Surfrider SoCal - End of Summer 2011 News

The Santa Barbara and Isla Vista Chapters got off to a good start with their Ocean Friendly Gardens Program with a "Basics Class" last month. Participants learned how to "apply CPR to the landscape" Surfrider is partnering on the series with the City of Santa Barbara and other local water agencies, and was funded by a grant from the California Coastal Commission's Whale Tail License Plate program.  Learn more: http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/santa-barbara-ofg-kicks-off-with-basics-class.  Or e-mail santabarbaraofg@gmail.com.

Surfrider Foundation's Board of Directors tours the Gaviota Coast

Surfrider's Board of Directors recently met in Santa Barbara, which included an under-the-radar tour of the Naples property. With myriad development plans for the Gaviota coast proceeding at various stages, the brass of Surfrider got a behind-the-scenes look thanks to the Santa Barbara Chapter and artist/activist Reeve Woolpert.   Read more in the Santa Barbara Independent.  

You can help!  Sign the Petition to Preserve The Gaviota Coast.

Surfers' Point Managed Shoreline Retreat project ribbon cutting was held on Saturday July 14, 2011.  There's still a lot of work to be done, including construction and vegetation of dunes, swales, completion of the parking lots, bathroom and showers, and more.  The Ventura County Chapter wants to thank the new Ventura Surf Brewery for their support - 3% of sales goes to help with the Surfers' Point project.  See photos and video of the event here.
 

The Long Beach Chapter's effort to "Sink The Breakwater"  involves the completion of a feasibility study (aka the "Long Beach Breakwater (East San Pedro Bay) Ecosystem Restoration Study") by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The study is presently at a standstill due to funding shortages.  In a recent news article in the LB Post, Building the (Long Beach) Breakwater is listed as one of the 10 worst decisions in Long Beach history.

Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter's prize-winning "Tidal Wave of Trash" float.

The Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Chapter’s “Tidal Wave of Trash” float took first place “Best in Show” honors in the 107th Annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade, the largest parade on the West Coast.  As a newcomer to the parade, Surfrider made a big splash with a massive tidal wave “sculpture” constructed out of 580 lbs. of trash made up of plastic bottles, caps and bags, styrofoam cups and plates and other debris that Surfrider volunteer Andre Faubert picked up along the Huntington Beach shoreline. The Chapter calls this the “30/30 Experiment Project” because Faubert gathered the trash for 30 days and 30 hours.  http://hsbsurfrider.org/category/blog-8-3030-experiment/.  The float was sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, and the music was provided by “The Fabulous Nomads."

South Orange County Chapter fights for access at Strands Gate in Dana Point

Surfrider Foundation's South Orange County Chapter continues to prioritize the "Strandsgate" beach access campaign involving the unlawful gates erected at Strands beach in Dana Point.  Late in July, several members of the community spoke out at the City of Dana Point's city council meeting, reminding the council members about Judge Joan Lewis' ruling in early June which has been ignored by the City to date.  Specifically, the order stated that the city acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" when it enacted an emergency ordinance used as a rouse to help developer Headlands LLC, Sanford Edward, to put up gates and issue "bankers hours" of use.   The Chapter’s online petition gathered over 2,000 signatures in less than one week.   Please make sure to weigh in and sign the petition.   http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4472.  Like us on our Facebook Page at Strands Gate.  

San Diego Chapter activists came out to support our Rise Above Plastics Day

 

San Diego Chapter volunteers participated in Rise Above Plastics Day on June 29^th at Patagonia in Cardiff and the Farmers Market in Ocean Beach.  The concept behind this day was to educate local citizens about the adverse affects of single use plastics on our marine and coastal environments.  Volunteers were on site handing out reusable produce bags to those who signed the petition in support of SB568, which seeks to ban polystyrene take-out containers in the state of California.  Nearly 400 volunteers from the Chapter, San Diego Coastkeeper and I Love a Clean San Diego joined forces to tidy up the beaches the day after the busiest holiday weekend of the year.   Called the “Morning After Mess” their annual cleanup resulted in over 2000 lbs of garbage, including 480 lbs of recycling and 6957 cigarette butts.  The hardest hit site this year was Ocean Beach, which suffered from the aftermath of the annual marshmallow fight.   The Chapter also organized the first-ever lawn patrol in Imperial Beach on Sunday, July 17th.  The patrol started at the Tijuana River Estuary Visitor Center, the grounds of which exemplify a model Ocean Friendly Garden.  The group of over 20 volunteers then set out to tour the gardens within the community and to learn about what it means to be truly ocean friendly by identifying elements of "CPR" (Conserving water and energy, Permeating water into the soil, and Retaining rainwater on site).