Florida Chapter Network
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Sebastian Inlet Chapter Update
See below for a number of upcoming events in the Sebastian Inlet area!
May 18- Hands Across the Sand 11am Lori Wilson Park. Kickoff of seismic testing campaign
May 25- TWO EVENTS Reef Appreciation Day noon – 4pm back porch of Balsa Bill’s, that evening Sebastian Inlet Surf and Sport One Year Anniversary Party 6pm on….
April 1&2- Watermans contest International Palms Resort Cocoa Beach. Roger should lead our A-team to victory.
April 8- Space Coast Reef presentation at Barrier Island Center County staff invited me to talk/show pictures on the nearshore reef, in conjunction with another gentleman who will be talking about our offshore reefs. Time tbd, will announce…
April 19- Coasters Pub. Our monthly meeting made into large party for our new sponsor.
April 22- ISD at Ocean Ave Park, Mel Beach
Visit sebastianinlet.surfrider.org to learn more!
Cocoa Beach Chapter Update
Here are some upcoming events from the Cocoa Beach Chapter
May 15 – Monthly meeting (THIS WEDNESDAY!) at Paradise Park, 7:30pm
May 18 – Hands Across the Sand- In cooperation with the Cocoa Beach Chapter, come to Lori Wilson Park at 11 am and join hands at noon to show support for a clean energy future and opposition to proposed seismic testing off our coast. These powerful sonic blasts would kill or injure thousands of whales and dolphins if permitted.
May 25 – Reef Appreciation Day- Noon to ~4pm behind Balsa Bill’s; learn about the Space Coast Reef and explore exposed portions on a big minus tide.
May 25 – One Year Anniversary Party at Sebastian Inlet Surf and Sport; 6pm-??… Lots of food, fun, and music on their fabulous front porch.
June 1 and 2 – Waterman’s Contest in Cocoa Beach, the Surfrider challenge pits chapter teams from around the state against each other in a friendly rivalry.
June 8 – A presentation on the Space Coast Reef (with lots of pictures) at the Barrier Island Center.
June 19 – Party! At Coasters Brew Pub! We’re going to make our June meeting a Wednesday night bash at THE PLACE for the best beers in town. Explore the outdoor beergarden and enjoy the updated food menu with us!
June 22 – International Surfing Day at Ocean Ave Park In Melbourne Beach. All day long, activities include giveaways and free surf lessons for kids.
Visit cocoabeach.surfrider.org for more information!
May 18th: Hands Across the Sand
This Saturday, May 18th, the Florida Chapters of the Surfrider Foundation will gather across the state to say NO to dirty, dangerous offshore drilling and YES to clean, renewable energy. Making this year’s events even more critical are the newly released DOI plans to expand seismic testing off the East Coast and in waters from Jacksonville to Cocoa Beach. Seismic testing seriously impacts marine animals, and could injure upwards of 130,000 whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals over the next eight years. Additionally, seismic surveys are the first step in expanded offshore oil and gas exploration.
Please show your opposition to seismic surveys and expanded oil and gas exploration by joining Hands Across the Sand this Saturday at noon. Find an event near you by clicking here!
February Chapter Updates
As always, the Florida Chapters are busy with successful events, campaigns, and programs. Here are a few highlights from Chapters across the state:
Emerald Coast:
The Emerald Coast Chapter was invited to present the findings of their extensive research on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the Deepwater Horizon Research Consortium in New Orleans. Chapter members presented a poster, “Persistence of PAH’s in Beach Sand” and shared their research on the impacts of the spill with a wide audience of scientists, community members, and decision makers.
Suncoast:
The Suncoast Chapter kicked off the New Year in style with their 2013 Party at the Pier! The Chapter gathered over 300 members, sponsors and friends for this annual event. The Party at the Pier was created to raise awareness of the Suncoast Chapter, recruit new members, and to generate funds to fight plastic pollution though the RAP program. In addition to the many contributions of local businesses, several outstanding local bands donated their time and talent to make this event the perfect kickoff for a new year!
