Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Santa Barbara Celebrates International Surfing Day
Reposted from Surfline.com - http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/press-release/santa-barbara-celebrates-international-surfing-day_56642/
PRESS RELEASE
Surf Happens Surf School and SB Surfrider Foundation present International Surfing Day 2011, Saturday June 18th, 9am-3pm. Located at the new Surf Happens beach headquarters on Santa Claus Ln. in Carpinteria. Featuring a medley of fun events for the whole family; FREE Grom surf contest (under 18) with trophies and prizes, learn to surf clinic, advanced coaching, live music, beach clean up, and works by local artists and activists. Our goal is to gather like-minded people and organizations together to celebrate the sport of surfing, and share passion and love for a clean healthy ocean. Please join us in our celebration! Surfing Clinic 11-1pm: As part of our surfing clinic we are offering free surf lessons with our expert instructors, guaranteed to get you standing on a wave! INT softboards and Quiksilver/Roxy wetsuits are included. More advanced? Our head surfing coaches will be there to offer advanced tips to step up your competitive game or learn new maneuvers. Our all star team of local experts will help you take your surfing to the next level. RSVP for clinic Grom Contest 9am-1pm: Surf Happens will also hold a FREE Menehune surf contest for beginning and advanced youth surfers (under 18) with the chance to win trophies and killer prizes! RSVP for contest We will provide a potluck style beach BBQ for all participants and family members. We encourage everyone to bring a dish to share and to help us reduce waste by bringing their own dishware, utensils, and cups! Live music all day along with local artists and environmental groups. It's a lifestyle, not a sport so come on down and enjoy the ride!
International Surfing Day is open to the public and all event features are absolutely free! The clinic and contest are RSVP only, to guarantee please pre-register through e-mail info@surfhappens.com Surf Happens is Santa Barbara's premier surf school, offering kids surf camps, lessons, parties, team building and advanced coaching. For more info or to check out the schedule of events visit surfhappens.com Surf Happens1117 Las Olas AvenueSanta Barbara, CA 93109Phone (805) 966-3613
Monday, June 13, 2011
Long Beach Breakwater Reconfiguration Study Halted
Reposted from The Log - http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=12379
By: Taylor Hill | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 12:00:00 AM
Last updated: Thursday, June 09, 2011 4:55:00 PM
LONG BEACH -- Beach-goers, environmental activists and surfers who have long called for the reconfiguration of Long Beach’s 2.5-mile long rock breakwater to provide bigger waves and increased water circulation will have to wait even longer. The Army Corps of Engineers released its budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, with no funding approved for breakwater studies.
Breakwater Study – Due to Army Corps of Engineers budget cuts, the previously planned Long Beach Breakwater Reconfiguration Study Plan will not be funded this year. Proposals to alter the breakwater to increase water circulation and wave action at Long Bcach date back to 2007.
Long Beach City Council members overwhelmingly approved the $8.3 million feasibility study last year, with the Corps of Engineers agreeing to a cost-sharing agreement to run over four years, to help fund the study.
But, the Corps’ funding has been the subject of repeated federal budget cuts -- decreasing from $5.5 billion in 2010 to $5 billion in 2011 -- and the Corps’ 2012 budget is expected to be decreased to $4.6 billion.
Currently, the breakwater study funds are not included in the preliminary budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in October. But Corps of Engineers officials can continue to pursue funding for the project.
Proponents of an altered Long Beach breakwater believe it would provide cleaner city beaches and swimming areas, due to greater circulation of harbor water, along with improved surf for recreation. Critics have questioned whether shortening the breakwater could make harbor facilities, local boats, shoreside homes and businesses more vulnerable to storm surge and flood damage.
Plans to alter the Long Beach Breakwater have been long and arduous for supporters, starting in July 2007 with the Long Beach Breakwater Reconnaissance Study originally being awarded $100,000 in funding by Long Beach City Council, to find out if there was federal interest in altering the breakwater.
The study included input from more than 100 community members, interviews with dozens of stakeholders and input from consultants Moffatt & Nichols.
Designs included reconfiguring the breakwater to staggered sections and creating gaps allowing for wave action on the shoreline; lowering 1,800 linear feet of the western end of the structure to mean lower low water to provide increased wave transmission; removing the entire western third of the structure (down at least -30 feet) and leaving the eastern structure intact; and realigning the ends of the breakwater by removing an end section, with a new section constructed perpendicular to the existing end of the breakwater.
Alternatives ranged in cost from an estimated $10 million to $310 million.
The delayed feasibility study would determine what environmental and structural effects altering the breakwater would have on San Pedro Bay.
According to supporters of breakwater alteration, the rock breakwater has produced a number of negative impacts in San Pedro Bay, ranging from increased pollution to obstructing natural surf along the Long Beach shoreline.
The breakwall was originally completed in 1949 to protect Navy ships, and was designed to provide a variety of coastal defenses for low-lying property and structures in the area.
