Victories

Surfrider San Diego is celebrating an important Coastal Commission decision to preserve California beaches by denying 245 Pacific Ave in Solana Beach a seawall. The Commission considered an application to fill a ‘gap’ in a continuous stretch of seawalls fronting homes on Pacific Avenue in Solana Beach. The homeowner behind the gap had legally forfeited the right to a seawall in front of their property, and was notably absent from the permit application in what was seen as a group attempt to subvert the property’s deed restriction. In a 7-5 vote, the Commission denied the seawall application. Relevant Posts & …
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In early June 2020, Surfrider San Diego received reports that an entire curb (~120 feet) on Camino del Collado in La Jolla Shores had been suspiciously painted red without notification or justification. Surfrider worked with the City of San Diego to confirm that the curb had been illegally painted, and to see that the parking spaces were restored to the public with a new coat of gray paint. Camino del Collado is one block east of La Jolla Shores, a popular beach that includes multiple surf breaks and is used for all kinds of recreation. Every parking space counts in …
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law new legislation to help prevent harmful chemicals, plastic pollution and sewage into the Tijuana River Valley. Senate Bill No. 690 seeks to reduce exposure to dangerous pathogens, limit beach closures and address water quality issues in the Tijuana River Valley. The bill will also allow a $15 million budget allocation for cleanup efforts as well as prioritizing projects that will address water quality, flood control, trash and sediment.The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter generated support for SB 690 by having over 1,000 people contact their State legislators urging passage of this bill.“The …
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The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter congratulates the City of Solana Beach City Council for unanimously passing a comprehensive plastics reduction ordinance that builds upon the existing expanded polystyrene foam ban at restaurants. Solana Beach’s ordinance prohibits the use and sale of food service ware by any establishment in the city if the food service ware is not recyclable or compostable. It disallows the use or sale by any establishment in the city of single-use straws, utensils, stirrers, splash sticks, cocktail sticks or toothpicks made with plastic. The ordinance stipulates a requirement that food vendors distribute those non-plastic common …
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The City of Encinitas voted to establishe Community Choice Energy (CCE)! Community Choice Energy (CCE) allows cities and counties to purchase power on behalf of their residents to provide cleaner energy options and set rates at a competitive or lower price, while the existing utility company continues to deliver power over their power lines.Community Choice Energy is the most beneficial and cost-effective way to reach clean energy goals. It is a tried and true program widely adopted throughout California and a win for families, the economy and the environment. The climate and ocean are inseparable: changes to one impacts the …
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Victory! The City of La Mesa voted to established Community Choice Energy (CCE)! CCE allows cities and counties to purchase power on behalf of their residents to provide cleaner energy options and set rates at a competitive or lower price, while the existing utility company continues to deliver power over their power lines. The City of La Mesa voted to establish Community Choice Energy (CCE)! CCE allows cities and counties to purchase power on behalf of their residents to provide cleaner energy options and set rates at a competitive or lower price, while the existing utility company continues to deliver …
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Victory! The City of San Diego voted to established community choice energy (CCE)! San Diego has set one of the most ambitious climate goals in the country: to get 100% of our energy from renewable sources by 2035. After many years in the making, the City of San Diego voted to established community choice energy (CCE)!  San Diego has set one of the most ambitious climate goals in the country: to get 100% of our energy from renewable sources by 2035. This goal is ambitious, bold, and exactly the type of action we need to combat the climate crisis and …
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On May 15th, 2019, the Imperial Beach City Council passed a plastics reduction ordinance that addresses various items that are commonly found at beach cleanups. The ordinance bans plastic straws, stirrers and utensils at restaurants and retailers throughout Imperial Beach. It also expanded the ban on expanded polystyrene products at restaurants to include the retail sale of expanded polystyrene products such as plates, cups and coolers. The ordinance takes effect on November 15th, 2019.Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter volunteers advocated for this coastal victory by raising awareness about the issue and speaking at city council meetings. Relevant Posts Plastic Pollution …
