The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water is a short, animated film made by a collaboration of creative and dedicated volunteers at The Surfrider Foundation. Several local Surfrider Foundation chapters combined their talents and funds to create the film — and then actress Zuleikha Robinson of Lost, generously agreed to narrate it.

The premise of the film is that the water cycle we all learned about in the 4th grade has been dramatically altered over time, leaving us with a broken system that wastes water and energy, pollutes our natural waterways, harms critical marine life, and poorly deals with flooding and other water management problems. The film serves to take a holistic look at water management, highlight controversial problems, and suggest solutions that integrate multiple economic and environmental benefits. The intended audience includes entire communities: from homeowners and the general public, to public agencies and elected government officials.

In June of 2009 the Surfrider Foundation met with a rep from the Trancas Homeowners group to discuss existing erosion problems and discuss possible solutions.   At that time, it was made perfectly clear that any proposal including permanent hard structures – either above ground, below ground, or located offshore – would not be supported by the Surfrider Foundation.    We understand that landward retreat is not a feasible solution at Broad Beach.   Therefore, beach nourishment projects should be considered as a viable alternative for short-term beach preservation.    Surfrider Foundation’s position is clear – under no circumstances does the Surfrider Foundation support the installation of stabilization or sand retention structures along the coastline.   Such structures can protect existing coastline development but have no place in beach preservation.

Broad Beach history:

• Summer 2005, Broad Beach homeowners illegally bulldozed sand from the  public portion of the beach onto their private property.
• June 28, 2005 – Malibu Chapter held a protest at Broad Beach – see attached Media Alert.
• August 12th, 2005 -  the California Coastal Commission issued a cease and desist against the Trancas Property Owner’s Association,  ordering an end to the posting of no trespassing or private property signs and the use of security guards on ATVs who often intimidated  visitors.
• Feb 2009 – Malibu Times article re: public complaints on sand bags at Broad Beach
• June 2, 2009 – Surfrider Foundation reps met with a Trancas Homeowner rep to discuss the situation.   We made it clear at that time that any plans to put in a permanent hard structure, either below or above the sand or even offshore… would not be supported by Surfrider Foundation.

Below is taken directly from Surfrider’s position on Beach Preservation:

In areas where erosion threatens existing coastal development, the Surfrider Foundation advocates appropriate long-term solutions that maximize public benefit. These include:

• Landward retreat of structures from dynamic shorelines

Where landward retreat is not feasible, beach nourishment** projects may be considered, on a case by case basis, as viable alternatives for short-term beach preservation.

Under no circumstances does the Surfrider Foundation support the installation of stabilization or sand retention structures along the coastline. Such structures can protect existing coastline development but have no place in beach preservation.

Additional information:

Broad Beach in the L.A. Times – http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-broad-beach2-2010feb02,0,369064.story?track=rss

(SANTA MONICA) January 25, 2010 – As heavy rain fell in Los Angeles, Santa Monica High School students in the Surfrider Teach & Test program hit the beach to see how the rain is affecting water quality in the Santa Monica Bay.  These environmentally-conscious students have been monitoring enterococcus bacteria levels in the ocean year round and have been seeing moderately normal results, which suggests that our ocean has been relatively safe for swimming and surfing.  Results from this past week, however, have been quite shocking, with bacteria levels weighing in at more than double what the EPA considers safe.

Bacteria levels at the Santa Monica Pier were 223, which is 119 organisms per milliliter higher than the EPA safety threshold of 104. The Pico-Kenter storm drain at the end of Pico Boulevard had bacteria levels that averaged at 120, and Ocean Park sampled at 331. Students also tested water quality at the storm drain underneath the Santa Monia Pier, which the city replaced last year due to leaks that were causing poor water quality grades.  Bacteria levels in the storm drain runoff were a scary 7,915—more than 75 times higher than what the EPA considers safe.

Students advise highly against surfing or swimming during and after these heavy rains—despite the swell the storm may bring.  “It’s best to stay out of the water for at least 72 hours after it rains in LA,” states Zack Gold, a student in the program, “this is when bacteria levels are the highest, increasing your likelihood of getting sick.” Katie Rowbotham, another student in the program adds, “Fecal bacteria is just one of the many harmful things urban runoff carries, which can include trash, cigarette butts, pathogens and even heavy metals.”

Shocked by their findings, these committed students are even more inspired to be involved in doing everything possible to make their ocean a clean and safe place for fun.  For more information about the program, or to find out how you can help prevent urban runoff, visit: http://teachtestsm.blogspot.com/.

