Even during these uncertain and challenging times, our chapters across the nation are still finding a way to progress our mission. Our chapters in California are no exception, and now they are faced with yet another challenge, as much of the state is on fire or covered in smoke. Our thoughts are with the affected communities and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
Now more than ever, it means everything to have the continued dedication of our chapter activists, protecting our ocean, waves and beaches. Surfrider is more than a coastal conservation organization, we are a community of people who care for the coast and each other. Our irreplaceable network of chapter activists are the boots on the ground and issue experts who carry out our mission through campaign, program and educational initiatives in their local communities. We’d like to take a moment to recognize these special people and share the work they are doing.
Here’s a few highlights of what our chapters in Northern and Central California have been up to lately!
Humboldt – Cleaning Up the Samoa Peninsula
The Surfrider Foundation Humboldt Chapter is taking steps to make the Samoa Peninsula safer and cleaner, by working with local community groups and the county to install signs, and manage public restrooms and trash receptacles.
The Samoa Peninsula contains some of the most utilized beaches in Humboldt County, drawing large numbers of surfers, fishermen and beachcombers every day. Due to high usage and illegal camping there is an urgent need for maintaining environmental and human health along the five-mile stretch of the peninsula. View their campaign page HERE
Sonoma Coast – Restoring Recreational Beach Access
During shelter in place, Sonoma County had the most stringent beach access regulations in California. The chapter advocated for re-opening the Sonoma County Coast to recreation through a Call to Action with individual Surfrider members and coast supporters writing letters as well as direct communications from Surfrider leadership to the Board of Supervisors.
This resulted in the Regional Parks, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, county health officials, and the California State Parks developIng a beach access and coastal recreation plan that continues to protect the Sonoma community while also providing the necessary health benefits the coast has to offer. Read the full story HERE
Marin – Hosting Virtual Film Night Event
In celebration of Surfrider’s 36th birthday, our Marin Chapter hosted (with the San Francisco Chapter) a film screening of “Chasing The Thunder,” followed by a film makers and ocean activists Q&A Panel. The award winning feature documentary about Sea Shepherd’s epic 110 day, 10,000 mile chase of the THUNDER, considered the world’s most notorious poaching vessel. A high seas blue water action thriller, this film highlights crimes against the ocean and a group of volunteers risking their lives to protect it.
San Francisco – Holding on to Cigarette Butts
Surfrider San Francisco’s Hold onto Your Butt campaign works to eliminate cigarette butt litter by; partnering with local businesses and government to install buttcans throughout San Francisco, educating that cigarette butts are plastic and toxic, cleaning cigarette butts off beaches and streets and recycling butts through TerraCycle, and advocating for the removal of plastic cigarette filters and the creation of anti-litter policies. Watch their educational and entertaining video HERE and learn more HERE.
San Mateo – Saluting Ocean Friendly Restaurants and First Responders
The San Mateo County Chapter took initiative to publicly acknowledge the continued efforts of their local Ocean Friendly Restaurant partners and local First Responders. While respecting social distancing, their chapter picked up food from local OFRs, Johnston’s Salt Box, and Halfmoon Bay Brewery, and delivered it to the San Carlos EMT and Fire Department, and CA State Parks Lifeguards. “Providing lunch was a small token of Surfrider San Mateo County’s appreciation for First Responders in our community. And it was incredibly uplifting to see local restaurants open for business as they enthusiastically received us behind masks. We thank all First Responders and our OFR partners for what you do. The next time you dine out, look for a participating OFR member sticker on their door, or ask if ordering by phone,” Surfrider San Mateo Chapter. Story HERE.
Santa Cruz – Cowell’s off the Beach Bummer List
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A decade-long campaign to clean up Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz just came to a happy completion, when for the first time in 10 years, Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz is not on Heal The Bay’s “Beach Bummer List”. The removal of Cowell’s Beach from the Beach Bummer list is a testament to the hard work of the Santa Cruz Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force Program, and the passionate group of individuals, community groups and local government working together. Despite this win, the Santa Cruz Chapter and Cowell’s Working Group plan to continue their efforts to improve water quality at Cowell’s, by conducting a public health study, further monitoring water quality and enhancing public understanding of the situation. Read the full story HERE.
Monterey - Cruise Ship Restrictions
Cruise ships, specifically Carnival Cruise lines have become spectacularly adept at accidentally dumping untreated effluent into the ocean. Carnival is on probation for previous spills, and the chapter belive's enough is enough. They have been calling on the City of Monterey to tighten it’s restrictions on allowing Carnival cruise lines and its subsidiaries to dock in Monterey Harbor. Due to current circumstances this process has been stalled but the chapter will continue to monior and engage in it to protect the Montery Bay area.
The Surfrider San Luis Obispo Chapter played a key role in generating overwhelming support for the establishment of the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary. The nomination recently reached it’s five-year review and must be re-evaluated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to remain in the inventory for another five years.
The chapter helped generate public comments to show this area continues to have significant ecological, historical, cultural, recreational, economic, and archaeological significance and deserves to become a sanctuary. As a result of their efforts, over 1,000 comments were submitted to the federal registrar, most of which were in support of the nomination. Find out more about the nomination HERE.