There is a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Within it, 100 million tons of plastic swirl in a vortex of currents. There is so much plastic in the water that it outnumbers zooplankton by six to one!
This plastic ends up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. In fact, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.
Plastic is forever, with virtually every piece of petroleum based plastic ever made still in existence. That's why it's so critical to our oceans and beaches that we dramatically reduce our use of plastics, especially single-use plastics, starting today.
You can make a difference for our world's oceans, waves and beaches -- pledge to rise above plastics today.
Why do we want Clean Water at the Bu? Surfrider Beach is legendary and iconic. It is the image of classic California beach culture. Surfing myths and legends have been borne out of First Point - Dora, Gidget, Tubesteak. Millions of visitors flock annually to this picturesque point. Yet, Surfrider is one of the dirtiest beaches in California, consistently earning F water quality grades and failing to meet TMDL limits to bacteria and nutrient loads in the water. This poses serious health risks to surfers and bathers at Surfrider Beach.
Single-use plastic bags represent one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our generation. It is estimated that 60-80% of all debris in the ocean is plastic. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down at sea and most types never truly biodegrade. As a result, marine animals often get entangled in the debris or mistake it for food. In Oregon (and the world!) the very first volunteer beach cleanup was held in 1984 under the title "Plague of Plastics", calling historical attention to the rise of plastics in our oceans and on our beaches.
Around 100 billion petroleum-based plastic checkout bags are used each year in the United States, requiring an estimated 12 million barrels of oil each year. Sadly, less than 5% of these bags are recycled each year and cities, counties, and non-profit organizations must pay millions of dollars each year to clean up plastic litter.
For these and other reasons, the Portland Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation supports a 20 cent fee (or ban) on single-use plastic bags within the City of Portland. Such an ordinance is needed to prevent marine debris, save money, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. And, the fee must be sufficiently high to shift consumer behavior and produce the desired conservation outcomes. Many other cities have taken similar action recently including San Francisco and Oakland which both recently passed ordinance bans on plastic bags.
The National Park Service is currently developing a long-term plan for ORV (off-road-vehicle) and pedestrian access inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Let them know, when making decisions, to remember Cape Hatteras’ unparalleled role as the most popular and influential surfing region on the whole East Coast —and therefore the US — with a high priority on access to the most treasured breaks. Also demand they look for a wide range of solutions besides closures; ones that benefit the animal species while guaranteeing humans can continue to enjoy and protect this most-precious coastal resource for years to come.
THE GAVIOTA COAST, located in southern Santa Barbara County, includes the coastal watersheds between Coal Oil Point in Goleta, to Point Arguello on Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the remainder of Vandenberg’s coast to Point Sal. Surfrider’s Santa Barbara chapter is working to preserve the 20-mile stretch of the Gaviota Coast between Goleta and Gaviota, which draws more than a million visitors to its beaches, coastal canyons and mountain trails every year.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: In just over two generations, more than ninety percent of southern California's once-unspoiled coastline has been lost to development forever. Expanding urbanization has displaced agriculture on fertile coastal plains, reduced public beach access, and stressed coastal watersheds and marine ecosystems. Rapid population growth in the region has led to dramatic loss of native biological diversity, and a general decline in the health of ecosystems we depend on. The Gaviota Coast’s intact ecosystems, riparian and wildlife corridors, important coastal farmland, rare and endangered animals, unique tidal wetlands, and Native American cultural sites are all gravely threatened by development.
YOU CAN HELP! Please sign our petition to permanently preserve the Gaviota Coast for future generations to enjoy!
TARGET: California State Water Resources Control Board
Approve the Basin Plan amendment adopted under the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Resoultion No. R4-2009-007 - phasing out existing and prohibiting new septic systems in the Malibu Civic Center area.
Surfrider Beach is a crown jewel of surfing, an iconic beach, and the birthplace of the California beach lifestyle. Unfortunately, Surfrider is also one of the state’s most polluted beaches, receiving poor water quality grades in the Beach Report Card every year for nearly two decades.