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Surfrider Foundation San Diego County applauds the City of Encinitas for passing a strong plastics reduction ordinance! The City of Encinitas passed a three-phased plastic reduction initiative in 2020! Surfrider volunteers have written letters of support, rallied community members to attend City meetings and they have provided testimony at City Council meetings. Phase 3 of the Encinitas Plastics Initiative was adopted May 20, 2020 through a second reading of Ordinance 2020-05 that will take effect October 20th, 2020. The proposed ordinance will amend existing Chapter 11.27 of the City’s Municipal Code, broadening the current Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) ordinance for restaurants …
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On May 15th, 2019, the Imperial Beach City Council passed a plastics reduction ordinance that addresses various items that are commonly found at beach cleanups. The ordinance bans plastic straws, stirrers and utensils at restaurants and retailers throughout Imperial Beach. It also expanded the ban on expanded polystyrene products at restaurants to include the retail sale of expanded polystyrene products such as plates, cups and coolers. The ordinance takes effect on November 15th, 2019.Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter volunteers advocated for this coastal victory by raising awareness about the issue and speaking at city council meetings. Relevant Posts Plastic Pollution …
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On January 8th 2019 the San Diego City Council voted to adopt a single-use plastics ordinance to help stop the flow of plastic to the ocean that will apply to all restaurants and retailers citywide! Aimed at banning expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) containers and reducing other plastic waste, this ordinance will start taking effect on February 7th, 2019. The ordinance includes a ban of expanded polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) containers at restaurants along with a requirement for restaurants to only offer straws upon request and utensils for takeout orders only upon request. The ordinance also includes a retail ban on coolers, …
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To defend the Land Use Plan amendments dealing with bluff retention devices, private stairways, and other coastal development that effects public beach access and coastal health. Surfrider celebrated a win for Solana Beach seawall policy with a final decision in California Appellate Court in October 2018 and no appeal of the decision by the blufftop property owners.  In a win for beach access and coastal preservation, the California Court of Appeal for the 4th Appellate District issued a ruling in favor of the California Coastal Commission (“Commission”), City of Solana Beach and Surfrider Foundation to validate the city’s local seawall regulations.  The three-judge …
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On December 3rd, 2018, the Del Mar City Council passed a ban on expanded polystyrene foam for restaurants in the City of Del Mar! The ordinance includes a ban on dispensing prepared food to customers in disposable food service ware made from expanded polystyrene (EPS). The ordinance takes effect on June 3rd, 2019. The ordinance also includes a ban on EPS foam foodware at city facilities, city-managed concessions, city-sponsored events and city-permitted events along with a ban on EPS foam packing peanuts at retailers.Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter volunteers advocated for this coastal victory by raising awareness about the issue and speaking at …
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Surfrider’s San Diego County Chapter held the Coastal Commission and the City of Solana Beach to their own blufftop setback policies for new development. As the coastline of Solana Beach continues to become more fortified and sea levels continue to rise, it will be even more likely that the public beach fronting the bluffs will become inaccessible at all but the lowest tides.The Coastal Commission reviewed a permit application for a remodel of an existing blufftop home in Solana Beach. Coastal Commission staff recommended denial of the application since the majority of the development would be located in a non-conforming, …
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The San Diego County Chapter defended a portion of bluffs in Encinitas from new development in a hazardous location. We cannot perpetuate historical blufftop development patterns in areas we know to be hazardous.The San Diego Chapter helped achieve a small victory for our coastline yesterday in supporting the Coastal Commission staff recommendation that a new home in Encinitas be setback 79 ft from the bluff edge, that the home not include a basement (which could disturb the natural bluff), and that the new home to be constructed on a currently vacant lot waive the right to a seawall in the …
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Imperial Beach passed their new Polystyrene ban! On January 17, 2018, the City Council of Imperial Beach unanimously passed a ban on all polystyrene products in food establishments. Over a six month period of time, all restaurants will have to phase out EPS and make a huge stride to becoming a styrofoam free city! This campaign was part of the San Diego Chapter’s efforts to protect their coastline against the threats of plastic pollution, with help from our coalition partner, Oceana SoCal. This ban will prevent thousands and thousands of polystyrene from ending up in our streets, beaches, and of …
