It's the swing of the dog days of summer, the time for us on the Oregon coast to be outside, on the beach and in the ocean with the whole family! Surfrider's Oregon chapters are making the most of it with an array of surf, beach and stewardship activities underway and tons of great ways to get involved both in and out of the water! Now is a super fun time to volunteer and learn a little more about your local chapter - from youth surf camp instructors and stewardship volunteers to policy advocacy and campaign leadership, we hope you'll join us in our protection of Oregon's ocean, waves and beaches!
-Charlie Plybon, Oregon Policy Manager
Surfrider Helps Keep Oregon Free from Debris this July 4
Surfrider Foundation Chapters celebrated our independence from polluted beaches and waterways this July 4th by organizing heroic efforts to prevent debris prior and clean up the day after. Despite being illegal on Oregon's beaches, fireworks and litter from partying patriots regularly leave a morning mess in our treasured wild spaces. From the Willamette to the coastal beaches, Surfrider chapters organized the removal of thousands of pounds of debris to keep Oregon clean and green this July holiday.
Surfrider Foundation’s North Coast Chapter and Oregon chapter network have launched a campaign battling a development that’s proposed to impact a public beach right-of-way with a personal private “super” driveway. The development, located in iconic Cannon Beach, raises a number of important conflicts to Surfrider’s beach preservation policy, interest to plan and properly adapt for climate change and protect an “access for all” ethos by preserving the public beach right-of-way.
This summer has been full of great opportunities to help Oregon's youth learn to surf and enjoy the ocean while building a strong culture of stewardship and conservation for our special beaches and coastline. Surfrider's Coos Bay Chapter just wrapped up their first camp of the season with more scheduled this month - learn more about how to get involved, sign up your youth or volunteer here.
Following an outcry from Oregon leadership to "pause" offshore wind process in Oregon, the Bureau of Energy Management is caught between meeting federal renewable energy goals and an uprising of more and more powerful state concerns over a more inclusive, ground-up process. So what’s next for offshore wind, how is BOEM responding and where are the Wind Energy Areas gonna fall in Oregon?
Exploring Nature Based Solutions for Oregon’s Beaches
Surfrider Foundation is embarking on exciting coastal resilience projects and campaigns targeted along Oregon's north coast where shoreline erosion is taking a toll on Oregon's public beaches. Surfrider's Save the Shore campaign is aiming to update Cannon Beach's planning codes to promote, and require, nature based solutions that nourish the beach rather than traditional hardened structures like rip rap and seawalls that further erode public beaches. As a pilot and demonstration project, Surfrider is partnering with Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force to implement such a solution for an eroding area of shoreline in Cannon Beach - more to come soon on that project!
Did you know Cascade Head, the Marine Reserve and estuary are all part of a UNESCO Biosphere? By land and sea the Cascade Head Collaborative works with dozens of partners and the public to educate and steward this remarkable place. Often blending art and the environment in their efforts, check out some of their rad offering this month: 08/05: Art on the Beach, Register 08/05: The Great Upwelling Register
Surfrider Foundation National Reports
This summer Surfrider has published a number of great reports including two recent summaries of our Clean Water and Beach Cleanup work. Check em out! 2022 Clean Water Report 2022 Beach Cleanup Report
Did you miss our "Chemical Recycling" Webinar?
Not to worry- we recorded it for you! Learn about the myth of chemical recycling from Graham Hamilton from Break Free From Plastic. Watch here
Upcoming Events!
Every Friday in August, 9:30, Newport– Volunteer at NFK Surf Camp – More info
August 9, 6:00, Siuslaw –Chapter Meeting – More Info
Cleanup Spotlight: at a collaborative cleanup with Foster Outdoor, Surfrider Portland removed 42 lbs of trash and 2,000 cigarette butts! Stay tuned for another cleanup with Foster Outdoor this fall, and thank you to Jubilee Hall PDX for keeping the cleanup crew caffeinated!
A highlight from Surfrider Coos Bay's first surf camp of the summer! The setting was perfect for lots of kids to catch their first wave. Plus, peep the new wetsuit, generously donated by our friends at Rip Curl.
Check out this video shot by Courtney Edwards of the July 5 cleanup paddle at Ross Island. Surfrider Portland removed nearly 500 lbs of trash leftover from the holiday!
