Thanks for taking action!

Remember the Action Alert we sent last month about the Big Wave project and the opportunity to review and comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report? Well, you and your neighbors sent in over 240 letters to help identify key issues that need to be addressed. Thanks heaps!

The Final Environmental Impact Report and responses to comments are expected to be published in late February/early March, so keep an eye out for it! We'll keep you posted, too.

Also, a "Study Session" for County Planning Commission and Staff to discuss key issues of the project is slated for Wednesday, January 27 at 8:00am(!) at 400 County Center, Redwood City. This isn't really a public comment forum, but the public will be given one minute each to speak. Word on the street is that comments will be best used to reiterate important points you may have made in your written comments on the Draft EIR since these comments have not been published for Commissioners to read.

Don't remember what we're talking about?
You can read the project's Environmental Impact Report here.

Curious about others' comments on the project?
Formal written comments on the Draft EIR are currently posted at Coastsider.com here.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: Be a Leader!

As you know, the Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter is a volunteer-led organization, which also means we rely on a few dedicated members to step up and lead the chapter by serving on the Executive Committee. Executive Committee members oversee and manage the chapter's events, programs, campaigns and other chapter activities. Basically- they're the backbone of a chapter! Positions include Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Volunteer Coordinator. Joining the Executive Committee is a great way to build leadership skills and make new friends!

Although these positions are usually filled via elections, elections are a few months down the road and we have leadership postions that need filled in the interim. The chapter is looking to appoint a Vice Chair, Treasurer and Volunteer Coordinator right now, and are also seeking individuals who are interested in learning the ropes of the other positions.

Ready to lead? Please contact Sarah at sdamron@surfrider.org.
All Executive Committee Members must be dues-paying members of Surfrider Foundation. Not a member? Not a problem! You can join right now by visiting www.surfrider.org/join

Beach Cleanups in 2010
While everyone was making their New Year's resolutions to lose ten pounds, eat healthier, and get out in the water more often, Surfrider SMC was making its resolution to work for clean beaches county-wide. How will we accomplish this lofty goal? With your help, of course!

We can't be at all beaches all the time, but you can! There are 1300 or so of us who receive these emails, so if we all commit to coming to one (or more!) of the cleanups below, helping to lead additional cleanups (--want to learn how? Contact Surfer Spud at cleanbeaches@driftingsand.com), picking up a few pieces of trash when we're out & about, and asking our friends and family to do the same, then we can totally achieve this goal.

Below is a list of cleanups that our trusty beach captain, Surfer Spud, has organized for the year:

Saturday May 1: Surfer's Beach/The Jetty, El Granada
12noon-2pm

Sunday June 20: Linda Mar, Pacifica
International Surfing Day, 4-6pm

Saturday July 10: Montara State Beach, Montara
Post 4th of July, 12noon-2pm

Saturday August 7: Gray Whale Cove, Montara
12noon-2pm

Saturday September 25: Francis State Beach, Half Moon Bay
California Coastal Cleanup Day, 9am-12noon

See you at the beach!

Surfrider Coastal Classroom
Believe it or not, Surfrider SMC has an educational program! Small but mighty, the program is currently a one-man show led by dedicated volunteer Jim Blanchard. The program is an interactive, hands-on learning experience geared at engaging elementary-aged students in the concepts of the water cycle, watersheds, water pollution, and pollution prevention. Grade-A!

So far this year, the program is slated to come to Hatch Elementary for the school's Oceans Week at the end of March, but there are usually a couple more schools who request visits during springtime. We'd love to have the capacity to reach out to more schools and engage students all over the County! But to do that, we need your help.

Here's the pitch: If you would be interested in being a program assistant or learning how to lead the program yourself, please contact Sarah at sdamron@surfrider.org

Erosion in Pacifica
So far this year, El Nino storm events have not gone easy on the coastal bluffs of Pacifica. In late December, a section of cliff just seaward of an apartment complex on Esplanade Ave. crumbled, moving the cliff edge up to the back doors of those who live there. You can watch a news story on this issue here.

At this point, it appears that the City is pursuing emergency rock placement--"rip-rap"--at the foot of the bluff. However, this emergency action will still need to receive a permit after-the-fact, which will determine whether or not this rock wall will be accepted as a permanent "solution" to the erosion occurring.

Since coastal armoring ultimately results in the loss of beach seaward of the structure, and since armoring can act to exacerbate erosion downcoast--effectively moving the problem from one place to another--Surfrider Foundation does not support hardened armoring of our coast. To voice your concerns, consider sending an email or letter to the California Coastal Commission which will ultimately be asked to approve this project. Electronic communications can be sent to Ruby Pap at rpap@coastal.ca.gov.

San Mateo County Chapter Water Quality Monitoring
What a great holiday season we had! Lots to be thankful for, including "green light" readings for all the coastal sites the chapter monitors for fecal indicator bacteria. Woohoo! BUT, this week has been a rainy one, and everyone knows that "it all flows downstream", so be sure to check on this weekend's test results by checking out Surfrider SMC on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Surfridersmc

Leadership Opportunities
...see the column to the far right!

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All said, Surfrider SMC hope that you are getting a great, if not wet, start to the new year!

Cheers,
Your Friends at Surfrider Foundation San Mateo County Chapter
www.surfridersmc.org
involve2010@surfridersmc.org