Surfrider Foundation just released our 2015 Nationwide Clean Water Annual Report, combining the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) and Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) program reports into one document to better communicate the great work our chapters are doing to protect public health and clean water at the beach! In addition to all the national highlights, this year's report also features some of the great local work of our various Oregon Chapters! As Oregonians gear up to head to the beach this summer, learn what Surfrider volunteers and activists are doing in communities locally and around the country to protect public health and clean water at the beach. Everyone should have access to clean water to surf, swim and play in. The Surfrider Foundation’s Clean Water Initiative is taking a multi-tiered approach to tackle ocean pollution problems. We are testing the waters for bacteriaand toxins, raising public awareness and providing real solutions to ocean pollution; solutions that restore healthy watersheds, protect local water supplies and keep pollution from reaching the ocean.
The Clean Water Annual Report tracks the progress of our BWTF and OFG programs during the calendar year of 2015 and presents case studies of how Surfrider Chapters are using these programs to protect public health, identify water quality concerns and bring together local communities to find and implement solutions. It's amazing what an dedicated network of volunteers can accomplish in just one year!
Below are some quick highlights from the report, download the entire document here:
In 2015 we welcomed four new labs into the program in Oahu, HI; Olympic Peninsula, WA; North Coast, OR; and The Grauer School, CA.
Blue Water Task Force total volunteer testing was up 14% from the previous year. There were 31 BWTF labs that processed 4,639 water samples collected from 317 distinct sampling sites.
The cumulative results that you are all finding have remained relatively consistent over the past 5 years. Of the 4,639 water test results reported in 2015, 70% indicated low bacteria levels, 12% indicated medium bacteria levels, and 18% measured high bacteria levels that exceed the national water quality standards set by the EPA to protect public health in recreational waters.
This year's report also describes all the great ways chapters are using their Ocean Friendly Gardens programs to educate their communities on the problems created by urban runoff and traditional landscaping practices and to instruct and explain the value of applying CPR – Conservation, Permeability and Retention - to our yards with Ocean Friendly Gardens. Approximately 30 separate gardens were installed and over 253 OFG events were held nationwide in 2015!
A volunteer planting a new Ocean Friendly Garden in Coos Bay
The report also includes case studies that describe how 4 chapters are implementing their BWTF and OFG programs to raise awareness about water pollution issues in their communities and to advocate for solutions. Click and share these case studies below, on the local front, Newport, Oregon is featured!
Huntington Beach / Seal Beach, California
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Newport, Oregon
Kaua’i, Hawaii
Download an executive summary of the 2015 Clean Water Annual Report or full report here.
Thank you for all you do to protect healthy beaches and clean water all year long!