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).

Southern California - Chapter News - April 2011

The cities of Santa Barbara and Long Beach are one step closer to banning the bag!  Both cities have directed city staff to draft ordinances, which are expected to go before council for a final vote in the coming months.  Tell Santa Barbara to ban the bag!

Ban the Plastic Bag in Long Beach!

Ban the Bag - Santa Barbara

Plastic: The Real Sea Monster program will continue to visit preschools and K-12 programs throughout the year to educate kids and families of the dangers that single use plastics pose to our marine environment.   The West Los Angeles / Malibu Chapter has also teamed up with The Children's Nature Institute (CNI) of Los Angeles  for a year long residency.  CNI, which is located close to downtown LA is providing space and support for the creation of five wearable plastic sea monster costumes to be used at various events, rallies and campaigns.  The five costumes will be named after the five great garbage patches in our oceans. The "The North Pacific Monster" was begun at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum in the North American Mammal Hall as a part of the Museum's World Water Day in March.

Plastic: The Real Sea Monster at the Natural History Museum

Kids love Sea Monsters, Moms love the message

The West Los Angeles / Malibu Chapter's Rise Above Plastics' Make A Bag station has already made numerous appearances at chapter events.  They transform old T-shirts and tank tops into re-usable bags and silkscreened them with the RAP and Ban the Bag logos.   View their “How To” instructional video on Facebook.

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach Chapter activist Andre Faubert wanted to show his love for the ocean and give back to the thing he holds dear to his heart.   Simply named "The 30/30 Experiment", his goal was to pick up plastic debris along his local beach for 1 hour a day over 30 days.   By day 28, Andre had collected a total weight of 537.3 lbs - an average of 19.2 lbs of trash per day!   Activist Sarah Bayles is going for 365 non-consecutive days of collecting beach trash in Santa Monica.   She has 160 more days to go.   Follow Sarah’s blog "The Daily Ocean"

Huntington/Seal Beach activist Andre Faubert

Raising Watershed Awareness was the goal of the Newport Beach Chapter's 4th Annual RockWater Relay Race from Mountain to Ocean.   The winning team reveled in the glory of being the team who collected the most trash along the 28.9 mile course.  Volunteer teams included Between Rock & Wet Place, RockHarbor Runners, and the Watershed Ducks.   Many thanks to Hurley, Tattooed Steel, Cliff Bars, HDS water supplement and Cabo Chips.

The Watershed Ducks go for the "best dressed" award

Members of South Orange County Chapter's youth program traveled to Sacramento with Surfrider Global staff for Oceans Day 2011.   They discussed the importance of marine protected areas, the need for legislation to reduce and stop pollution from plastic bags and polystrene, and a strong State Water Board Trash Policy.  They also engaged state legislators regarding their support for marine animal and sustainable seafood legislation.

Rise Above Plastics in the San Diego Chapter had a busy Earth Month with a screening of 'Bag it' and several booth events in honor of Earth Day.   They are also joining efforts with the Kids for Clean Water program to include plastic pollution in their presentations, and are developing a new presentation to college students in their SDSU club.