Central Florida:
The Central Florida Chapter has a number of upcoming events in progress. The Chapter has a tabling event at “Speak Up Wekiva” Feb 16th and a tabling event at “Welcome to Jam Rocks” on March 30th. The Chapter also has a beach cleanup tentatively scheduled for February 23rd at Playalinda Beach.
First Coast:
The First Coast Chapter will hold their monthly membership meeting and surf movie night at Green Room Brewing on February 19th. At the meeting they will have a special presentation about our Rise Above Plastics national campaign.
Volusia-Flagler:
The Volusia-Flager Chapter is actively looking for volunteers to help plan the upcoming year’s activities. Get involved and help the Chapter host some outstanding events in 2013!
Cocoa Beach:
On February 9th, the Cocoa Beach Chapter will gather volunteers and community members to plant approximately 1,700 sea oat sprouts! Since 2005, the Chapter has successfully partnered with the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office to share the cost of these sea oats, and promote the re-vegetation of damaged or barren dunes.
Sebastian Inlet:
Join the Sebastian Inlet Chapter for a dune planting in Archie Carr NWR on February 16th. Learn what coastal changes science supports and how you can help protect one of the world’s most significant sea turtle nesting habitats. Coastal resident participants will receive free sea oat seedlings and permits to plant to help restore the dunes and sea turtle nesting habitat of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and barrier island beaches.
Palm Beach County:
The Palm Beach County Chapter kicked off 2013 with its first ever Irish Surf Party at O’shea’s Irish Pub. The Chapter also hosted a beach cleanup at Lake Worth Beach with the Ocean Crusaders at Sacred Heart School. Both events were very successful!
Broward County:
The Broward County Chapter hosted a beach cleanup for the sales staff of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. The Chapter was excited to once again partner with Barefoot Wine & Bubbly for a fun a productive event.
Miami:
The Miami Chapter is hosting a movie night on February 16th at Wynwood. The event will feature a screening of Kai Neville’s “Dear Suburbia”, underground SoBe Sandy footage, Kona Beer & Barefoot Wine, and music by Kulcha Shok w-Space Ape.
Action Alert: Save Upham Beach
Time to take action!
The DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and the USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) are about to decide on the state of YOUR beach! FREE UPHAM!
Please take the time to write or call into the persons listed and voice your opinion!
NO ONE should have a stake in YOUR beach and surf zone more than YOU!
The rock T-Groins should not be installed for the following reasons:
1. Current Project has not met the 50% overall sand saving projection
2. Financial feasibility and cost saving calculations contain errors
3. Project has not proven nourishment cycle will be lengthened to 6 years
4. Safety hazard of rock implementation has not been addressed
5. Diminished recreational usage of public beach has not fully been addressed
6.Public has not been advised the total cost of combined rock implementation equates to an estimate of $17 million
Ms. Danielle Fondren
Bureau Chief
Beaches and Coastal Systems
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Mail Station 300
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
Danielle.Fondren@dep.state.fl.us
Tracy Hurst, Biologist
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
10117 Princess Palm Ave., Suite 120
Tampa, FL 33610
813/769-7063
Tracy.E.Hurst@usace.army.mil
My Beach Pledge
This is my beach! There are many like it, but this one is mine!
We are starting a new kind of localism! If you treasure your beach and want to protect it, take the My Beach Pledge. Respect your beach by pledging to:
1. Never leave trash on the beach.
2. Pick up three pieces of trash every time you visit the beach.
3. Stop using plastic shopping bags and buy fewer “disposable” products.
Hands Across the Sand
On August 4, 2012 people across the world will join hands to protect their beaches and shores. Hands Across the Sand is a movement made up of people from all walks of life. We are parents, friends, neighbors, small business owners, and sportsmen. We span political lines, geographic boundaries, and socio-economic groups. We are united by the desire to protect our coastal economies, oceans, wildlife, fisheries, and way of life.
