May 18-20: Outer Banks Surf Trip
The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research, and education.
Sign up to be a volunteer!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
May 7: Chapter Meeting, 6:30 pm, Patagonia
May 21: Movie Night, 7 pm
Jun 21: After-work Paddle, 6 pm
Jun 22: Ripple, 8 pm
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FRIENDS OF DC SURFRIDER:
• NOT A CRIME! Man Arrested For Surfing in Chicago
• Tsunami Debris Washes Ashore in Washington
• Baltimore Plans to Make Harbor Swimmable by 2020
• Plastic Bags Banned in San Luis Obispo County
• Portland Passes Bag Ban
• Tsunami Debris Washes Ashore in Washington
• Baltimore Plans to Make Harbor Swimmable by 2020
• Plastic Bags Banned in San Luis Obispo County
• Portland Passes Bag Ban
No Bags in the Bay! Update
Our chapter is a member of the Trash Free Maryland and Trash Free Virginia Alliances, two networks created to elevate environmental policy in Annapolis and Richmond. The Alliances are currently working on legislation in both states that would enact a 5-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags, just like has been so successful in DC.
DC Surfrider in the Outer Banks!
For five years chapter members have convened on Hatteras Island for a long weekend of surf, sun, and merriment. Check out this video from our May 2010 trip!
Want to join in the fun? Our next trip is planned for September 24-26.
Help Surfrider Chapters on the Gulf
From our location in the Mid-Atlantic, it can be frustrating to watch the Gulf spill gushing every day, with so little that we can do. Our friends at the Emerald Coast Chapter (FL Panhandle) are launching an effort to test the water off their shores for chemical dispersant. Beachgoers are reporting skin and eye irritations, shortness of breath, and even coughing up blood, but no agency or BP is currently monitoring the chemical contamination.
Unfortunately these tests cost $350 each--a steep sum for any chapter. If you can donate, even a small amount, please visit their website and click on the Donate button on the right side.
No Bags in the Bay!
DC's five-cent disposable bag fee has been a smashing success, with 80-percent reduction in plastic bag demand in just the first month of the fee. But we don't live in a bubble. We'd like to see the initiative expand into Maryland and Virginia. This summer, the DC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be launching "No Bags in the Bay," a campaign to impose a small fee on plastic and paper bags in Maryland and Virginia and reduce their prevalence in our waterways. If you're interested in getting involved, please e-mail us!
Hold On to Your Hose
Did you know the way you maintain your business or property can affect the health of our rivers? Using too much water, particularly to wash sidewalks and outdoor fixtures, contributes to water pollution. Together with the Capitol Hill and Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement Districts, the DC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be exploring ways to help property owners reduce their water usage while keeping the neighborhood--and the rivers--clean and safe. Pilot programs are rolling out this summer. Contact dcchapter@surfrider.org for more info, or to volunteer for our campaign.
A Big Blue Thank You to Our Volunteers
On Saturday, January 9, 2010, we held our first annual volunteer appreciation and holiday party, Beers for Our Boarders. Held at Fight Club, the event featured surf rock by The Diamondheads, skate performances by top local skaters at the indoor bowl, and complimentary wine and beer courtesy of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Heineken USA.
We also presented appreciation awards to our supporters and in-kind donors, as well as our first annual Wavemaker Award, given to DC Councilmember Tommy Wells in recognition of his environmental leadership in 2009. We worked closely with Councilmember Wells and his staff to pass the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act, a landmark law that makes DC the first city in the country to charge a fee for single-use plastic and paper bags.
Beach Access Goes Before the Supreme Court
Members of Surfrider Foundation's Atlanta, Emerald Coast, and DC Chapters attended oral arguments before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 2. The case, Florida Department of Environmental Protection v. Stop the Beach Renourishment, pits Florida beachfront homeowners against the state, who is seeking to add sand to the beaches of Destin to slow down erosion. The state is seeking to make the new portion of beach open to the public, while the current property line extends to the high water line. Surfrider Foundation filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the state, asserting that beaches should be open to the public.
Read the transcript of the arguments here.
DC's Biggest Paddle Ever
Nearly 100 people turned out on a cloudy, breezy September Saturday to stand up, row, and paddle for clean water and healthy rivers and oceans. We were joined by renowned ocean activist Margo Pellegrino, students from Gallaudet and George Washington Universities, and a staffer of Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Paddlers picked up trash at Roosevelt Island and Rock Creek, signed petitions for trash reduction legislation in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and celebrated the joys of water recreation. Special thanks to our volunteers and event partners: REI, Whole Foods, National Park Service, and EarthShare. To see more photos, check us out on Flickr.
Stop the Rehoboth Beach Outfall!
The Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, town council is considering installing an outfall pipe to dispose of their wastewater. What does this mean to you? They want to pump partially treated sewage into the ocean. Yes, you'd essentially be surfing in poo.
Outfall pipes are an archaic wastewater handling method, and many states are shutting theirs off. Rehoboth Beach is behind the times, and we--and the ocean--stand to pay for it.
Let them know this is not an acceptable solution. Click here to send your comments to Rehoboth Beach town leaders.
TEACHERS!: Bring the beach to your classroom
Click here for information about Surfrider's Respect The Beach educational program that brings watershed models into the classroom.
A Standout Cleanup
Two dozen volunteers came out for the Summer/Fall Adopt A Beach Cleanup at Keybox Road on August 15. Volunteers collected 20 bags of trash, including balloons, a boot, glass bottles, and wood. Special thanks to Matt Ramsey from East of Maui for the free lessons in stand-up paddleboarding--the first time many volunteers had tried the sport.
Chapter Elections
Congratulations to our new Executive Committee: Julie, JD, Mike, Megan, Cheryl, Beth, and Jason!
Cleaning the Anacostia by Canoe
More than 40 members and friends of Surfrider's DC Chapter took to the water on August 1, using canoes and kayaks to remove trash from the Anacostia River. The trash collected filled more than two pickup trucks, and included lots of bottles, cans, sports balls, and even 14 tires and a car bumper. Enough materials to build a car! (photo)
Barefoot at Hains Point!
Okay, not really. Thanks to the 40 volunteers who came out to Hains Point on July 18 for the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project River Cleanup! We picked up three or four dozen bags of trash, much of it washed up from high Potomac waters. It's all in an effort to make our beaches--and our riverbanks--barefoot friendly!
Thanks also to our partners, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Hard Rock Cafe, and REI!
Bag the Bag!
We have a law! The Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act has passed the DC Council, unanimously! Thanks to all the volunteers who stood outside grocery stores, staffed cleanups, signed postcards, attended hearings, and made dozens of calls and e-mails!
For information about the bill, click here! Also see the Post's story.
Volunteers Remove Over 1 Ton of Trash from Potomac
Associates of national consulting firm Accenture joined volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation's DC Chapter in collecting over one ton of trash from the banks of the Potomac River, on February 16. Working along the Mount Vernon Trail and on Roosevelt Island near Arlington, the volunteers filled 103 bags, primarily with food packaging, plastic drink bottles, cigarette butts, and styrofoam.
Volunteers reported collecting 369 plastic grocery bags. Other items found included buckets, an umbrella, a shovel, sleeping bags, hub caps, bamboo poles, a tire, a trash can, and several syringes.
National Day of Service
On Monday, January 19, 2009, Surfrider members joined volunteers from Sierra Club, Earth Conservation Corps, and other local groups to clean debris and invasive plants from Pope Branch Creek, a tributary of the Anacostia River. Behind signs warning of fines for illegal dumping, volunteers pulled out over a hundred bags of bottles, plastic bags, newspapers, food wrappers, discarded clothing, and other items. Large debris included a television, the hood of a car, and numerous tires. Despite the cold weather and occasional snow flurries, a good time was had by all, and the park and stream were left neat and tidy. Thanks to the volunteers who came out!
RIPPLE!: It was good
June 20-21, 2008
DC Surfrider's most successful fundraiser to date was an unqualified success. Opening night gave guests the opportunity to view and buy ocean-themed artwork by Oregon artist Erik Abel, Joshua Krause, Spencer Reynolds, Dustin Ortiz, and Scott Szegeski, before the public opening on Saturday. The show, featuring more than 50 pieces, is hosted by Art Whino, a new gallery that features a collaborative of more than 150 modern artists from around the country. More than 200 guests enjoyed free California wines from Twin Fin and antipasti from Whole Foods while bidding on a variety of travel packages in a silent auction. A steel drum duo from Oasis Band provided music throughout the evening.
The two-day opening included a free Environmental Showcase on Saturday afternoon. DC Surfrider campaign leaders constructed hands-on displays to illustrate two national campaigns, Rise Above Plastics and Ocean-Friendly Gardens. The exhibits educated passersby about the negative effects of plastics on oceans and ways that homeowners can reduce runoff and pollution through responsible gardening. At the crafts table, children made tote bags out of old t-shirts and surf-themed stencils and made seed envelopes out of old surf magazines so they could grow their very own native plants.
Click here for photos
DC Surfrider at the OC Longboard Team Challenge
Saturday, June 9th - Ocean City, MD
The longboard team challenge was a success despite the minimal surf. Thanks to everybody that showed up to surf and cheer the teams on. There were a ton of people on the beach both spectating and surfing in heats, with a bunch of DC Surfrider members and the Annapolis Surf Club had a good showing as well. The surf was tiny but a beautiful day to be out on the water. See you at next year's event!