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Monitoring sand dredge and placement projects to protect surfing resources. For years, too much sand on North Beach in Carlsbad has deminished the surf at Tamarack. In 2016, Surfrider engaged as a stakeholder to help steer the dredge and sand placement process when the Agua Hedionda Lagoon is dredged. In the most recent permit, just approved by the Coastal Commission, the City of Carlsbad and Cabrillio Power LLC agreed to place the dredged sand at middle and south beach, which are sand starved, instead of the already wide north beach and deminishing surfing resources at Tamarack. This is only a one year …
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Preventing coastal armoring unless it is justified by the Coastal Act and well mitigated. In Solana Beach, there was an application to fill 90 feet of seacaves with supposedly “erodible” concrete as a way to protect two homes, which are not currently threatened from erosion (and thus not entitled to a seawall) in order to prevent a seawall in the future. After years of going round and round, the Coastal Commission finally denied the application, largely due to Surfrider’s advocacy. With the applicant unwilling to prove the material would erode before it was installed, the beach going public was at …
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When bluff and shoreline armoring are built along the coastline, they have impacts on public access and recreation both resulting from the loss of public recreational opportunities that occur through direct and indirect loss of beach area that would have formed as erosion (usually of bluffs) moves inland. This Coastal Commission decision is an important step towards securing substantial mitigation funds to offset armoring impacts in Solana Beach. The city of Solana Beach has been working to develop a method to mitigate for the impacts that coastal structures and non-erodible seacave/notch infills have on public access and recreation since 2007 …
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By approving the Secondary Treatment Waiver, San Diego will be able to pursue the Pure Water San Diego wastewater recycling project in the near future. Wastewater recycling is a cost effective solution with multiple benefits to water quality and water supply needs for the region. The waiver requires at least 83MGD of wastewater recycling by 2035. The City of San Diego submitted a consistency certification to the California Coastal Commission for the reissuance of its secondary treatment waiver for the municipal discharges from its Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The waiver reissuance would be needed to allow San Diego …
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The San Elijo Lagoon Restoration Project incorporates one year of surf monitoring due to the San Diego County Chapter’s concerns about dredging and sediment placement. This is a crucial measure to mitigate potential impacts to the iconic waves nearby and collect data to inform future projects. Coastal recreationalists can give a resounding cheer after the California Coastal Commission’s decision to extend surf monitoring to a full 12 months as part of approving the San Elijo Lagoon Restoration Project located within the San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA) in San Diego County.Overall, the proposed restoration project is expected to …
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After years of discussions, Encinitas City Council gave final approval on an ordinance to ban expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food service items at restaurants on November 16th, 2016! City facilities and city-sponsored events are also prohibited from using EPS foam. Polystyrene is a top ten item found at beach cleanups, it is rarely recycled and there are possible health concerns linked to polystyrene. Since 2014, when Encinitas passed a plastic bag ban, there have been discussions over what type of ordinance to pass and whether an educational program would suffice. The Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter was involved every step …
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The Save Trestles campaign focused on stopping a 6-lane toll road that would have cut through San Onofre State Beach, the Donna O’Neil Land Conservancy, sacred Native American sites and endanger San Mateo Creek Watershed. After a decade Surfrider and our partners prevailed in permanently protecting Trestles and San Onofre. After more than a decade, five lawsuits, and countless public hearings, toll road developers concluded that they could not build their road as planned, so they reached out to the Save San Onofre Coalition (SSOC) to engage in challenging and productive negotiations to settle the lawsuits. This agreement settles five …