Malibu Creek lower watershed - Malibu Colony in the foreground
It has been scientifically demonstrated that commercial and residential septic tanks in the Malibu Civic Center area are a major source of pollutants into Lower Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and ultimately Surfrider Beach. The Lagoon and Beach have been impaired for well over a decade and are included on the State’s 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies.
After many years, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) finally stepped up to solve this serious public health issue by adopting a prohibition on new septics and a phase-out of current septics in the Civic Center area while the City of Malibu pursues a permanent solution. The adopted prohibition is a long overdue, legally enforceable action that should fulfill the promise of improving water at Surfrider Beach.
There is great urgency in solving the water quality issues in the Malibu Civic Center area. Over a million people visit Surfrider annually, and beach-goers have spent decades recreating in polluted waters with major health consequences. Enough is enough.
A prohibition is a critical step towards improving water quality in Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach to protect human health and aquatic life. Malibu has the potential to move forward with an integrated watershed management approach that utilizes recycled water and filtered stormwater instead of relying on potable water for all City needs.
YOU CAN HELP!
Sign our petition asking the California State Water Board to approve the Basin Plan amendment adopted under RWQCB Resolution No. R4-2009-007 – phasing out existing and prohibiting new septic systems in the Malibu Civic Center area.
This petition is supported by Surfrider Foundation's West LA/Malibu Chapter,
Heal The Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper, and the Malibu Surfing Association.
Oil drilling off of Florida's coast is once again being considered by our state legislators This is more than just an issue for the Gulf of Mexico. Language is being discussed to allow drilling and pipelines to be within state waters, within 3 miles of your beaches on either coast.
You need to let the Governor, Speaker of the House and Senate President know of your objections. Please tell these electeds that we are against any attempt to open State and/or decrease protections in Federal waters regarding oil development off Florida's entire coast.
IMMEDIATE ACTION is needed to tell Governor Crist, Senate President Atwater and Speaker of the House Cannon to keep oil drilling off ANY coastline of Florida.
For the third year in a row, Congress is considering a bill to reauthorize the BEACH Act. This landmark law was first championed by Surfrider Foundation a decade ago.
The Clean Coastal Environment & Public Health Act of 2009 will increase the amount of federal dollars that can be spent on beach water quality monitoring and will modernize the technology we rely on to protect the health of the beach-going public. It also expands the scope of the BEACH Act to include tracking and cleaning up the sources of beach water pollution. The House of Representatives has passed this bill twice now, but it has not yet seen the Senate floor.
Urge your Senators to show their support for healthy beaches and robust coastal economies by cosponsoring the Clean Coastal Environment & Public Health Act of 2009. Don't let them put this off for yet another year!
Should Rehoboth use an ocean outfall or Land Based Application (LBA) for waste water disposal?
The City of Rehoboth Beach Delaware has to make this decision and Surfrider enthusiastically supports LBA. LBA or spray irrigation is a universally accepted method for treating and reclaiming waste water into irrigation water for farmers, whereas an ocean outfall is a pipe leading out into the ocean which discharges treated effluent from a sewage treatment plant. Each year billions of gallons of fresh water are lost from effluent discharge into water bodies.
Please send this letter telling the City of Rehoboth that you support Land Based Application of waste water, not an ocean outfall. Visit Surfrider's Delaware Chapter for much more information.
In a few weeks, Poseidon Resources will be looking for authorization to issue half a billion dollars in tax exempt bonds to build a privately-owned desalination plant in Carlsbad. It's disgraceful for this company to ask us for tax exempt bonds to build their wasteful and environmentally harmful facility.
We know there are better solutions to balancing our freshwater demand and supply. In fact, the best solutions will improve our coastal and marine environment - not kill marine life, waste energy and exacerbate the rate of climate change.
Ocean desalination should be a "last resort" after all lower cost and more environmentally beneficial alternatives are implemented.
Government financial assistance should NOT go towards projects that undermine the State's environmental policies and goals.
Take Action TODAY by telling the voting members of the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) -- Governor Schwarzenegger, Treasurer Lockyer, and Controller Chiang -- not to allow Poseidon Resources to issue $530 million in tax-exempt bonds for their private desalination plant in Carlsbad.
