About UsEnvironment
These are links to some of Southwind's favorite environmental non-profit and governmental organizations. Great sources for information valuable to you where you live, where you play, whenever you care. Spend a few minutes, or a lifetime, getting involved with these organizations!
National Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp
The NRDC protects our global environment in many ways and is well worth consideration as a
recipient of an annual charitable donation. This links to their Clean Water and Oceans section. JS
NRDC's annual survey of water quality monitoring and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that closings
due to bacterial contamination are on the rise nationwide. Across the country, pollution caused nearly 20,000
days of closings and advisories at ocean and Great Lakes beaches last year -- more than ever recorded in the
survey's 15-year history. The 2005 survey is based on information reported for 2004.
The Nature Conservancy
http://nature.org
This wonderful organization, with offices here in Orange County and all over the USA, conserves
and protects wonderful natural resources all over the world. Southwind strongly supports their efforts.
This is one of our personal favorites - a MUST DO - for annual contributions. JS
The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the
diversity of life on Earth. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals
and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters
they need to survive.
Heal the Bay
http://www.healthebay.org/
A remarkable 20 year history of monitoring water quality and related issues in and around the Santa
Monica Bay. Lots of opportunities for you to get involved here. JS
Not so long ago, at a time when Santa Monica Bay was treated daily as a dump site, a small group of
concerned people took it upon themselves to heal this troubled part of the world. They did it for
those who simply wanted to swim, fish or surf safely in clean water. And they did it for the marine
life that was suffering from some of the highest levels of contamination found anywhere along our
nation's coastline.
Heal the Bay's efforts are focused on Santa Monica Bay and surrounding Southern California coastal
waters. Our work, however, often impacts water quality for the entire state of California and even
the nation.
That small group swelled into an organization and movement that has done more to recover the Bay's
coastal environment than anyone could have expected. But in the process, they did more than that.
They showed us that it's not too late for Southern California, that no agency is too big to fight
and win, that we can heal our environment and that we can heal our Bay.
Surfrider Foundation
http://www.surfrider.org/chapters.asp
http://www.surfrider.org/newportbeach/
Founded by a bunch of board surfers about the time we started kayaking, Surfrider Foundation has
done a tremendous job protecting surf breaks, monitoring water quality and acting on behalf of all
our interests. Check the chapters link above to find what they are doing on your coastline. We have
also included the Newport Chapter Link as an example. JS
The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots, non-profit, environmental organization that works to
protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. Founded in 1984, Surfrider Foundation's most important
coastal environmental work is carried out by Surfrider Foundation's 60 chapters located along the
East, West, Gulf, Puerto Rican, and Hawaiian coasts.
Orange County Coastkeeper
http://coastkeeper.org/
It is amazing what this fine organization does right in our back yard (Southern California).
Want to get personally involved? Give them a call! JS
The Orange County Coastkeeper, founded in 1999, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
protection and preservation of the marine habitats and watersheds of Orange County through
programs of education, restoration, enforcement and advocacy. We work with business, developers,
cities, elected officials and regulatory agencies to develop solutions to the problems of polluted
urban runoff.
Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
http://www.sblandtrust.org/carpbluffs.html
Another great group which deserves your support and contributions. We care about our coastal
resources - do to they! JS
In 1985, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County was formed when the Santa Ynez Valley Land Trust and
Carpinteria Valley Land Trust combined to serve the entire county. Today, the Land Trust for Santa
Barbara County has helped to preserve over 13,000 acres of natural resource and agricultural land,
including the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, Sedgwick Reserve, Carpinteria Bluffs, Coronado Butterfly Preserve,
Point Sal, Carpinteria Salt Marsh and several ranches on the Gaviota Coast.
Clean Beaches Council
http://www.cleanbeaches.org/mediacenter/
2005 State of the Beaches Report: Bacteria and Sand
Since its inception in 1998, the Clean Beaches Council has been devoted to science literacy and spreading
coastal scientific knowledge in forms that are understandable to the general public. This year's study,
entitled 2005 State of the Beaches Report: Bacteria and Sand, is an overview of several scientific
studies conducted in the last four years at select fresh water and marine beaches around the country. They
demonstrate that while health officials have for years been attentive to the health risk of pathogens in
the water, new information now indicates that sand may harbor even higher concentrations of pathogens.
Heal the Ocean
http://www.healtheocean.org/about.htm
It's simple: The ocean can no longer be used as a dump. Heal the Ocean is attacking all obvious sources
of ocean pollution.
Their Platform:
- Tertiary Treatment of Sewage
- Failing Septic Systems
- Non Point-Source Pollution
- Ocean Dumping
- Tajiguas Landfill trash seeping into groundwater in Santa Barbara County
Environmental Protection Agency
http://oaspub.epa.gov/beacon/beacon_national_page.main
BEACON Beach closures data base. A quick way to find beach closures where you live and where
you vacation.
Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
Our governmental source for everything about our health here and abroad offers this page on
Recreational Water Illness. A great jumping off place for CDC information. JS
Over the past century, the use of modern disinfection systems in pools and environmental improvements
in our lakes, rivers, and oceans has improved the quality of recreational water. Despite this, there
has been an increase over the past decade in the number of outbreaks of illness associated with swimming.