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The Yes on 67 campaign goal was to uphold the SB 270 bag ban legislation that was passed by the state legislature in 2014. This time, the issue was put before a popular vote. After six years of advocacy to the California state legislature, a bill to ban plastic bags was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in September 2014. Unfortunately, due to the political maneuvering of the big plastics industry, the bill was stalled and put on the November ballot as Proposition 67. The California voting public took action on November 9, 2016 to keep the first statewide bag ban …
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Surfrider’s San Diego Chapter as well as our national Ocean Friendly Gardens Program Coordinator have been a partner in the development and implementation of a sustainable landscape report program that covers all of San Diego county. A key element of the program is a rebate for retrofitting a landscape that follows the “watershed approach.” Like our work with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, we worked to ensure that the:Rebate guidelines were as strong as they could be. One member of the team was not as concerned with having them be the strongest. The guidelines turned out to …
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In August 2016, the City of Oceanside became the 151st municipality in California to ban plastic shopping bags! Since early 2015, Surfrider’s San Diego Chapter has been advocating and working with city staff of the city of Oceanside on developing a plastic bag ban ordinance for Oceanside.  Throughout the campaign, Chapter volunteers have participated in numerous public meetings thoughout the community focused on education and developing a successful ordinance, submitted dozens of letters of support to city staff and council members, and testified at the City Council meeting August 10th, where the City Council voted to approve an ordinance after first reading …
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Victory! San Diego was the largest city in California without a plastic bag ban. After more than eight years of advocacy work by the Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter and other stakeholders, San Diego became the 150th jurisdiction in the state to pass a disposable plastic checkout bag ban on August 2nd, 2016. The ordinance language closely mirrors the majority of bag ordinances statewide as well as SB 270, the statewide bag ban, which will be voted on in November. (YES on Prop 67!!) In late 2008, San Diego Chapter Chair, Scott Harrison, and Chapter Coordinator, Bill Hickman, spoke …
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That the City of Del Mar adopt a strong Climate Action Plans with a goal to drastically reduce carbon emissions. As part of its mission “to prevent further drastic changes to our ocean, waves, and beaches by reducing emission of greenhouse gases and to adapt responsibly to changes already occurring,” the chapter’s STOP (Sea-level-rise, Temperature Rise, Ocean Acidification, Prevention and Adaptation) committee asks that the City of Del Mar adopt a strong Climate Action Plans with a goal to drastically reduce carbon emissions. COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two volunteer-led committees dedicated to issues related to the preservation of our coast. You can learn more …
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Del Mar City council passed the second reading of their plastic checkout bag ban that includes all retail establishments, restaurants, and their farmers market on May 16th, 2016! The ordinance will take effect at retailers later this year and includes a fee of ten cents for paper bags as an incentive for people to remember their reusable bags. The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter worked with City of Del Mar officials to help craft the best ordinance possible. This ordinance goes further than most by including all retail establishments, restaurants, and their farmers market from providing any type of …
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Surfrider’s San Diego chapter sought to stop Solana sea cliffs from being filled with untested “erodible” concrete. The second item (see first item here) on the January 2016 Coastal Commission agenda that brought Surfrider’s San Diego chapter to the public meeting regarded a proposed installation of 100 feet of “erodible” concrete in front of the Solana Beach Tennis Club (SBTC). Surfrider has been advocating against erodible concrete (until when/if it is proven to work) for years. The debate over erodible concrete started with the Bannasch project (also in Solana Beach) which was eventually approved in June of 2014, only after very specific conditions were …
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The San Diego Chapter worked with the City of Oceanside and the Coastal Commission to make an Oceanside Opportunistic Beach Nourishment program meet coastal preservation standards. At the January 13, 2016 Coastal Commission hearing, Julia Chunn-Heer, Policy Manager for Surfrider’s San Diego chapter, attended in support of an “Opportunistic Beach Nourishment” program taking place in Oceanside and against a proposal for the installation of “erodible” concrete in front of the Solana Beach Tennis Club.San Diego chapter volunteers worked with the City of Oceanside and Coastal Commission staff for months on the Oceanside program, focusing on the negative impacts to surfing in the …