We all know our ocean is not in the shape it used to be. Whether it is pollution, climate change, or mismanagement of resources--humans have taken a toll on the ocean. To help improve our ocean's health, the State is setting aside ‘protected areas’ so that marine life can thrive.
After a year of ‘map-making’ and planning, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process is coming to a close in Southern California. Recently, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward a final map to the Fish and Game Commission. The map, called the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), is a hybrid map representing diverse Stakeholder views.
The MLPA, as a law, was designed and written to ensure diverse views were incorporated into the final map. The Surfrider Foundation supports the IPA because we believe it contains a balance of conservation and fishing interests-- and perspectives from all ocean users. The IPA is a compromise plan that will set aside rich places like La Jolla, Naples Reef, and Point Dume while leaving more than 90% of the coastline open for fishing. The unanimous BRTF vote makes it clear that the IPA is receiving the strongest possible recommendation to move forward to the Fish and Game Commission.
The Commission will base its decision on public support--and that's why they need to hear from you! Please take action NOW by sending the below letter--express you are concerned about preserving ocean resources and that you support the IPA because it is a 'balanced' proposal that provides strong protection while incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives.
To learn more about Surfrider’s work on the MLPA, go to our blog here:
On December 14th the Rehoboth Beach City Commissioners voted to use the ocean as a dump.They chose to send their sewage treatment plant effluent into the ocean. They turned down the viable alternative of Land Based Application, or LBA, where this treated water is used to irrigate farmland growing.LBA is currently being used successfully in Delaware.
Treated water from sewage treatment plants contains nutrients that can be bad for the marine environment. These nutrients contribute to Harmful Algal Blooms and Red Tides. Discharging into the ocean also wastes freshwater that cannot be recovered. LBA puts nutrients where they can be used by crops, thus reducing the need for additional fertilizer. It also saves freshwater by recharging aquifers and keeps Delaware farming.
Along the shores of Rincon, Puerto Rico, exists one of the most extensive and ecologically rich shallow water Elkhorn coral reef ecosystems on the island. The area is known as the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and was established as a no-take marine reserve in 2004.
This unique ecosystem is now under immediate threat because the Puerto Rico Planning Board is proposing to change the zoning in the natural watershed adjacent to the marine reserve to build small hotels, parking lots, and other concrete structures. These corals are extremely sensitive to any alteration to their environment including sedimentation, eutrophication, decreased water quality, and alteration of the beach environment.
Please ask the Planning Board to adopt the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve Management Plan and in particular section 9 titled "Plan of Action" which includes implementing proper watershed protection, sustainable area land use, and conservation of local biodiversity.
The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Consumer Retail Choice Act of 2010 is being introduced into the Maryland Legislature and Senate. Aimed at reducing the amount of single-use bags littering our local waterways, this bill will levy a fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. The collected fees will be devoted to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund, for restoration and protection efforts.
Contact your representatives in MD and ask them to support this important environmental bill.
Similar to legislation recently passed in DC and introduced in MD, HB 1115 has been introduced in Virginia by Delegate Adam Ebbin (D-District 49, Arlington) to combat single-use bags littering our local waterways. This bill will levy a fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. The collected fees will benefit the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund.
Contact your delegates in VA and ask them to support and cosponsor HB 1115.
URGENT: WRITE TO DECISION MAKERS TODAY TO REMOVE ROCK RUBBLE FROM OCEAN BEACH
On January 15th, the Department of Public Works (DPW) announced a declaration of emergency along the Great Highway due to severely eroded bluffs on the west side of Sloat Blvd. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors have moved to concur with Mayor Newsom’s January 19th proclamation of a Local Emergency.
Representatives from the San Francisco Chapter of Surfrider Foundation, Save the Waves Coalition, the Ocean Beach Vision Council and community members testified at the hearing and urged the board to delay the vote in order to have the opportunity to consider more environmentally sound alternatives to hard structures, especially given that hard structural armoring is prohibited in Board Resolution 698-99.
Although the Department of Public Works decided to go ahead with emergency armoring using rock walls, we succeeded in securing a commitment from the Department of Public Works to remove old rock rubble from the beach equivalent to the new rock that is being placed, effectively acheiving a zero net new rock on the beach.