According to the Reconnaissance study, an altered breakwater could provide an estimated $50 million in additional beach tourism for the local economy.
News of the funds not being appropriated for the next fiscal year came as Long Beach officials were busy hosting Breakwater Awareness Month activities. City Council member Patrick O’Donnell hosted a social forum at a surf shop on Fourth Street and handed out awards to breakwater reconfiguration advocates. The second annual Paddle Out in Memory of the Waves was held May 21 -- where surfers in support of the breakwater study were encouraged to “come dressed in black or wear your wetsuit to this funeral-themed event to memorialize the death of waves in Long Beach.”
By: Taylor Hill | Wednesday, June 08, 2011 12:00:00 AM
Last updated: Thursday, June 09, 2011 4:55:00 PM
LONG BEACH -- Beach-goers, environmental activists and surfers who have long called for the reconfiguration of Long Beach’s 2.5-mile long rock breakwater to provide bigger waves and increased water circulation will have to wait even longer. The Army Corps of Engineers released its budget for the remainder of the fiscal year, with no funding approved for breakwater studies.
Long Beach City Council members overwhelmingly approved the $8.3 million feasibility study last year, with the Corps of Engineers agreeing to a cost-sharing agreement to run over four years, to help fund the study.
But, the Corps’ funding has been the subject of repeated federal budget cuts -- decreasing from $5.5 billion in 2010 to $5 billion in 2011 -- and the Corps’ 2012 budget is expected to be decreased to $4.6 billion.
Currently, the breakwater study funds are not included in the preliminary budget for the next fiscal year, which begins in October. But Corps of Engineers officials can continue to pursue funding for the project.
Proponents of an altered Long Beach breakwater believe it would provide cleaner city beaches and swimming areas, due to greater circulation of harbor water, along with improved surf for recreation. Critics have questioned whether shortening the breakwater could make harbor facilities, local boats, shoreside homes and businesses more vulnerable to storm surge and flood damage.
Plans to alter the Long Beach Breakwater have been long and arduous for supporters, starting in July 2007 with the Long Beach Breakwater Reconnaissance Study originally being awarded $100,000 in funding by Long Beach City Council, to find out if there was federal interest in altering the breakwater.
The study included input from more than 100 community members, interviews with dozens of stakeholders and input from consultants Moffatt & Nichols.
Designs included reconfiguring the breakwater to staggered sections and creating gaps allowing for wave action on the shoreline; lowering 1,800 linear feet of the western end of the structure to mean lower low water to provide increased wave transmission; removing the entire western third of the structure (down at least -30 feet) and leaving the eastern structure intact; and realigning the ends of the breakwater by removing an end section, with a new section constructed perpendicular to the existing end of the breakwater.
Alternatives ranged in cost from an estimated $10 million to $310 million.
The delayed feasibility study would determine what environmental and structural effects altering the breakwater would have on San Pedro Bay.
According to supporters of breakwater alteration, the rock breakwater has produced a number of negative impacts in San Pedro Bay, ranging from increased pollution to obstructing natural surf along the Long Beach shoreline.
The breakwall was originally completed in 1949 to protect Navy ships, and was designed to provide a variety of coastal defenses for low-lying property and structures in the area.
According to the Reconnaissance study, an altered breakwater could provide an estimated $50 million in additional beach tourism for the local economy.
News of the funds not being appropriated for the next fiscal year came as Long Beach officials were busy hosting Breakwater Awareness Month activities. City Council member Patrick O’Donnell hosted a social forum at a surf shop on Fourth Street and handed out awards to breakwater reconfiguration advocates. The second annual Paddle Out in Memory of the Waves was held May 21 -- where surfers in support of the breakwater study were encouraged to “come dressed in black or wear your wetsuit to this funeral-themed event to memorialize the death of waves in Long Beach.”
La Jolla sees water pollution reduced
Popular beach sees water pollution reduced
A legendary La Jolla surfing beach adjacent to Scripps Institution of Oceanography has significantly less water-borne pollution, due to the completion this year of an innovative project by UC San Diego.
A legendary La Jolla surfing beach adjacent to Scripps Institution of Oceanography has significantly less water-borne pollution, due to the completion this year of an innovative project by UC San Diego.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Southern CA Chapter News - June 2011
The Isla Vista Chapter wrapped up a very busy semester on the UCSB campus with their annual Concert For the Coast in May, successfully raising funds for the Naples Coalition while educating the community about the myriad development threats to the Gaviota Coastline.
Ventura City Councilman Brian Brennan and Ventura Chapter’s Paul Jenkin accepted the "Friend of the Coast" award on behalf of the Surfers Point Working Group. The California Coastal Coalition gives the award at their annual 'Headwaters to the Ocean' Conference. The conference included a panel on 'Managed Shoreline Retreat', and Paul also presented Towards Ecosystem-based Management, describing the efforts to protect and restore the Ventura River watershed.