Click here for photos
Our chapter is a member of the Trash Free Maryland and Trash Free Virginia Alliances, two networks created to elevate environmental policy in Annapolis and Richmond. The Alliances are currently working on legislation in both states that would enact a 5-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags, just like has been so successful in DC.
Chapter members who are interested in getting involved can e-mail us at dcchapter@surfrider.org. Organizations interested in joining the alliances, or for more information, can click here: Maryland or Virginia.
And for the latest info about the success of DC's bag fee, visit our Rise Above Plastics page.
DC Surfrider in the Outer Banks!
For five years chapter members have convened on Hatteras Island for a long weekend of surf, sun, and merriment. Check out this video from our May 2010 trip!
Want to join in the fun? Our next trip is planned for September 24-26.
Help Surfrider Chapters on the Gulf
From our location in the Mid-Atlantic, it can be frustrating to watch the Gulf spill gushing every day, with so little that we can do. Our friends at the Emerald Coast Chapter (FL Panhandle) are launching an effort to test the water off their shores for chemical dispersant. Beachgoers are reporting skin and eye irritations, shortness of breath, and even coughing up blood, but no agency or BP is currently monitoring the chemical contamination.
Unfortunately these tests cost $350 each--a steep sum for any chapter. If you can donate, even a small amount, please visit their website and click on the Donate button on the right side.
No Bags in the Bay!
DC's five-cent disposable bag fee has been a smashing success, with 80-percent reduction in plastic bag demand in just the first month of the fee. But we don't live in a bubble. We'd like to see the initiative expand into Maryland and Virginia. This summer, the DC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be launching "No Bags in the Bay," a campaign to impose a small fee on plastic and paper bags in Maryland and Virginia and reduce their prevalence in our waterways. If you're interested in getting involved, please e-mail us!
Hold On to Your Hose
Did you know the way you maintain your business or property can affect the health of our rivers? Using too much water, particularly to wash sidewalks and outdoor fixtures, contributes to water pollution. Together with the Capitol Hill and Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement Districts, the DC Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will be exploring ways to help property owners reduce their water usage while keeping the neighborhood--and the rivers--clean and safe. Pilot programs are rolling out this summer. Contact dcchapter@surfrider.org for more info, or to volunteer for our campaign.
A Big Blue Thank You to Our VolunteersOn Saturday, January 9, 2010, we held our first annual volunteer appreciation and holiday party, Beers for Our Boarders. Held at Fight Club, the event featured surf rock by The Diamondheads, skate performances by top local skaters at the indoor bowl, and complimentary wine and beer courtesy of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly and Heineken USA.
We also presented appreciation awards to our supporters and in-kind donors, as well as our first annual Wavemaker Award, given to DC Councilmember Tommy Wells in recognition of his environmental leadership in 2009. We worked closely with Councilmember Wells and his staff to pass the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act, a landmark law that makes DC the first city in the country to charge a fee for single-use plastic and paper bags.
Beach Access Goes Before the Supreme Court
Members of Surfrider Foundation's Atlanta, Emerald Coast, and DC Chapters attended oral arguments before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 2. The case, Florida Department of Environmental Protection v. Stop the Beach Renourishment, pits Florida beachfront homeowners against the state, who is seeking to add sand to the beaches of Destin to slow down erosion. The state is seeking to make the new portion of beach open to the public, while the current property line extends to the high water line. Surfrider Foundation filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the state, asserting that beaches should be open to the public.
Read the transcript of the arguments here.
DC's Biggest Paddle EverNearly 100 people turned out on a cloudy, breezy September Saturday to stand up, row, and paddle for clean water and healthy rivers and oceans. We were joined by renowned ocean activist Margo Pellegrino, students from Gallaudet and George Washington Universities, and a staffer of Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Paddlers picked up trash at Roosevelt Island and Rock Creek, signed petitions for trash reduction legislation in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and celebrated the joys of water recreation. Special thanks to our volunteers and event partners: REI, Whole Foods, National Park Service, and EarthShare. To see more photos, check us out on Flickr.
Stop the Rehoboth Beach Outfall!
The Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, town council is considering installing an outfall pipe to dispose of their wastewater. What does this mean to you? They want to pump partially treated sewage into the ocean. Yes, you'd essentially be surfing in poo.
Outfall pipes are an archaic wastewater handling method, and many states are shutting theirs off. Rehoboth Beach is behind the times, and we--and the ocean--stand to pay for it.
Let them know this is not an acceptable solution. Click here to send your comments to Rehoboth Beach town leaders.
TEACHERS!: Bring the beach to your classroom
Click here for information about Surfrider's Respect The Beach educational program that brings watershed models into the classroom.