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On October 28, 2015, Solana Beach became the first city in San Diego County to adopt an EPS foam takeout ban in an effort to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches from plastic pollution. Surfrider Foundation San Diego activists worked with city staff and actively campaigned both the city council and Solana Beach residents to garner support for Solana Beach Ordinance 466. In addition to EPS foam takeout, the ordinance also prohibits styrofoam packing materials, i.e. “peanuts.”  Relevant Posts Plastic Pollution Our chapter has multiple committees dedicated to the Surfrider Plastic Pollution Initiative. These include a countywide Beach Cleanup program, …
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The Coastal Commission denied an Amendment to the Port’s Master Plan under the premise that Port is not upholding the Coastal Act that requires: “lower cost visitor and recreational facilities shall be protected, encouraged, and, where feasible, provided. Developments providing public recreational opportunities are preferred.” The Port wants to construct a luxury hotel on public trust lands that would not be considered low-cost, nor help facilitate recreation and public access. Fortunately, the Commission sent the Port back to the drawing board. BEACH ACCESS Our volunteer-led Beach Preservation committee serves as the hub of our chapter’s work to ensure beach equitable …
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The work of numerous activists with Surfrider’s San Diego County Chapter over a period of many years paid off on November 18, 2014 when the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to approve Pure Water San Diego, a program which will significantly reduce wastewater discharges to the ocean and produce 83 million gallons per day (mgd) of high quality drinking water. A significant milestone in this multi-year campaign was completion of a Recycled Water Study in July 2012.  This study was initiated in August 2009 by the City of San Diego, along with key stakeholders, as part of a Cooperative …
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On September 10th, the town of Encinitas in North County San Diego adopted a final version of the single-use plastic bag ban. This ordinance also requires a fee on paper bags of no less than 10 cents. Stores may also rebate customers 5 cents for bringing their own bag, a custom that some local stores invoked several years back.  The ordinance goes into effect in large grocery stores on March 10, 2015, and applies to all other retail stores and farmers markets by September 10, 2015.  The San Diego County Chapter worked for over 5 years to secure this local …
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Despite the toll road being resoundingly rejected in 2008 by State and Federal agencies, toll road developers are trying to build the road in segments. Last year at a Regional Water board hearing, Surfrider and Coalition partners won a huge victory when the “first segment” was denied. Toll road developers tried to appeal the decision to the State Water Board. On Sept 23 2014, the State Water Board rejected TCA’s request to weaken California’s water quality protection laws and overturn the regional board decision–thus rejecting TCA’s toll road extension project. Relevant Posts & Updates COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two …
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After months of meetings, reviewing documents, and three long days of public hearings on May 8th, 2013 the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board UNANIMOUSLY approved a new regional MS4 stormwater permit. The new permit represents a paradigm shift in stormwater management as it implements a watershed-based approach and moves from an “action oriented” permit to an “outcome oriented” permit.Best of all, the Regional Board sided with environmentalists and approved the permit without the “safe harbor” clause. The safe harbor clause was a major sticking point for Surfrider San Diego, and would have let copermittees (dischargers) who have not …
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The California Coastal Commission ruled unanimously to reject a Navy explosives and sonar training program off the coast of Southern California. Commissioners said the Navy lacked enough information to back up its argument that the threat to marine ecosystems would be negligible. Many of the Commissioners were concerned the sonar would be especially dangerous to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and endangered mammals. Surfrider opposed the Navy sonar testing because we were also concerned the testing would impact newly established MPAs. With this decision, the Navy must go back to the drawing board to ensure impacts to marine life will be …
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In a remarkable day for ocean conservation and advancing environmental safeguards in San Diego County, the Solana Beach City Council voted unanimously in April 2012 to pass an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags, becoming the first city in San Diego County to pass such legislation. “Last night’s decision is a stepping-stone for other coastal communities in San Diego County to follow suit,” explains Walker Hicks, a volunteer with Surfrider’s Rise Above Plastics campaign. “We applaud the Solana Beach City Council members for their decision, and look forward to enjoying cleaner oceans, waves and beaches as a result.”Businesses will be given …