Unfortunately, the Department of Public Works seems to be backtracking on this commitment. It is critical that you communicate your concerns regarding the placement of hard structures on the beach and demand that the promise of no new rock on Ocean Beach is upheld. Act now to make your voice heard!
Opposition to nearshore oil drilling is growing throughout Florida. Already 60+ cities, counties, chambers of commerce and organizations have passed resolutions opposing drilling. We need to not only send a personal message to our Legislators that we, as citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations, do not want risky drilling activity off our shores or see any pro-oil Bills go to our Governor for signature or to Congress supporting opening our longstanding ban.It's easy and, more importantly, it’s effective.
Links to all relevant oil drilling bills in the 2010 legislative session:
Last year, when some in our Legislature wanted to throw open Florida's waters to oil drilling right away, the president of our state Senate slowed it down with a study. The Report was prepared by the Collins Center for Public Policy for the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, chaired by former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. If Florida does open its waters, the report notes, the almost certain political consequence will be that Congress opens the eastern Gulf of Mexico as well. "It would be hard to maintain congressional support for a ban on oil and gas activity from 10 to 125 miles from the Florida coastline," the report says, "when the state is allowing it inside of 10 miles." The report does not say flat-out whether Florida should allow drilling. But it contains information that both sides of the debate can use:
• Estimated reserves in Florida waters and the eastern Gulf of Mexico are only a fraction of those in the central and western gulf.
• These reserves would boost U.S. production by 1 to 2 percent, with "no discernible effect on petroleum prices at the retail level" and little contribution toward the nation's "energy independence." Florida-only reserves account for less than one week's worth of U.S. consumption. (Caveat: Improved technology and additional studies could change these estimates.)
• Best-case estimates are that gulf oil production would generate an average of $90 million to $180 million a year to the state and create 2,000 to 5,000 jobs. There would be additional revenue from state-only waters, but perhaps not as much as in other gulf states, which range from $50 million to $200 million annually.
You can also hear Miami Chapter member Greg Gordon and Traci Romine from Audobon vs. David Mica of Big Oil on the archived Topical Currents Radio Show
The EPA has estimated a $500 billion shortfall over the next two decades to repair our nation's aging water infrastructure. This bill seeks to establish a dedicated trust fund for clean water infrastructure. The Water Protection and Reinvestment Trust Fund would provide billions of dollars per year to states to repair, maintain or upgrade their existing water infrastructure needs, correct combined sewer overflows (CSOs), address non-point source runoff issues, and fund a pharmaceuticals take back program. Trust fund capital would be raised by attaching minute user fees to many of the major pollutants in our nation's waters including beverage bottles, pharmaceuticals and flushable products. Learn more about this bill here.
The north end of Asbury Park’s beachfront is threatened by development that could limit parking and public access enjoyed by surfers, anglers, and beachgoers. The dirt parking lot used by those fishing or surfing near the Loch Arbor jetty would be cut in half. This proposed development, originally called Bradley Cove, would be further east than the existing Asbury Towers building on the oceanfront. The development would violate state CAFRA (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act) rules and it would encroach on Green Acres Land. Please email the Asbury Park City Council and let them know you would like to see this area preserved from development and turned into a nice oceanfront park. Asbury has enough luxury townhomes and condos already.
You can edit your letter to the Asbury officials. Tell them how you use this beach, tell them if you live in town.
The Massachusetts Bottle Bill desperately needs updating to keep up with the times. Originally passd in 1982, this law puts a 5-cent deposit on beer and soda but not on beverages like water, iced-teas, sports drinks and other non-carbonated drinks which did not exist when the bill was first enacted. The Updated Bottle Bill in the Massachusetts legislature will bring it up to date, cover water bottles and other plastic containers, and keep our oceans, waves and beaches cleaner. But this bill is in danger of dying in Committee.
Please take a moment and email all the members of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee and tell them to move the bill forward. Your message will be sent to all the members of the committee, lised below. Scroll past their names to fill in your information.
