AMY ROGG
Staff Writer
Malibu boasts some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Not only does it have remarkable sand and surf, but it is also home to a thriving marine life.
The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1984, serves to protect beaches all over the world and prevent pollution in coastal areas.
Junior Nick Rowan is the official representative for the Pepperdine University chapter who is hoping to raise environmental awareness within the school’s community.
“I joined Surfrider in high school and then came to Malibu, a great location to surf,” he said. “I thought the water would be really clean, but it was actually terrible.”
This sparked Rowan’s interest in becoming an outlet for the foundation at Pepperdine. There are approximately 20 members involved in the Pepperdine chapter, all of whom work closely with the Malibu chapter located in Santa Monica.
Karen Martin, a Pepperdine professor of the Natural Science Division, is also an active member of the organization. Martin volunteers with a group of people from the foundation called “The Grunion Greeters.”
“We monitor the Grunion fish—fish that only occur in this part of the world and spawn on our sandy beaches,” she said. “We check on how many fish are coming in and make sure their eggs can incubate and develop onshore.”
Current goals of the foundation include ending pollution in Santa Monica Bay, water conservation, preservation, increasing beach access, saving natural resources, protecting valuable marine areas, and educating younger generations.
A key issue the Pepperdine chapter faces is ocean water contamination, especially during the rainy season.
“When it rains, pesticide infested runoff from the hills enters Malibu Creek, spills into the lagoon and eventually overflows into the ocean,” Rowan said.
To help prevent further contagion into the ocean, the chapter has advocated water usage control as the safest and most environmentally safe resolution to the problem.
“Water doesn’t need to be used to clean spills on the streets, instead, use a broom,” he said. “When washing a car, don’t let the hose run—it’s simple.”
The Malibu chapter is also focused on water quality issues. Shannon Leavey, head of the Malibu Surfrider chapter, stated the city recently approved DNA water testing.
“Since we have septic tank leakage problems, it will allow us to find the sources of pollution,” she said. “We will be able to pinpoint the exact septic tank and fix it.”
According to Leavey, the foundation is also trying to work with beach access issues, advocating the right for all people to have free and open access to all beaches.
The Surfrider Foundation has succeeded in raising awareness in the Malibu community though one of their biggest events yet, The Paddle Out. There are plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant off the coast 14 miles away from Malibu as an alternative source of energy. The foundation argues it is only going to pollute and add to the mass amounts of pollution that already exists.
“The event consisted of 500 surfers who paddled out into the ocean forming a circle with a line going through it, the universal symbol for ‘no’,” Rowan said. “Pierce Brosnan and Laird Hamilton came out to support us as well.”
A controversial proposal Surfrider is trying to combat is at a surf spot called Trestles in San Clemente. Plans are being made to extend a toll road through Trestles, affecting an open space habitat nearby.
“The toll road will increase pollution near and in the ocean and the landscape of the beach will be changed so that there will be no more waves,” Rowan said. “It’s like a triple threat—no waves, no land and more pollution.”
Members of the Pepperdine chapter volunteer locally doing environmental projects to promote change and improvement.
“We have days where we go to the beach and pick up trash or we coordinate with labs to help with water testing,” Rowan said. “We also work for the Earth Campaign by collecting and recycling bottles and cans.”
Around campus, Rowan and his fellow members set up tables to advertise membership to the Pepperdine chapter of Surfrider.
“We advertise with brochures, merchandise and bumper stickers that the foundation provides us,” Rowan said.
Not only does the Pepperdine chapter advertise on campus, but they also venture to schools in neighboring areas to preach environmental consciousness.
“We hold seminars for younger students because we want them to be more aware of their surroundings,” said Ed Emanuelli, a member of the foundation and Pepperdine law student.
Emanuelli joined the Surfrider Foundation in Puerto Rico where he was involved in establishing a historical zone in place of a proposed resort.
“It was a very important area on the coast where Christopher Columbus had landed,” he said. “Thanks to the work of my Surfrider chapter, the pristine area will never be disturbed.”
A membership to the Surfrider Foundation costs $15 annually. All members receive discounts at surf shops as well as free T-shirts, bumper stickers, calendars and the foundation’s publication, Making Waves.
The Surfrider Foundation will always be part of Rowan’s life, even after he graduates.
“I love the outdoors and surfing is one of my biggest passions,” he said. “I like knowing that I will always have an impact in making the ocean more human and animal friendly.”
Rowan hopes to organize another Surfrider chapter wherever he ends up and continue preaching his philosophy.
“I don’t want to see any huge changes,” he said. “I just want to see simple and small changes that make a huge difference.”
FACT BOX
- Over 200 community outreach campaigns
- Over 8,000 beach water tests taken
- 600 beach clean-ups
- Over 125 meetings and events involving city, county, and state governments were attended by Surfrider chapter representatives.
- Over 900 presentations of Surfrider’s education program, Respect the Beach.
05-23-2007