A Standout CleanupTwo dozen volunteers came out for the Summer/Fall Adopt A Beach Cleanup at Keybox Road on August 15. Volunteers collected 20 bags of trash, including balloons, a boot, glass bottles, and wood. Special thanks to Matt Ramsey from East of Maui for the free lessons in stand-up paddleboarding--the first time many volunteers had tried the sport.
Chapter Elections
Congratulations to our new Executive Committee: Julie, JD, Mike, Megan, Cheryl, Beth, and Jason!
Cleaning the Anacostia by CanoeMore than 40 members and friends of Surfrider's DC Chapter took to the water on August 1, using canoes and kayaks to remove trash from the Anacostia River. The trash collected filled more than two pickup trucks, and included lots of bottles, cans, sports balls, and even 14 tires and a car bumper. Enough materials to build a car! (photo)
Barefoot at Hains Point!Okay, not really. Thanks to the 40 volunteers who came out to Hains Point on July 18 for the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project River Cleanup! We picked up three or four dozen bags of trash, much of it washed up from high Potomac waters. It's all in an effort to make our beaches--and our riverbanks--barefoot friendly!
Thanks also to our partners, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Hard Rock Cafe, and REI!
Bag the Bag!We have a law! The Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act has passed the DC Council, unanimously! Thanks to all the volunteers who stood outside grocery stores, staffed cleanups, signed postcards, attended hearings, and made dozens of calls and e-mails!
For information about the bill, click here! Also see the Post's story.
Volunteers Remove Over 1 Ton of Trash from PotomacAssociates of national consulting firm Accenture joined volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation's DC Chapter in collecting over one ton of trash from the banks of the Potomac River, on February 16. Working along the Mount Vernon Trail and on Roosevelt Island near Arlington, the volunteers filled 103 bags, primarily with food packaging, plastic drink bottles, cigarette butts, and styrofoam.
Volunteers reported collecting 369 plastic grocery bags. Other items found included buckets, an umbrella, a shovel, sleeping bags, hub caps, bamboo poles, a tire, a trash can, and several syringes.
National Day of Service
On Monday, January 19, 2009, Surfrider members joined volunteers from Sierra Club, Earth Conservation Corps, and other local groups to clean debris and invasive plants from Pope Branch Creek, a tributary of the Anacostia River. Behind signs warning of fines for illegal dumping, volunteers pulled out over a hundred bags of bottles, plastic bags, newspapers, food wrappers, discarded clothing, and other items. Large debris included a television, the hood of a car, and numerous tires. Despite the cold weather and occasional snow flurries, a good time was had by all, and the park and stream were left neat and tidy. Thanks to the volunteers who came out!
RIPPLE!: It was goodJune 20-21, 2008
DC Surfrider's most successful fundraiser to date was an unqualified success. Opening night gave guests the opportunity to view and buy ocean-themed artwork by Oregon artist Erik Abel, Joshua Krause, Spencer Reynolds, Dustin Ortiz, and Scott Szegeski, before the public opening on Saturday. The show, featuring more than 50 pieces, is hosted by Art Whino, a new gallery that features a collaborative of more than 150 modern artists from around the country. More than 200 guests enjoyed free California wines from Twin Fin and antipasti from Whole Foods while bidding on a variety of travel packages in a silent auction. A steel drum duo from Oasis Band provided music throughout the evening.
The two-day opening included a free Environmental Showcase on Saturday afternoon. DC Surfrider campaign leaders constructed hands-on displays to illustrate two national campaigns, Rise Above Plastics and Ocean-Friendly Gardens. The exhibits educated passersby about the negative effects of plastics on oceans and ways that homeowners can reduce runoff and pollution through responsible gardening. At the crafts table, children made tote bags out of old t-shirts and surf-themed stencils and made seed envelopes out of old surf magazines so they could grow their very own native plants.
Click here for photos
DC Surfrider at the OC Longboard Team Challenge
Saturday, June 9th - Ocean City, MD
The longboard team challenge was a success despite the minimal surf. Thanks to everybody that showed up to surf and cheer the teams on. There were a ton of people on the beach both spectating and surfing in heats, with a bunch of DC Surfrider members and the Annapolis Surf Club had a good showing as well. The surf was tiny but a beautiful day to be out on the water. See you at next year's event!Click here for photos
Surf and Sun in the Outer Banks
May 2007 - Rodanthe, NC
The Spring surf season got off to a good start as DC Surfrider hosted its second annual surf trip to the Outer Banks, NC. With a huge weather system moving off the coast earlier in the week, the timing couldn't be better for fun waves and good weather in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. (Even though the Sunday morning rain sent everyone home a little early) At one point, a five-car caravan descended on "a certain surf spot" and more or less, took over the place. It was tons of fun surfing and camping with everyone who made the trek down south. Keep checking this website for the trip in 2008!