Excess nutrients are Florida's number one water quality problem. Nitrogen and phosphorous from agricultural and residential fertilizers and treated wastewater are fueling rampant, nuisance and toxic algae blooms that kill fish and harm other marine mammals, human health, and Florida's tourism industry. While spending years studying the problem, the State has been dragging their feet on this issue, forcing the EPA to propose their own standards for nitrogen and phosphorous. Surfrider is supporting these EPA proposed standards.
Please speak up! The power industry has lobbied hard to avoid protecting our ocean, the State Water Board needs to hear from you today!
California's coastal and bay-side power plants use an outdated cooling technology known as “once-through cooling” (OTC) that needlessly kills massive amounts of aquatic life each year including fish, larvae, plankton, sea lions and turtles. Once-through cooled power plants dramatically impact the health of our ocean and the viability of our coastal economies. There are readily available, and more efficient, alternatives to once-through cooling already in use at numerous inland power plants in California. Surfrider Foundation has been working with numerous organizations including the California Coastkeeper Alliance and its member Waterkeepers, Heal the Bay, and many others to phase out OTC. You can support our efforts by sending a message to the State Water Resources Control Board.
Let your voice be heard! Send a message to the State Water Board urging them to adopt and implement a strong policy to eliminate once through cooling at ALL power plants in California. Our friends at CA Coastkeepers will deliver your letters directly to the Water Board.
President Obama just recently announced a significant expansion of offshore drilling and exploration. Offshore drilling not only places our environment at risk, it threatens the livelihood of millions of Americans who rely on clean, healthy, oil-free oceans and beaches to support fishing, tourism and other industries.
Act now and remind President Obama of his campaign promise to protect our coasts from offshore drilling.
Take a moment to send a clear message to the President that our coasts deserve protection and that offshore drilling is not the answer.
SUPPORT NO SMOKING AT STATE PARKS AND BEACHES ACT (SB 4)
While cigarette butts may seem small, they are the number one source of litter plaguing our local beaches, in the ocean, and throughout watersheds. Cigarette butts discarded onto sidewalks and streets eventually make their way into storm drains that lead directly to the ocean; causing harm to wildlife and water quality. These toxic pieces of trash are increasingly littering our parks and beaches. Over 1.6 million pieces of cigarette butt litter were retrieved from U.S. beaches last year. To make matters worse, improperly littered cigarette butts have caused wild fires in the state of California.
Fortunately, Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) has introduced statewide legislation that bans smoking at State parks and beaches and will ultimately decrease the litter that is harming wildlife and creating wild fires. Please let Governor Schwarzenegger know that you support this legislation.
President Obama recently announced a significant expansion in offshore drilling and exploration. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has called for seismic surveying to explore for oil along the mid and south Atlantic. Seismic surveying is incredibly damaging to marine ecosystems.
Seismic surveys are conducted to locate and estimate the size of an offshore oil reserve. In order to conduct surveys, ships use ‘airgun arrays’ to emit high-decibel explosive impulses in order to map the seafloor. The noise from seismic surveys can damage or kill fish eggs and larvae and impair the hearing and health of fish, making them susceptible to predators and making it challenging for them to locate prey or mates or communicate with each other. These disturbances can disrupt important migratory patterns, forcing marine life away from suitable habitats meant for foraging and mating. In addition, seismic surveys have been implicated in whale beaching and stranding incidents.
Seismic testing is equivalent to a bomb detonating every few seconds for months on end! To learn more about seismic testing check out this Surfrider Foundation fact sheet on Coastal A-Z here.
Take a moment to send a clear message that seismic testing is devastating to marine ecosystems--urge the MMS to consider the environmental impacts of seismic surveying and alternative technology.
The tragic and devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder that offshore oil drilling is not the answer.
The Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded and sank has spilled millions of gallons of oil into the ecologically rich waters in the Gulf of Mexico and continues to gush 210,000 gallons of oil into the sea every day. The spill remains unabated and now has the potential to become one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. The unfolding catastrophe clearly illustrates that offshore drilling is not safe and new technology is not fool proof.
