Be There or Be Square

Be There on Big Wednesday!

Join hundreds, if not thousands, of Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents of the toll road in Del Mar for a rally at the CCC hearing. Come help us send a clear message that our State Parks and open spaces deserve saving! 

When: Wednesday, February 6th, 2008. Please arrive by 9am.

Where: Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 - Just off the I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit., click here for directions. Please carpool or take one of our buses if you can.

The Surfrider Foundation and partners are renting buses and organizing carpools in San Clemente and San Diego . We are also providing lunch, tee shirts, and posters/sign for all supporters. Surfrider has it all organizedyou just need to show up. If you have questions about the hearing, or are interested in organized transportation, email Stefanie: SSekich@surfrider.org

Surfrider is also offering prizes, including two hand-shaped Rusty Preisendorfer surfboards, to attendees who show up in the most creative and original "Save Trestles" themed outfit

Venue Change for the Coastal Commission Hearing!

The venue for the Coastal Commission hearing has changed to the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Which is great because now hundreds (if not thousands) of Surfrider Foundation activists and opponents of the toll road can fit into the hearing room! 

When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Please arrive by 9am.

Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds--at Wyland. Hall 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014 - Just off the I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la Valle exit.

The Governator Is At It Again

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a letter in support of the proposed 241 toll road extension. The letter was issued just two weeks before a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission to determine if the proposed extension violates the California Coastal Act. A staff report prepared by the CCC concludes that it does. "We are absolutely taken aback by this," said Surfrider Foundation CEO Jim Moriarty. "For the Governor to take this unprecedented step of interfering with the workings of an independent and non-political commission, an entity which was established by California voters and whose sole responsibility is to decide the future of California's coasts and beaches based on law and fact, is entirely inappropriate." The disappointing announcement comes just six days after the California Governor unveiled his plans to close forty-eight California State Parks. "We had hoped that Governor Schwarzenegger was insincere in his threat to close state parks and beaches," says Moriarty. "It now appears that he is absolutely intent on sacrificing our state park system and natural resources for his political objectives." The California State Parks Department has maintained that they may be forced to abandon nearly sixty percent of San Onofre State Beach Park, including the popular San Mateo Creek Campground, should the proposed extension to the 241 toll road be completed. Governor Schwarzenegger's failure to support San Onofre State Beach Park by endorsing the 241 toll road extension is in direct contrast to the efforts of his Republican predecessors, President Richard M. Nixon and then-Governor Ronald Reagan, both of whom worked to establish San Onofre State Beach as a part of their legacy; hoping that it would exist as a resource to be used and enjoyed by future generations. The Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents to the planned toll road will be gathering in Oceanside, California on February 6th for a planned rally outside the California Coastal Commission hearing. All members of the public are invited to attend.

Please send the Governor a Letter Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: I am writing in response to your letter to the California Coastal Commission, urging them to support the Toll Road through the San Onofre State Park and Beach. I strongly oppose your decision, and the toll road that will destroy California's fifth most visited state park. Voters established the Coastal Commission to be independent and nonpolitical, and decide on the future of our coast based on the facts and the law. San Onofre State Beach gets over two million visitors to the beach portion each year, and over one hundred and sixty thousand visitors to the park's two campgrounds. There are many reasons for the popularity of this beach and park. Since it was recognized as a State Beach in 1971, San Onofre has attracted surfers with its outstanding surf, quiet, accessible inland campground (in close proximity to the beach), and an environment that offers Southern California families the opportunity to experience the coast and nature in the middle of an otherwise overwhelmingly urban area. It is disturbing that as our Governor you have decided to improperly inject politics to what should be decision based on facts and laws. I hope that in the future you will not interfere with independent and nonpolitical commissions so they can do their jobs and fairly represent California's best interest, not yours. Sincerely, Email it here: click here Be sure you use the drop down menu and pick "San Onofre Toll Road" and check "Con". Then fill in your email with the letter template Or, mail it here: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814