Following a 10-hour meeting, with hundreds in attendance, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board voted 5-2 to ban any new septic systems in central and eastern Malibu, and existing systems will have to halt wastewater discharges -residential by the year 2019, and commercial by 2015. This ruling was a pivotal decision for supporters of the Clean Water at the Bu Campaign and is the final step towards improving water quality in the lower Malibu Creek watershed.

An estimated 160 people attended Thursday’s hearing to show their support for “Clean Water at the ‘Bu.” The Surfrider Foundation’s West Los Angeles/Malibu Chapter along with our Clean Water at the Bu Coalition including Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper and the Malibu Surfing Association were in full-force at the hearing with t-shirts, speaker and support cards, buttons, and approximately 1,150 petition signatures.

It was a once in a lifetime experience to be part of this victory for Malibu, and to see our chapter and global membership come together for this historic win at Surfrider Beach. The boards decision provides enforceable deadines for the cleanup of septics polluting Surfrider, and we look forward to a comprehensive wastewater plan for the Civic Centers’ wastewater needs-to meet the generous deadlines set out in the prohibition.

We had incredible support this year from the dedicated volunteers in West/LA Malibu, and from our tireless global staff Nancy Hastings, Alexis Henry, and Angela Howe. Our coalition with Malibu Surf Association, Santa Monica Baykeepers, and Heal the Bay is a strong voice for clean water in Los Angeles-one that will continue make it’s mark and improve water quality in LA in the coming years.

Surfrider Foundation was founded to protect this wave, and we are honored to have inherited the work of decades of volunteers for a win at Malibu. Special thanks to volunteers Mariee Sweeney, Ed Emanuelli, Vanessa Meier, Wes Negus, Jessica Lacson, Juli Shulz, Henry Peacor, Katherine Nuguyen, Drew Albenze, and Angel Scott, and many more who worked so hard to get Clean Water at the Bu.

This win can encourage us all to keep the faith in our work on complex, long lasting fights for our right to clean water. We can win for the environment in LA, against all odds.

This is our day to know that for sure. Stay tuned for details on our a chapter celebration of this win soon-We thank you for your support for Clean Water at the Bu!!!

One scientist says city is telling the truth. The Regional Water Quality Control Board is set to vote Nov. 5 on a proposed septic ban for Malibu.

By Jonathan Friedman / Special to The Malibu Times

A Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board official last week accused the city of distorting the preliminary findings of studies being conducted on Malibu water pollution. But at least one scientist says city officials are telling the truth, and accused the RWQCB official of interpreting the findings in a way so she can reach the conclusion she wants.

Elizabeth Erickson made the accusation against the city during a workshop at Pepperdine University on the RWQCB’s proposal to ban septic systems in most of eastern Malibu. While RWQCB official say septic systems are to blame for most of the watershed pollution, city officials have cited five studies currently being conducted that have reached a different conclusion in their preliminary findings.

“That’s a distortion as far as I can tell,” Erickson said at the workshop. “It’s not what the researchers are telling me.” … Full Story at Malibu Times

SM BEACH — While 20 minutes is hardly enough time to save the world, it’s all Sara Bayles needs to make a difference in her community.

The aspiring fiction writer and former special effects makeup artist is more than 60 days deep in her quest to keep Santa Monica State Beach clean, spending 20 minutes over 365 non-consecutive days picking up cigarette butts, plastic wrappers and even hypodermic needles.

Bayles wants to see how many pounds of trash she can collect, weighing and separating recyclables while posting her findings on her blog, www.thedailyocean.blogspot.com. The experiment began in March. Full Story at Santa Monica Daily Press

Patagonia nominated Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program (OFG) along with two other local groups for their Voice Your Choice™ campaign. Put Patagonia’s money where your mouth is! Cast your ballot in the “Voice Your Choice” campaign to help Patagonia’s Santa Monica store decide how it should distribute $5,000 in grant money to three local environmental organizations.

The top vote-getter will be awarded $2,500, with second- and third-places receiving $1,500 and $1,000. Votes will be accepted at the store September 24 through October 24. Participants can cast one vote per store per visit. While no purchase is necessary, we encourage you to shop while you vote for OFG.

On Sunday, October 4th & 11th, OFG will be tabling at Patagonia’s Santa Monica Store — 2936 Main St. So, come in and say hello. Winners will be announced at the end of October.

Link to VYC page on Patagonia’s website: http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=1957

Google Map for the Patagonia store:

View Larger Map

A report of a strong odor that could be coming from sewage seeping into the ocean has prompted the closure of a one-mile stretch of Will Rogers State Beach near the Pacific Palisades.

The ocean is off-limits for a half-mile on either side of the storm drain at the beach. The closure is expected to last until at least noon Friday. Full Story on CBS