We are reminded why the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill led to state and federal moratoriums on offshore oil drilling. The tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico makes it clear that it is time once again time to restore those moratoriums.
The City of San Jose is considering how to reduce polystyrene (incuding Styrofoam) in the City's waste stream. On Monday, May 3 the City's Transportation and Environment Commitee will be receiving a report on Styrofoam and considering next steps to take. Let committee members know you want to see action...tell them to ditch the foam!
The Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter supports efforts to curb the use of polystyrene and other single-use plastic service items, as they do not biodegrade and plague our coastal and marine environments. By drafting a City ordinance to restrict use of polystyrene food service wares and prevent non-biodegradable pollution at the source, the City of San Jose would help curb plastic pollution in our neighborhoods, natural areas, and waterways and set an example for other jurisdictions to follow. It's an important step toward region-wide action to prevent non-biodegradable debris from reaching our ocean and beaches.
Tell the members of the Transportation and Environment Committee that you support a clean City and healthy natural environments. Please send a letter today calling for action on this issue!
As the unprecedented oil catastrophe has now directly impacted Florida, gutting our economy and destroying the environment of the Gulf, NOW is the time for our state government to act. On July 8th Governor Crist announced a Proclamation to hold a Special Session to convene the Legislature for the sole purpose of of passing a joint resolution to revise the Florida Constitution to prohibit the exploration for, the drilling for, the extraction of and the production of oil beneath all Florida waters from the mean high water line to the seaward limit of Florida's boundaries.
We need to send a personal message to our Legislators that we, as citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations, do not want risky drilling activity off our shores. And more importantly, it’s effective to make this a voter's issue on the November 2, 2010 ballot.
Other ACTION ITEMS to Participate in:
Speaker of the House Larry Cretul (352) 873-6564 and Senate President Jeff Atwater (561) 625-5101 need to support this Special Session July 20-23 to put the critical issue of Oil Drilling in Florida Waters on the ballot for November 2010. Tell them to LET FLORIDIANS VOTE!
Please call Governor Charlie Crist to thank him for effort (850) 488-4441
Opposition to nearshore oil drilling is growing throughout Florida in light of the tragic Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. Over 60+ cities, counties, chambers of commerce and organizations have passed resolutions opposing drilling. To see all who have filed resolutions to date go to:
The tragic and devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder that offshore oil drilling is not the answer.
The Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded and sank has spilled millions of gallons of oil into the ecologically rich waters in the Gulf of Mexico and continues to gush 210,000 gallons of oil into the sea every day. The spill remains unabated and now has the potential to become one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. The unfolding catastrophe clearly illustrates that offshore drilling is not safe and new technology is not fool proof.
We are reminded why the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill led to state and federal moratoriums on offshore oil drilling. The tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico makes it clear that it is time once again time to restore those moratoriums.
YOU can help Rise Above Plastics and prevent plastic marine debris in the state of California! Send a letter to your representative today to help keep plastic bag litter out of our oceans, waves and beaches. Kauai, Outer Banks (NC), Malibu, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Bangladesh and China have already outlawed these environmental menaces - now California can be the first state in the US to do so!
Please voice your support to establish a permanent moratorium on all new offshore drilling in the United States. While the President and Congress have begun taking small steps to address the dangers of drilling in our waters, there is much work to be done to ensure lasting protection for our coasts and oceans. That’s why we urge you to place phone calls on this issue today!
The tragedy in the Gulf has created opportunities in both Congress (e.g., No New Drilling Act) and the White House (executive action). Making phone calls to your representatives is one of the simplest and most effective actions you can take.
Let’s make our voice heard! The message is simple: “I’m calling to ask that you restore the federal moratorium on all new offshore oil and gas development and exploration”
White House Hotline: 202-456-1111
Congress: provide your address below to find the phone number of your representatives.
After you've called please click the button at the bottom to send them a short note restating your opposition to offshore drilling and to let us know that you called.
Single-use plastic bags represent one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our generation. Around 100 billion petroleum-based plastic checkout bags are used each year in the United States, requiring an estimated 12 million barrels of oil each year. Sadly, less than 5% of these bags are recycled each year and cities, counties, and non-profit organizations must pay millions of dollars each year to clean up plastic litter.
