Hi California Coastal Defenders, we are looking forward to a new year and new opportunities to protect our coast and special places. This year, we have big plans for addressing plastic pollution, sea level rise, water quality and public access! First, we offer our heartfelt response to the Capitol siege as well as a review of important 2020 accomplishments despite so many challenges!
Response to Capitol Siege
Nationwide, the Surfrider Foundation condemns the violent acts of domestic terrorism that took place at the U.S. Capitol, which were designed to interfere with a free and fair election. Please read our full statement, here.
Surfrider Foundation - 2020 year in review
Great work to everyone for a strong year, despite so many challenges. The Surfrider Foundation won 68 coastal victories in 2020 as our network showed its innovation and growth. Check out our year in review and a summary of all our accomplishments.
California VICTORIES!
Despite a global pandemic, social upheaval and an all together challenging year, Surfrider's incredible network of coastal defender activists achieved an incredible 22 victories this year. Together, we protected the beach from seawalls and access closures, we made great strides in the fight against plastic pollution, and so much more! A huge congratulations is in order to all chapters for their hard work this year!
Coastal Commission December 2020 Report
Looking back, we had some important outcomes at the Coastal Commission’s December meeting which took place virtually from Wednesday, December 9 through Friday, December 11 with an additional Special Meeting on Thursday, December 17. The last meeting of the year resulted in several important votes. The Coastal Commission approved permits to retain shoreline armoring at Capistrano Beach and the Pacific Grove Coastal Trail. The Coastal Commission also concurred with a consistency determination for the Department of Navy’s Military Readiness Activities in the Point Mugu region. The Commission’s Special Meeting Local Government Public Workshop on Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning resulted in a fruitful discussion on action needed to advance sea level rise planning in 2021. The meeting resulted in one vote chart on the Capistrano Beach Interim Armoring Permit. The full meeting report is posted on the ActCoastal home page.
The OC Register reported on the Capistrano Beach outcome, here.
Local Government and Coastal Commission Workshop on Sea Level Rise
The Coastal Commission’s Special Meeting on Thursday, December 17 featured a public hearing and joint workshop with the League of Cities, California State Association of Counties, local government officials to discuss sea level rise and implementation of the Joint Statement on Adaptation Planning, which was adopted by the Coastal Commission in November 2020. Click here for ActCoastal's full report on the workshop.
MEDIA Alert // Huntington Beach Desalination
Please check out this important Op Ed on Poseidon Water's proposed desalination plan in Huntington Beach. This is an important message for all of California and especially communities considering seawater desalination.
French Laundry lobbyist’s second-biggest client? Poseidon Water, a Gavin Newsom funder - "Poseidon, owned by an equity firm, is spending heavily to buy state approval because its troubled project does not make economic or environmental sense" - Check out this luminary editorial in the Sac Bee by our partners at Azul.