Friday, March 7, 2014

2014 Surfrider Foundation Internship

Internship Opportunity
Washington Ocean Recreation Outreach Coordinator

The Surfrider Foundation seeks a Washington Recreation Outreach Coordinator to support stakeholder engagement in marine spatial planning. The position’s main responsibility is to identify, communicate with, and engage recreational interests throughout Washington in the state’s marine spatial planning process for the Pacific coast. The intern will work under the direction of Casey Dennehy, Washington Pacific Coast Manager, and Brice Boland, Washington Field Manager, and requires 10-15 hours per week for 6-12 months.

Position Responsibilities:
1.     Identify groups, associations, and businesses that broadly represent ocean and coastal recreation in Washington
2.     Conduct outreach to recreation interests by email and other media, phone, and in-person meetings on ocean planning and Surfrider’s engagement in the process
3.     Organize workshops and public forums to present data from Surfrider’s recreational use study and solicit feedback on draft maps and other study products
4.     Promote opportunities for the recreation sector to participate in ocean planning through public meetings, comment periods, and workshops.
5.     Manage and update the Washington Recreational Gatekeeper Database
6.     Implement a social media campaign to promote engagement of recreational users in the ocean planning process
7.     Develop outreach materials for recreational users on regional ocean planning
8.     Meet and collaborate with project partners including The Nature Conservancy, Point 97/Ecotrust, Resource Media and others

Desired Qualifications:
1.       Ability to communicate effectively with ocean stakeholders, using both in-person and written strategies
2.       Proficient with Facebook, Twitter, Mailchimp, and other digital communications
3.       Knowledge of ocean and coastal recreation in Washington
4.       Ability to work flexible hours from a home office or on the road
5.       Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Excel
6.       Access to a vehicle

Hours and Compensation:
The position is 10 – 15 hours per week for 6 - 12 months. Compensation is $12 per hour and travel is reimbursed.

To Apply:
Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume and references by March 21st 2014 to: Casey Dennehy at cdennehy@surfrider.org

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Fukushima Radiation Frequently Asked Questions

Illustration by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
We've been getting a lot of questions lately about how the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan is affecting the health and safety of those living along the Eastern Pacific (West Coast of the US and Canada). We have put together this Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) to help address the most common questions we are getting.

1. Is Surfrider tracking concerns that radiation from Fukushima is affecting the West Coast?

Yes. We are carefully following the results of scientific studies that are being conducted to evaluate the potential spread of radiation from Fukushima to the Pacific Coast via air, water and marine life.  We have summarized these issues and have provided links to further information in our Beachapedia article Radiation From Fukushima. We are updating this article constantly. http://www.beachapedia.org/Radiation_From_Fukushima

2. Is the news out there regarding Fukushima correct and accurate?

There are a lot of conflicting reports in the news and on various websites and blogs.  There have been many sensationalist reports that are not supported by scientific data and studies.  Again, we’ve summarized the latest verifiable data and reports in our Beachapedia article, which also contains links to responses to some of the blogs and news reports that have raised concerns. An example is this article written by a Surfrider Foundation staff scientist that was published in The Inertia. http://www.theinertia.com/environment/fukushima-maybe-it-isnt-the-end-of-the-world/

The entire FAQ article can be found here.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Give the Gift of Surfrider!


Dear Friend of Surfrider,

Today is the absolute, final day we can take your order so it arrives on your loved one's doorstep in time for the holidays. It's also your last chance to be entered into the drawing to win one of two Firewire surfboards!

When you purchase a Holiday Gift Membership, you're not only giving the gift of enjoyment to your favorite beach enthusiast, but you are protecting and preserving our oceans, waves and beaches for everyone to enjoy. It's a gift that truly gives back...

Click here to order!

Happy Holidays to you and yours,

The Surfrider Foundation

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Short Notice Beach Cleanup This Saturday (Dec 7th) in Westport

Please join us for an impromptu beach cleanup this Saturday, December 7th at Westhaven State Park in Westport.  We will be scouring the beach for plastic, foam, and other debris from 1-3 pm.  See you there!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

2013 Coastal Marine Resource Committee Summit


First of all, I’d like to again thank everyone for participating in the 4th annual coastal MRC summit.  It was a great collection of dedicated individuals, and the presentations were very informative.  I hope everyone was able learn some lessons and went home with plenty of new knowledge.

I would also like to thank Carrie Backman, Carol Ervest, Wahkiakum County MRC and the entire Cathlamet community for hosting us.  Numerous people commented on how pleasant and welcoming the entire town was.  A high bar has been set for next year’s summit!

