers Return to Bowls & Magic Island Despite Warning Signs

LEILA FUJIMORI / LFUJIMORI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Surfers braved the waters off Magic Island yesterday.

South Shore swell overrides surfer caution
By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com
Many surfers on the South Shore were more interested yesterday in wave quality than water quality.

Wave riders dotted the seascape at Ala Moana Bowls during the first swell of the season.

Yesterday's South Shore surf ranged from 3 to 6 feet, with some sets as high as 7 feet, the National Weather Service said.

Ala Moana Bowls, a popular surf spot, is just beyond the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, into which the Ala Wai Canal feeds. About five weeks have passed since the city diverted 48 million gallons of raw sewage into the canal after a sewer pipe cracked March 24 following heavy rains.

A few surfers hesitated to take the plunge, and some refused to go in yesterday.

"I wouldn't get in the water on the south side of the island for all the tea in China," said surfer Robert Carriles, 49, who admired the waves.

But he noted the "high number of surfers with the south swell."

Carriles has refused to go into the water ever since he went metal detecting with a man who developed a foot infection, possibly from contaminated sand in Waikiki, a few weeks ago.

Surfer Andy Birk, 23, usually surfs the North Shore. But after catching waves just off Magic Island, he walked over to see the crowd at the Ala Moana Bowls area just Diamond Head of Magic Island.

"I'm really tempted," he said. "They still have the signs up. I heard the state said everything is A-OK."

"The frustration is they're kind of quiet about it," he said. "You don't hear it on the news, but the signs reappear."

"Obviously, Bowls would be the most contaminated," Birk said. "It's basically in the (Ala Wai) canal."

One surfer who hopped on his board in the murky Ala Wai Channel to paddle out to join the crowd asked, "What's wrong with this water? It's just water."

Numerous other sewage spills on Oahu during March forced the shutdown of other beaches and waterways.

Signs remained posted yesterday warning the public to keep out of the water and not to swim or fish at the Ala Wai Canal, Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, Ala Wai Channel, Kaneohe Beach Park, Kokokahi Beach and Kualoa Beach.

Department of Health spokesman Kurt Tsue said the bacteria (enterococcus) count in the Ala Wai was at 1,400 colony-forming units, but that is normal for the canal. He said the special warning signs might be replaced with regular caution signs.

Water samples taken Monday showed enterococcus at 100 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters at the Ala Moana Harbor Boat Launch ramp (well above the acceptable level of 7), and it was 60 at the Ala Moana Canoe Launch Ramp. The count was 7 at the Magic Island Finger.

Damien Borja, 19, braved the water, saying it was his first time surfing in the area since the sewage spill.

"I'm full of cuts," he said. "I hope I don't get anything."

Lost Jewel of the Atlantic

Lost Jewel of the Atlantic is a film about the battle that was waged in this small seaside village, where young surfers attempted to stand up for their rights against a government driven by corruption and greed. The surfers were trying to stop an ill-conceived, industry-backed development proposal to place a massive seawall in the village, a project that was certain to damage the island's most famous wave. They fought against government misinformation, general ignorance about their sport, and a hostile local population to make their point heard.



The film chronicles the discovery of surf on the island, the fight to save it, and the concept of surf spots being a valuable coastal resource that should never be destroyed. Weaving thrilling big-wave surfing footage with testimony from some of surfing's greatest industry leaders, Lost Jewel of the Atlantic is a film that touches on a subject that has never before been seen by the public: that surf spots should be preserved like any natural treasure, and that they have a socio-economic value that is often ignored by the world at large.

Check out the trailer.

The Surfrider Foundation is a member of the Save the Waves Coalition, who produced this film.