Offshore drilling is dirty, dangerous, and unsustainable. With 183 spills reported by the U.S. Mineral Management Service from 1995-2010, it is only a matter of time before the next catastrophic spill. Recreational saltwater fishing in Florida provides over 50,000 jobs and has an economic impact of $5.7 billion. That’s just a drop in the bucket compared to Florida’s $28 billion tourism industry. Our coastal resources are simply too great to risk another Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Visit www.handsacrossthesand.org to find an event in your area!
2012 Waterman’s Challenge Announced
The 2012 Surfrider Challenge at the Waterman’s Challenge
presented by
The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum and the Cocoa Beach Chapter of Surfrider Foundation
The Cocoa Beach Chapter of Surfrider Foundation hereby challenges all other Surfrider Foundation Chapters to a team surfing competition to be held during the 11th Annual Waterman’s Challenge in the Surfing Capital of the East Coast, Cocoa Beach, Florida.
When: June 2, 2012
Where: The International Palms Resort in Cocoa Beach, FL
Click here to find out more: 2012 Surfrider Challenge
Raffle Surfboard:
Drawing at Waterman’s Challenge Luau June 2, 2010.
Tickets $10 each only 300 will be sold.
Need not be present to win. email Joann to buy tickets: jmbathome@cfl.rr.com
First Coast Chapter Beach Access Restriction Victory
The official closing time in the summer months (April through October) is 8pm at Huguenot Memorial Park and Hanna Park. However, recently the parks have been closing at 6pm due to “budget cuts,” and parking citations are being issued to anyone that is in the park later than this. The Chapter was told that the Jacksonville City Council has the sole authority to change the park hours, but they haven’t. Not only does that question the legality of the change of hours, but also the citations many may have received from the JSO. It was a city-wide effort to save money in the least effective way while limiting recreation opportunities.
After numerous letters and complaints, the City Council voted on April 18th to ensure that starting April 28th the parks will be back to summer hours.
Recent Media Coverage
http://m.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-04-17/story/jacksonvilles-ocean-parks-soon-stay-open-later
Coastal Management: Insurance Reform Efforts
Surfrider Foundation was invited to a conference held in Orlando 4/12-4/13, dealing with insurance reform. As some of you may know, all of us in Florida are still paying assessments on our insurance (and not just homeowners, it’s on your auto , etc policies also) related to the 2004-5 hurricanes. Due to the strange way insurance operates in Florida, if there was true catastrophe we would all be socked with HUGE assessments for long periods of time.
The goal of reform is to make property owners right on the coast and in floodplain areas pay premiums (much higher) that would reflect their true risk. The upside for the environment is that this reform would discourage development in these environmentally sensitive areas, by making insurance costs sky-high. As it is, we’re all subsidizing insurance for those beachfront homes.
Here’s a synopsis of the conference:
Primary sponsor: RenaissanceRe (large re-insurance company), Co-sponsors NWF and FWF
Summary:
31 invitations-only participants (thanks for allowing me to represent Surfrider Foundation), discussion of how artificially low insurance rates – derived either from improper spread of risk or overhangs – encourage development in coastal and floodplain areas.
Nationally, the focus is on the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program), and how it has evolved from its original goal of discouraging risk to actually facilitating growth in wrong places. Coastal Barriers Resource Act (1982, expanded 1990) protections are being corrupted.
In Florida, the focus is Citizens and its re-insurer Cat Fund. Private insurance (and their re-insurers) want back into the market at profitable rates. Free market conservatives and conservationists are finding common ground; the linkage between high risk and environmental sensitivity borders on a direct correlation.
Paths to reform are the objective. Avoiding paying the piper through huge post ‘’big storm ’’ assessments and inhibiting development in sensitive areas are the payoffs. Businesses also want to avoid the uncertainty of future assessments as they would be on the hook for some massive bills.
Current Actions:
Bills such as the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 need our support in US Senate. In Florida, numerous bills have been advanced to reform Citizens and the Cat Fund, none successfully.
Future Actions:
Working on strategies for further legislative efforts to reform situation in Florida is the primary task moving forward. Also blocking current proposals to free up CBRA lands for development in panhandle is key, if we lose there it weakens the whole program and could set precedent for further erosion (pun intentional) of CBRA.