Show The Coastal Commission What You Think

Big Wednesday....Save Trestles Dear Surfrider Supporter, On Wednesday, February 6th, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) will hear an application for a proposed toll road that will run through San Onofre State Park. This project threatens precious coastal open space, water quality and the surf break at Trestles, and it would set a dangerous precedent for YOUR State Park system. Join hundreds of Surfrider Foundation activists and other opponents of the toll road in Oceanside for a rally outside the CCC hearing. Come help us send a clear message that our State Parks and open spaces deserve saving! What: Crucial Vote to Save Trestles at California Coastal Commission When: Wednesday, February 6th, 2008. Please arrive by 9am. Where: Oceanside City Council Chambers-- 300 North Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 (take the Mission Blvd exit, head west; park at the public parking area just past Coast Highway. Please consider carpooling and taking the train/public transit). We have some limited space on a few of our buses: contact Stefanie ASAP if you are interested in transportation and carpooling. SSekich@surfrider.org Please click here for more information.

Latest Trestles Update

Get Ready, Set...and GO!!!

The California Coastal Commission meeting is in sight!

Next week, we are heading to San Pedro to Save Trestles and we hope you'll join us!

We are renting buses, so if you want to hitch a ride with us, please reserve your space ASAP--bus seats are limited.

If you want a bus leaving from San Diego; email Stefanie at: SSekich@surfrider.org and if you want a bus leaving from San Clemente, email Robin of Sierra Club: robin.everett@sierraclub.org

If live close to LA, please attend the meeting. We need to pack the house and demonstrate how many people do not want this toll road.

What: California Coastal Commission Hearing for Toll Road Application
When: Thursday, Oct 11. Please arrive by 11am. If you are coming on the bus, we will send you bus departure times and locations.
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel--Los Angeles Harbor Hotel. 601 S. Palos Verdes St. San Pedro, CA 90731
Why: To Save Trestles and San Onofre State Park from a disastrous toll road.

Please go to: www.savetrestles.org and click on "updates" to see a map and the agenda for the day.

Paddle Out for Trestles

Before We See You in San Pedro....We Want to See You in the Water.

This Saturday, Oct 6, at 10 am we are having a "Paddle Out" to raise awareness for the Coastal Commission Hearing.

Join Surfrider and Sierra Club at Trestles Beach (Uppers), to help us celebrate the beauty of Trestles while paddling out to raise awareness about the Coastal Commission Hearing and the Save Trestles campaign.

We will have several campaign experts available who can answer questions about the toll road and what's being done to SAVE TRESTLES.

Drop us an email if you have questions: savetrestles@surfrider.org


See YOU in the water!!

What's the State of Your Beach?

The Surfrider Foundation's 2007 State of the Beach report has been released! You can read this comprehensive and informative report on the health of our beaches at http://www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach. Although the core audience for this report is coastal managers across the US, the State of the Beach report also empowers concerned beach users like you by providing detailed information to take action on behalf of your coast. The report evaluates the status of 9 Beach Health Indicators: beach access, surf zone water quality, erosion data, erosion response, beach fill, shoreline structures, beach ecology, surfing areas and website for 25 coastal states and territories. The featured indicator this year is surf zone water quality. Water quality at our beaches continues to be impaired by both non-point source pollution and episodic sewer spills threatening the health of beach goers, surfers and ocean wildlife. The sections of each state report provide numerous links to easily access additional information, data and reports produced by state agencies, academic institutions and other organizations. You can also view bonus State of the Beach report sections including: The Bad and the Rad - factoids highlighting information on what's wrong and what's right along our coasts. Perspectives - articles by Surfrider foundation staff, activists and other environmentalists regarding the state of our beaches and coastal waters. Our Beach Manifesto - Surfrider Foundation's goals for coastal conditions and coastal management policy. Please take a look at the State of the Beach report. If you would like a printed executive summary of this report, have questions or would like to give us feedback, feel free to contact us at stateofthebeach@surfrider.org.