There were many requests for the powerpoint presentations from our speakers.  Almost all have confirmed that I can share those presentations with the group, and more may become available soon. Those that are available now can be accessed by clicking on the respective presentation below.

Additionally, Cathy Lear has asked that I pass along some additional info regarding two public forums in Port Angeles next week, which will cover ecosystem services evaluation.
Join us for a public forum on the economic value of Clallam County ecosystems. The forums will be held in the Commissioners’ meeting room at the Clallam County courthouse, 23 E. 4th Street, Port Angeles. Click here for more details. 
Dave Batker, Tracy Stanton, & Lola Flores, of Earth Economics will describe natural capital accounting, and ecosystem service values in Clallam County with emphasis on the central Clallam County nearshore. 
Two 2-hour sessions on December 5th will introduce the basics of ecosystem services valuation (ESV) and mechanics of these tools to quantify the economic value of specific services in Clallam County.  The December 6th session will provide an overview presentation of Ecosystem Services of the Central Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Ecosystem Recovery Network. The ecosystem services valuations are part of a larger study funded by EPA and WDFW.
Again, thanks to all those who attended the summit and your continued dedication to our marine resources!

Details about the summit are below. Presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the
blue highlighted text.

Dates
    November 7th – 9th, 2013
Location
    Cathlamet, Washington
Venues
    Wahkiakum County Building - 64 Main Street
    Pioneer Church - 100 Main Street
Lodging
     Hotel Cathlamet - 69 Main Street

Agenda

November 7th - Wahkiakum County Building - Commissioners Room (3rd floor)
  1:00    Facilitating Collaborative Meetings Intro - Kelly Rupp, Bev Arnoldy, Eric Delvin
  1:10    Organizing & Running Effective Meetings
             Public vs. Other Meetings
  2:00    Group Decision Making Dynamics and Processes
  3:30    Meeting Management Using Parliamentary Procedure
  4:00    Panel Discussion  (with special guests Frank Wolfe, Mark Swartout, and Jackie Ferrier)
  5:00    Wrap-up and Adjourn
  6:00    Happy Hour - Tsuga Art Gallery

November 8th - Pioneer Church
  7:30    Breakfast and socializing - Thyme Square Bistro (next to Hotel Cathlamet)
  8:30    Greetings and Introduction - Carrie Backman
  8:40    MRC Updates
                - Whakiukum County MRC - Carrie Backman
                - Pacific County MRC - Megan Martin
                - Grays Harbor County MRC - Garrett Dalan
                - North Pacific Coast MRC - Tami Pokorny
  9:40    Columbia Fishing Regulations and Impacts on Coastal Fisheries - Mike Burner
  11:00  Funding Coastal Restoration Projects – Eric Delvin
  12:00  Lunch
  1:00    Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Updates
                - Shoreline Master Program Update Overview – Kim Van Zwalenburg
                - Aquaculture SMP Guidance – Cedar Bouta
                - Relationship between SMP Updates and Marine Spatial Planning – Jennifer Hennessey
                - Lessons learned from Clallam County Update Process – Cathy Lear
                - Panel Q&A
  4:00    Cathlamet Walking Tour - Local History and Marine Resources
  6:00    Dinner - Thyme Square Bistro

November 9th - Pioneer Church
  8:00    Breakfast and socializing - Thyme Square Bistro
  9:00    Ocean Acidification: From Knowledge to Action
- Carbon Exports and Ocean Acidification - Eric Swenson
- Cultivating Seaweed to Mitigate OA, Generate Habitat, Fertilizer, Food & Fuel - Mike Rust
                - Creating Refuges from Acidification and Sea Level Rise - Brad Warren
  12:00  Working Lunch Focusing on Planning Process with Ocean Acidification Group
  1:00    WCMAC Developments and Coordinating MRC Activities - Doug Kess
  1:30    Marine Plastic Pollution - Angel White
  2:15    The Science of Hatchery and Harvest Reform - Andy Appleby and Steve Smith
  3:00    Closing Remarks and Conclusion

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Best MSP Video To Date

The Surfrider Foundation is working with several partner organizations to bring to you, the residents of Washington State, the most comprehensive planning process for coastal and marine resources to date.

To educate the public and encourage participation in the process, we have developed a short video that explains what Marine Spatial Planing (MSP) is really all about, why it is important, and how you can get involved.

To learn more and get engaged in the MSP process, visit:
http://www.msp.wa.gov/

For more about Surfrider in Washington state, visit:
http://wa.surfrider.org/