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After a 16 year long campaign to ensure that seawalls along Solana Beach were properly mitigated, the Coastal Commission approved the City of Solana Beach’s Land Use Plan that includes a 20-year review of seawall permits and also set an 18 month timeline for the City to finalize their study to determine land lease and mitigation fees that ensure the public is properly compensated for the loss of public sandy beach. Relevant Posts & Updates COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two volunteer-led committees dedicated to issues related to the preservation of our coast. You can learn more about them by …
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After several years of hard work and negotiations, the CA Fish and Game Commission approved a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern California. Establishing MPAs along the coast is part of a larger process required by the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) of 1999. Surfrider Foundation worked tirelessly with diverse constituencies to help provide balanced input during the MLPA process. Posts & Relevant Updates OCEAN PROTECTION The majority of our chapter’s Ocean Protection efforts take place within our Climate Change committee. Meanwhile, any work involving expansion or maintenance of Marine Protected Areas (MPA), or any other form of …
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The US Commerce Dep’t upheld the CA Coastal Commission’s decision to deny a permit for the Toll Road proposed to be built through San Onofre State Beach near Trestles. This 6-lane highway would have impacted a large portion of this State Park and the adjacent Land Conservancy, along with a multitude of natural, recreational and cultural resources. Relevant Posts & Updates COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two volunteer-led committees dedicated to issues related to the preservation of our coast. You can learn more about them by clicking below, or start HERE to get some background on Surfrider’s Coastal Preservation Initiative …
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While significant strides have been made in recent years to control urban runoff from construction sites and industrial facilities, commercial and residential polluters have been too often overlooked. In particular, municipalities have been reluctant to require individual homeowners to abate the clearly wasteful practice of irrigation over-watering, despite the negative impacts to water supply and the fact that runoff from lawns and gardens consistently transmit bacteria, nutrient, and pesticide wastes to sensitive water bodies throughout the region On January 22, 2008, at the request of the Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper, an ordinance limiting residential over-watering was added to …
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The San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation worked in coalition with the San Diego Bay Council to support the passage of the San Diego region’s 2007 Municipal Stormwater Permit. This permit spells out the stormwater control requirements applicable to all of the region’s cities, the County of San Diego, the San Diego Unified Port District, and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority. Building on prior litigation victories defending earlier iterations of the stormwater permit, Surfrider and its partners were successful in strengthening various controls on construction, industrial, municipal, commercial, and residential urban runoff discharges. Of particular interest to Surfrider, …
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In 2001 the Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper sued the City of San Diego for chronic sewage spills. At that point the City of San Diego averaged almost a sewage spill a day, and had spilled more than 45 million gallons of sewage into local waters during the five years prior. The aim of the suit was to bring the City into compliance with the law, and to set an aggressive schedule for sewage infrastructure improvements to alleviate the deleterious affects of these spills on local waters. On May 22, 2007, the San Diego City Council approved a final …
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Passed smoking ban in City of San Diego beaches and parks. Relevant Posts & Updates COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two volunteer-led committees dedicated to issues related to the preservation of our coast. You can learn more about them by clicking below, or start HERE to get some background on Surfrider’s Coastal Preservation Initiative BEACH PRESERVATION Learn More CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE Learn More …
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Ban on new seawalls in Solana Beach until new ordinance is devised. Relevant Posts & Updates COASTAL PRESERVATION Our chapter maintains two volunteer-led committees dedicated to issues related to the preservation of our coast. You can learn more about them by clicking below, or start HERE to get some background on Surfrider’s Coastal Preservation Initiative BEACH PRESERVATION Learn More CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE Learn More …
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