Coastal Factoid

Surfrider Foundation's Beach Preservation Policy

Here is an excerpt from Surfrider Foundation's Beach Preservation Policy:  "The Surfrider Foundation hereby advocates actions to promote long term beach preservation for the benefit of the public. Coastal areas that are free of development should be protected via proactive means that do not interrupt coastal processes. These include: 1) Placement of beaches and beachfront lands in public trust; 2) Establishment of beach setbacks based on current and historical erosional trends; and 3) Restoration of natural sediment transport processes in coastal watersheds."

Hopes for Worldwide Network of Marine Parks

"International scientists are mapping out a plan for a network of marine parks to save the world's oceans from fish stock depletion and growing pollution. Achim Steiner, director-general of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said a conservation plan for the unregulated high seas -- part of a U.N.-backed plan -- would be produced by 2008, for adoption by world governments by 2012." - excerpt from the Environmental News Network article.

U.S. House Committee Approves Ending Drilling Moratorium in Offshore Waters

"A House committee on Wednesday [Oct. 26, 2005] approved a measure that would clear the way for oil and gas drilling in currently off-limits coastal waters and an Alaska wildlife refuge. Supporters of the legislation argued that ... it is time to end the 24-year federal ban that has blocked energy development along virtually all of the country's coastal waters outside the central and western Gulf of Mexico." The measure, part of a big budget package, will most likely be brought to the House floor for a vote soon. - excerpt from the Environmental News Network article.

If Surfers Don't Save Trestles, Who Will?

Surfers are the most passionate and frequent users of the famous Trestles beaches that lie within San Onofre State Beach in Southern California. The water quality, sandbar sedimentation, and wonderful sense of place of Trestles are seriously threatened by an ill-planned toll road that would parallel, not cross, the relatively pristine San Mateo Creek that empties into Upper Trestles. IF SURFERS DON'T SAVE TRESTLES, WHO WILL?

Public Not Well Informed about the Health of Our Beaches

"Very little information is designed to inform the public about the health of our beaches. In many cases a wealth of technical and scientific data exists for specific beach sites around the nation as "gray literature" in academic journals or studies that line the bookshelves of coastal zone management offices. This information may help professionals make policy decisions. However, it is often not made available to the public or it is not written in a way that is easily understood by the average citizen. This lack of public education is alarming. It leaves the public without an adequate understanding about how government policies and decisions affect beach health and severely limits their ability to ensure that public interests are considered equitably in the decision-making process." excerpt from Surfrider Foundation's STATE OF THE BEACH 2005 Report web page.

Surfrider Foundation's Water Quality Goals for Monitoring

Surfrider Foundation's Water Quality Goals for Monitoring: 1) Uniform statewide ocean water quality standards. 2) At a minimum, uniform monitoring that measures for total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus (bacteriological indicators) on a daily basis, and ideally a real time response (i.e. accurate and up to date reporting and posting of beach closure data). 3) A uniform monitoring program that measures for toxins, heavy metals, viruses, and other harmful pollutants. 4) Regular reporting on water quality history, including analysis of patterns and trends. 5) Public education about actions that affect water quality. [Excerpt from Surfrider Foundation's STATE OF THE BEACH 2005 web page.

Our Legacy to Our Great Great Grandchildren

"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 2,000 scientists which advises the United Nations, projects a further rise [in surface air temperatures] of 1.4-5.8 degrees centigrade [2.5-10.4 degrees fahrenheit] by 2100." - excerpt from this Planet Ark article.

Wilma, the Most Intense Atlantic Storm Ever

"Gathering strength at a fierce pace, Hurricane Wilma swirled into the most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded Wednesday [10/19/2005], a Category 5 monster packing 175 mph wind that forecasts warned was 'extremely dangerous.'" - excerpt from the New York Times article, free registration required.

Water Pollution Is Top Environmental Priority

"According to U.S. adults, water pollution and air pollution are the top environmental priorities for the nation. When asked to rate the priority of seven environmental issues on a scale of one to 10 where one means "a low priority" and 10 means "a high priority,", about half (52%) of adults rate water pollution a "9" or "10" while 48 percent rate air pollution this high of a priority." - excerpt from the Harris Poll web page.

Majority of Americans Are Sympathetic to Environmental Concerns

"A majority of all U.S. adults (58%) describe themselves as sympathetic to environmental concerns, while 12 percent say they are active environmentalists, four percent are unsympathetic, and 24 percent consider themselves neutral." - excerpt from the Harris Poll web page.