The idea of constructing an artificial surfing reef at Oil Piers (now a defunct surf spot near Ventura), originated when the piers were removed causing loss of the surf break. In 2002, local project sponsor BEACON and the USACOE began developing the artificial reef project. BEACON has completed environmental documents proposing at least five of artificial reef structures for the Santa Barbara/Ventura coastline. Surfrider commented that it might be premature to plan other projects until we can demonstrate success at oil piers. Depending on federal funding, the goal is to have the project constructed in 2012.
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| Malibu Lagoon was constructed in 1983, and is located West of Malibu Creek |
Since the late 1990s, a plan has been underway to restore the wetlands in the Malibu Lagoon. The Surfrider Foundation and our West LA / Malibu Chapter has been involved and supportive of this project since the beginning. Given the recent controversy surrounding the project and the importance of surfing at Surfrider Beach, we wanted an objective, science-based review of the proposed restoration project and possible effects on the surf. We hired ESA/PWA, a San Francisco-based environmental consulting agency with experience on issues related to coastal processes, inlet dynamics, engineering and surfing to conduct a review of the project. Download the PWA/ESA report (.pdf) here.
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| Long Beach Chapter Paddle Out in Memory of the Waves - May 21, 2011 |
In May, Surfrider Long Beach celebrated the 2nd Annual Breakwater Awareness Month and mixed business with pleasure in an effort to educate and activate the community. The campaign to reconfigure the breakwater continues to gain momentum, which was clearly the case at the Paddle Out In Memory Of The Waves on May 21. Over 75 supporters arrived at the wave-less beach to join forces, paddle out onto the calm ocean and form a circle to honor the coast with a prayer and a moment of silence. The ONLY surf shop in Long Beach, Shelter, hosted a social event featuring films made by local Sink The Breakwater campaign advocates. The Breakwater Study Community Meeting, the final event of the month, was hosted by Councilmember O’Donnell and conducted by local officials from the City as well as the Army Corps of Engineers. Members of the community were given an opportunity to ask questions, make comments and learn about the latest developments.
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| "Team Awesome" at Lightning in a Bottle festival |
South Orange County Chapter was part of a four-day, nationally renowned Lightning in a Bottle music and green festival at Irvine Lake/Oak Canyon, CA. Several volunteers from South OC and the San Diego Chapters (aka "Team Awesome") tabled and camped during the four day event, gathering signatures from all over California districts in support of SB 568, a senate bill co-sponsored by Surfrider and introduced to clean up our beaches and support sustainable foodware products by prohibiting the distribution and use of foam containers by vendors. More than 500 signatures were collected and forwarded to Sacramento.
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Surfrider Foundation's Long Beach Chapter stands strong in their effort to Sink The Breakwater
Surfrider Foundation members and supporters come together for the
2nd Annual Breakwater Awareness Month throughout May, 2011
2nd Annual Breakwater Awareness Month throughout May, 2011
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| Surfrider Foundation members & supporters want the Long Beach Breakwater to be reconfigured, to improve water quality and "Bring Back the Waves!" to Long Beach, CA |
For 13 years Surfrider Long Beach stood strong against critics as the membership tried to gain local, state and federal support in their efforts to sink the Long Beach breakwater. With the changing face of the City Council, Surfrider gained friends and supporters and one in particular, Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell. Surfrider and O’Donnell share the vision of a beach with waves, something that Long Beach hasn’t enjoyed since the 1940’s.
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| May 2011 - "Breakwater Awareness Month" - list of activities |
In May, Surfrider Long Beach celebrated the 2nd Annual Breakwater Awareness Month and mixed business with pleasure in an effort to educate and activate the community. The campaign to sink the breakwater continues to gain momentum and this was clearly the case at the paddle out in memory of the waves on Saturday May 21. Over 75 supporters arrived at the waveless beach to join forces, paddle through the lake calm ocean and form a circle to honor the coast with a prayer and a moment of silence. You can read more about the paddle-out in the Press Telegram news article.
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| Surfers take the water in Long Beach at Granada and Ocean in the Second Annual Paddle Out "In Memory of the Waves" Saturday afternoon. (Tracey Roman/for the Press-Telegram ) |
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| Former Chapter Chair, Beth Barnes, flanked by local activists |
The final event was a meeting hosted by Councilmember O’Donnell and conducted by local officials from the City as well as the Army Corps of Engineers. It was another chance for the community to ask questions, make comments and learn about the latest developments.
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| Long Beach Chapter Chair, Emiko Kobiyashi with local activists |
The City of Long Beach and the Army Corps of Engineers who built the breakwater for civil defense during WWII recently signed an $8.3 million agreement to study the issue, but that funding has been on pause during the current federal cutbacks. The Army Corps, the City of Long Beach and Surfrider will continue to work toward resolution even in the face of these cutbacks as they all know the advantages of reconfiguring the breakwater far outweigh any disadvantages put forth by opponents.
The vision of a few grassroots surfer’s years ago in Long Beach has now become the vision of many and it’s this energy that continues to fuel the campaign to sink the breakwater.
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