Further, it is estimated that 60–80% of all debris in the ocean is plastic. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down at sea and most types never truly biodegrade. As a result, marine animals often get entangled in the debris or mistake it for food.
Many other cities have taken similar action recently including San Francisco and Oakland which both recently passed ordinance bans on plastic bags. It is now time for Portland to demonstrate similar leadership in support of a sustainable future for all people and our natural environment. Please contact Portland City Commissioners by participating in the below action. We encourage you to personalize your letter!
The new plan to protect Goleta Beach works with nature and expands the beach by over an acre, but opposition is growing. Help Save Goleta Beach - Send an email to the Board of Supervisors today!
“Goleta Beach 2.0” is an innovative plan to protect and enhance Goleta Beach County Park which preserves and expands the beach by over an acre! It adds recreational facilities like kayak rentals and trails and removes the unpermitted rock seawalls which damage the beach.
By relocating the sewer and utility lines out of the “critical erosion zone” the new plan is a long-term solution. The County’s sewer line should be moved all the way back to Highway 217 to avoid future sewage spills on the beach and avoid the need to consider a controversial “backstop revetment” seawall which would damage the beach.
Goleta Beach 2.0 protects the Park and the environment and is far less costly than prior proposals which have been rejected by the Coastal Commission.
YOU can help Rise Above Plastics and prevent plastic marine debris in the state of California! The California Assembly has already approved the bag ban bill, and now we need your help to push it through the Senate. Send a letter to your State Senator today to help keep plastic bag litter out of our oceans, waves and beaches. Kauai, Outer Banks (NC), Malibu, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Bangladesh and China have already outlawed these environmental menaces - now California can be the first state in the US to do so!
The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act will invest in the planning and construction of green projects that are designed to restore our watersheds and fight water pollution. This bill proposes to establish up to five Centers of Excellence across the country to research and develop best management practices and policy recommendations. It will also create a green infrastructure program within the Environmental Protection Agency to promote the use of green infrastructure and provide technical assistance to states, local governments, and the private sector.
The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act will provide Americans with thousands of green jobs, energy savings and better health and well-being. Please contact Congress today and ask for their support. Learn more here.
Good News! Last week, the Updated Bottle Bill passed the MA House Telecom & Energy Committee. It also passed the Rules Committee in the Senate and it is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The Updated Bottle Bill will expand the 5-cent deposit beyond soda and beer to cover water bottles, iced teas, juices and more. The Updated Bottle Bill will mean cleaner Oceans, Waves, and Beaches in Massachusetts and surrounding states.
Please take a moment and email your State Senator by filling in your information below. You can even change the letter and say it in your own words. Then please call the Senate President, Therese Murray at 617-722-1500 and ask her to use her power as the leader of the Senate to move the bill forward. The bill number is S-1480
This past Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the plug on the Senate's efforts to pass a series of offshore oil drilling reforms. This is extremely disappointing news in the wake of America’s worst environmental disaster and just after the House of Representatives passed the CLEAR act, which would have put necessary response and reforms into action. Tell the Senate to get over their partisan bickering and take responsibility to ensure we can respond to the Gulf spill and prevent another oil spill disaster of this magnitude from ever happening again.
This winter, the Maryland General Assembly will consider legislation to put a five-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper shopping bags. Like the bag fee in Washington, DC, proceeds of the fee will support restoration of impaired waterways in the state, including the Chesapeake Bay.
We have a goal of collecting 30,000 signatures by January. Can you help?
Contact your representatives and ask them to support this important environmental bill.
Send a letter to your Long Beach Congressional Representative urging them to fund the Army Corps of Engineers Feasibility Study on Reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater.
Almost one-half million Long Beach, CA residents have suffered stagnant, polluted water off the shores of Long Beach caused by the retention of Los Angeles River discharge by the Long Beach Breakwater.The Breakwater served a useful purpose of protecting the Pacific Fleet in the years after WWII, but it is no longer used for that purpose.
