Mid-Atlantic
Welcome to Surfrider in the Mid-Atlantic! Here you can find Surfrider news and information from the five states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia plus Washington DC. More Details
Chapter Highlights, September 2013
The East Coast Regional Surfrider meeting will take place October 11-13, 2013 in Virginia Beach, VA. The annual meeting is a chance for Surfrider volunteers to learn effective chapter skills, gain knowledge on ocean topics, as well as meet other chapter folks and regional staff. Talk to your chapter executive committee members if you are interested in attending, as there is a limited amount of space.
NY: The Eastern Long Island Chapter wanted to start a Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) water quality testing program but the costs were prohibitive. To get around that issue the chapter partnered with Concerned Citizens of Montauk, a local advocacy group who agreed to share costs with them. The chapter also made water testing the focus of their yearly fundraiser, showing attendees exactly what their money would be used for–a great strategy for fundraising. See their testing results here.
NJ: The Jersey Shore Chapter of Surfrider is concerned about the many post-Sandy beach fill (“renourishment”) projects happening in their area. To keep track of the various projects, the chapter is organizing volunteers to monitor and document beach conditions prior to, and after beach fills by taking sand samples and video evidence. The chapter will then be in the position to alert government authorities if beach slopes are not formed correctly or if poor sand is being used. For more Information visit their website.
New York Better than New Jersey?
Surfrider’s recreation survey has been online since July and the numbers are in—see which states are leading the charge in completed surveys:
We Need Your Help Collecting Data on Mid-Atlantic Recreation!
Your help is needed to ensure that your favorite recreational areas are considered in coastal and ocean planning coming to the Mid-Atlantic. The Surfrider Foundation, partnering with Ecotrust, Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute, and The Nature Conservancy and in close collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, is conducting an online survey of recreational uses such as beach goers, swimmers, beach wildlife viewers, surfers, kayakers, windsurfers, and divers.
Participation is simple: go to http://www.surfrider.org/mid-atlantic-recreation and enter your email address. You can then fill out the survey at your own pace, saving as you go.
Sandy at Six Months: What is Surfrider Doing?
Hurricane Sandy struck coastal areas in the New York/New Jersey area on October 29, 2012. Hurricane Sandy was the second-costliest hurricane in United States history and there were at least 75 direct deaths in eight states. During the onslaught, damaged and overwhelmed wastewater infrastructure released eleven billion gallons of untreated and partially treated sewage.
The National Ocean Policy: It Might Affect Your Beach
The National Ocean Policy (NOP) sounds like a wonky and esoteric topic overheard in a Washington D.C. bar. Well it is! However, the NOP is worth learning about because it will be shaping how coastal and ocean resources will be managed for years to come. And the NOP includes specific recommendations that could affect your favorite surf spot, so read on!
Chapter Highlights, July 2013
Mark your calendars: The East Coast Regional Surfrider meeting will take place October 11-13, 2013, location TBD. This annual meeting is a chance for Surfrider volunteers to learn effective chapter skills, gain knowledge on ocean topics, as well as meet other chapter folks and regional staff.
VA: The Virginia Beach Chapter has partnered with the East Coast Surfing Championships to make sure their surfing competition is more environmentally friendly. By going to the source of the pollution, they are ensuring that less trash will end up on the beach after the event is over! Read more here.
CLI: The Central Long Island Chapter brought their beach cleanup into the water, by dragging chains to find hard objects below the waterline. See pictures of the weird stuff they found here.
DE: The Delaware Chapter partnered with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to have an in-person discussion about a beach fill project near a popular surf break. Reporters showed up to their Chapter meeting! Read more here.
Offshore Wind at the Federal Level and in Your State
Keeping up with offshore wind power developments is a full-time job. We summarized the latest happenings from each state in the Mid-Atlantic and provided links to tons of great additional information. We also put together a summary of how the federal government manages offshore wind power. Another great resource for understanding offshore wind is MARCO’s Guide to State Management of Offshore Wind Energy.
Seismic Surveys: The Gateway Drug to Oil and Gas Drilling
By fall 2013 the Department of Interior will decide whether to conduct seismic airgun surveys off the Mid and South Atlantic coasts to assess oil and gas resources. The Administration’s proposed surveys, laid out in their Five Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, will employ loud and damaging technologies and are the first step in opening new areas to oil drilling.
Three Recreation Surveys in the Mid-Atlantic
Check out this short article on three projects collecting data on surfers and other groups in the Mid-Atlantic:
