Oregon Surfrider Foundation

Pardon the delay…we’re doing some maintenance. Intermittent updates may be available at www.oregonsurfrider.com

As a recreational user and coastal enthusiast, you may be interested in how coastal planning (e.g. wave energy) may affect recreational opportunities such as surfing, kayaking, boating or diving along the Oregon coast. Surfrider Foundation, working in partnership with Ecotrust and Natural Equity, is collecting information on behalf of the state of Oregon to help guide the placement of wave energy facilities in ways that reduce the impacts to recreational users. To do this, we created an online survey to both map and gather information on the importance of recreational activities along the Oregon coast. By taking part in our survey, you have the opportunity to directly contribute to Oregon’s wave energy planning process and provide decision-makers with information needed to identify and plan for multiple ocean uses.

www.surfrider.org/oregonrecreation

The 9th annual Clean Water Classic surfing competition is scheduled for May 14th to the 16th, 2010. This event, the largest continuously run Pro/Am competition in the Pacific Northwest, will take place in Westport, Washington. The Clean Water Classic weekend includes not only great surfing, but also live music, movie showings, a vendor village, silent auction and raffle. This year’s event will once again be headquartered at the Chateau Westport. Registration, awards, media info, and the Saturday night party will all be at the Chateau. Discounts for hotel rooms are being offered to everyone attending the event. The event is a fundraiser for the Pacific Northwest Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation. Volunteers are needed to help out with the event, to sign up for volunteering, register for the contest, and to get more info, visit: www.surfrider.org/cleanwaterclassic

With numerous state ocean management processes currently underway, one can become quickly lost in the web of different issues and intricacies in play. One thing is certain however, with on-going respectful dialogue and accurate information, we as Oregonian’s will be able to best chart our path forward for ocean stewardship. Last week, the Siuslaw Watershed Council hosted an Ocean Issues Community Forum in Florence aimed at providing tools and information so that citizens can make informed decisions as we digest the complexities of ocean management. Check out the recent press coverage of the event in the Siuslaw News here. Another great way to stay up on what’s happening with the Marine Reserve Community teams, Territorial Sea Planning, and the Nearshore Research Task Force is to visit DLCD’s website at www.oregonocean.info

Spring is a great time to break away from the Winter blues, get some dirt under your fingernails, and transform your yard into a place of ecological function. Surfrider initiated the Ocean Friendly Gardens Program (OFG) to help its members and the general public take some steps at their own homes to clean and prevent pollution reaching the ocean and start to restore urban watersheds. Water leaving residential and other developed sites can carry away and/or pick up pollutants on its journey to the ocean. This urban runoff has become the #1 source of ocean pollution. To learn more about simple steps you can take to make a positive change in your own backyard, visit the OFG website by clicking here. At the site you can order a guide to simple steps to Ocean Friendly Gardening implementation. There is also an abundance of information on different things like rain barrels, composting, and turf removal.

Thanks so much to all the volunteers that came out and supported the beach cleanups this past weekend! The event was a huge success with Oregon Surfrider Foundation chapters captaining beaches in nearly every zone this year! Big props to first time Surfrider beach captains: Mike Manzulli in Cannon Beach and Tara Gallagher was the entire Zone 2 captain for the north coast (Seaside to Cannon Beach), Frank DeFellippis at  Nye Beach and Jacque Rodriquez at Otter Rock. As usual, the core Surfrider captain crew for Beverly Beach, Agate Beach, South Beach, Lost Creek and the Jetties in Florence and Newport did a tremendous job. All said and done, over 4,200 volunteers and 70,500 pounds of trash! Nice work all!

It’s that time of year once again and the winter storms have washed plenty on our beaches to be picked up! Join us, this Saturday as we participate statewide with our chapters and other volunteers for SOLV’s 25th Anniversary Spring Beach Cleanup: March 20th 10am-1pm all along the coast! Here’s a few highlights from the fall: http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv3.nonxt8.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D68102390bdbb431d%26itag%3D5%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26app%3Dblogger%26et%3Dplay%26el%3DEMBEDDED%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1275865605%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D27EB434F33B7A19B4CA8D2B5377EFEF39DCEEDD3.132547134D17410DE6FA082346414F337B848F93%26key%3Dck1&thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D68102390bdbb431d%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DetVZJd7IHjJSo6VS3U4l-o-53dk&messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3Den&nogvlm=1 We hope you’ll come out and join us at one of the eight different sites captained by Surfrider volunteers and get a free reusable bag or come to any one of the many other spots along the coast (over 45 different registration points). Go to Spring Beach Cleanup to pre-register and find locations closest to you. We hope to see you there!

Our friends at the San Diego Chapter have put together this great video on the water cycle and what is needed to fix our wasteful behaviors. Most people in Oregon know that we live in an area with abundant precipitation, however, few people realize that we have a very limited storage capacity (especially on the coast) during summer months when water demands and usage are high. Check out the movie trailer here & look for the full video to come out soon. Think about ways to minimize your water footprint at your home and in your daily routine, Know Your H2O!!!

Oregon is currently engaged in a variety of ocean planning and management activities that will affect the future of our ocean ecosystem and economy. Recently, the Department of Land Conservation and Development created a new website to serve as a clearinghouse of information on current topics of interest such as the Nearshore Research Task Force, Marine Reserves, Ocean Energy, and Seafloor Mapping. Visit the website at www.oregonocean.info and pass the link along to friends. This website will help you learn about these activities and about opportunities to be involved. Be sure to check the calendar of Upcoming Ocean Events, the Latest Additions of publications and announcements, and the list of Most Popular articles and information about Oregon’s ocean.

Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill right now to restore the moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling within Oregon’s Territorial Sea for the next 10 years. Representative Ben Cannon sponsored HB 3613, which originated as a permanent ban but has since been amended to sunset in 2020 as a compromise to garner wider support. The Surfrider Foundation believes that the strongest protection for the health of our ocean, coastlines, and communities should be the ultimate goal, and a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling is the best way to achieve this. Oregon’s Pacific Ocean, waves and beaches are vital recreational, economic, and ecological treasures that will be polluted by any offshore oil or gas drilling. Check out the recent editorial piece by the Eugene Register Guard which sums up the issue rather nicely. The Oregon Senate will be voting on the bill this week, please take 5 minutes and contact your Senator today to show your support for HB 3613 and a clean ocean and coastline!