You can help Long Beach, CA become a vibrant beach community again so that local residents can enjoy the waves at the beach and the City can benefit from having a natural resource which attracts tourists.The feasibility study needs $1 million per year for the next four years to finish in a timely fashion.
This winter, the Virginia General Assembly will consider legislation to put a five-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper shopping bags. Like the bag fee in Washington, DC, proceeds of the fee will support restoration of impaired waterways in the state, including the Chesapeake Bay.
We have a goal of collecting 30,000 supporting signatures by January. Can you help?
Contact your representatives and ask them to support this important environmental bill.
There is a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Within it, 100 million tons of plastic swirl in a vortex of currents. There is so much plastic in the water that it outnumbers zooplankton by six to one!
THE GAVIOTA COAST, located in southern Santa Barbara County, includes the coastal watersheds between Coal Oil Point in Goleta, to Point Arguello on Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the remainder of Vandenberg’s coast to Point Sal. Surfrider’s Santa Barbara chapter is working to preserve the 20-mile stretch of the Gaviota Coast between Goleta and Gaviota, which draws more than a million visitors to its beaches, coastal canyons and mountain trails every year.
Along the shores of Rincon, Puerto Rico, exists one of the most extensive and ecologically rich shallow water Elkhorn coral reef ecosystems on the island. The area is known as the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and was established as a no-take marine reserve in 2004. 
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The EPA has estimated a $500 billion shortfall over the next two decades to repair our nation's aging water infrastructure. This bill seeks to establish a dedicated trust fund for clean water infrastructure. The Water Protection and Reinvestment Trust Fund would provide billions of dollars per year to states to repair, maintain or upgrade their existing water infrastructure needs, correct combined sewer overflows (CSOs), address non-point source runoff issues, and fund a pharmaceuticals take back program. Trust fund capital would be raised by attaching minute user fees to many of the major pollutants in our nation's waters including beverage bottles, pharmaceuticals and flushable products. Learn more about this bill 
Excess nutrients are Florida's number one water quality problem. Nitrogen and phosphorous from agricultural and residential fertilizers and treated wastewater are fueling rampant, nuisance and toxic algae blooms that kill fish and harm other marine mammals, human health, and Florida's tourism industry. While spending years studying the problem, the State has been dragging their feet on this issue, forcing the EPA to propose their own standards for nitrogen and phosphorous. Surfrider is supporting these EPA proposed standards.
President Obama just recently announced a significant expansion of offshore drilling and exploration. Offshore drilling not only places our environment at risk, it threatens the livelihood of millions of Americans who rely on clean, healthy, oil-free oceans and beaches to support fishing, tourism and other industries.
tragic and devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a stark reminder that offshore oil drilling is not the answer.
YOU can help Rise Above Plastics and prevent plastic marine debris in the state of California! Send a letter to your representative today to help keep plastic bag litter out of our oceans, waves and beaches. Kauai, Outer Banks (NC), Malibu, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Bangladesh and China have already outlawed these environmental menaces - now California can be the first state in the US to do so!
Please voice your support to establish a permanent moratorium on all new offshore drilling in the United States. While the President and Congress have begun taking small steps to address the dangers of drilling in our waters, there is much work to be done to ensure lasting protection for our coasts and oceans. That’s why we urge you to place phone calls on this issue today!
Single-use plastic bags represent one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our generation. Around 100 billion petroleum-based plastic checkout bags are used each year in the United States, requiring an estimated 12 million barrels of oil each year. Sadly, less than 5% of these bags are recycled each year and cities, counties, and non-profit organizations must pay millions of dollars each year to clean up plastic litter.
The new plan to protect Goleta Beach works with nature and expands the beach by over an acre, but opposition is growing. Help Save Goleta Beach - Send an email to the Board of Supervisors today!.jpg)
This past Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the plug on the Senate's efforts to pass a series of offshore oil drilling reforms. This is extremely disappointing news in the wake of America’s worst environmental disaster and just after the House of Representatives passed the CLEAR act, which would have put necessary response and reforms into action. Tell the Senate to get over their partisan bickering and take responsibility to ensure we can respond to the Gulf spill and prevent another oil spill disaster of this magnitude from ever happening again.
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