P.O. Box 3203
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Central phone: 476-7667
E-mail: blue@cruzio.com
Product or service: Provide public education about and actively support clean water issues.
Award Status: Honorable Mention

The Santa Cruz group represents a "flagship" chapter for the international Surfrider Foundation, with headquarters in San Clemente, California. The basis of their efforts revolves around national goals of conservation, education and research.

In early 1996 Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter was awarded the AMBAG Sanctuary Currents Award for dedicated work toward protecting and enhancing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Also in 1996, the Newman Foundation donated $5,000 to support Surfrider Foundation efforts.

The Blue Water Task Force is a nearshore water testing campaign conducted weekly. Water samples are collected and tested for fecal coliform counts along the Santa Cruz County coast. Results are made available to the public weekly. Surfrider Foundation, Santa Cruz chapter also disseminates a monthly newsletter that keeps the local community up to date on current Monterey Bay concerns.

The Surfrider Foundation supports young people to enhance their desires to become more ecologically aware by staying active locally with education and conservation support for schools.

The Surfrider Foundation acts as stewards for clean water. They monitor events and legislation dealing with proposed Central Valley piping of selenium-tainted irrigation water into the Sanctuary; support crop irrigation with reclaimed and treated sewage outflow; and also support organic farmers and the struggle they have producing and marketing their products.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Our Santa Cruz group represents a "flagship" chapter for the international Surfrider Foundation, with headquarters in San Clemente, California. The basis of our efforts revolves around national goals of conservation, education and research.

We are not a bona fide business and operate solely on volunteer time. Thus, we do not directly contribute to a business cycle that may be measured in "economic performance". However, our basic goals support the concept that we as individuals and businesses can function in an environmentally sound way and still continue to sustain economic growth.

So much of our local and regional economy is supported by tourism. The Blue Water Task Force is a nearshore water testing campaign we conduct weekly. Water samples are collected and tested for fecal coliform counts along the Santa Cruz County coast. Results are made available to the public weekly. We also highlight the testing areas that do not meet state standards for hygienic safety. (We have developed a working relationship with Santa Cruz County and compare our water test results to theirs when possible.) We also supported state legislation that called for conspicuous posting of beach areas that are unsafe due to water quality conditions.

We have taken steps over the last couple of years that have enhanced our ability to get the word out on many levels. Last year we moved our laboratory and office inside the Science Department at Soquel High School. This gives us the opportunity to work with young people and enhance their desires to become ecologically more aware. By upgrading
our computer equipment, we were able reestablish a website on the world wide web. Our monthly newsletter also keeps the local community up to date on current Monterey Bay concerns.

Additionally, we also have a Coastal Development and Access committee that keeps us informed on changing events that may effect our coastal waters. We actively supported the development of Davenport's water treatment facility. We stood as opponents to Watsonville's plan to expand city developments and schools to agricultural/marsh lands west of Highway One beyond Green Valley Rd.

Our main strategy is to stay active locally with education and conservation support for the community. Look for us in local schools with our traveling Educational Outreach slide show, protecting outflows to the bay with our Storm Drain Stenciling Project or even sharing our message as winner of the 1997 Sustainable Quality Award.


SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The efforts outlined in the previous section describe programs we provide to the public at no charge. We reach out to the community with positive ideas supporting a clean water environment. Hopefully, we are helping people become more aware of the fragile, natural balance within our near shore locality. Everyone needs to do his or her part.

Our "no-fault" volunteers have stepped forward year after year and combined their strengths to create our chapter's conservationist voice. We follow bylaws received from our national headquarters in San Clemente. They outline the structure and define the scope of action a local chapter can follow. The chairpeople we have are locally selected individuals who have working experience within the chapter and are committed to fulfilling their leadership responsibilities.

Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. In early 1996 Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter was awarded the A.M.B.A.G. Sanctuary Currents Award for out dedicated work toward protecting and enhancing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Also, at the end of 1996, our efforts were applauded by the Newman Foundation with their donation of $5,000.0. We encourage business and governmental cooperation in supporting the issues we defend.

When we lost are laboratory site in late 1995 our Blue Water Task Force was without a home. After hearing of our demise, Terry Eckhardt of Soquel High School, went to the Santa Cruz School district and got permission for us to set up our lab and office within their Science Department. It has been a win - win situation for all parties concerned. We were able to reciprocate the favor this year by starting a Painting Fund for Soquel High School with a $1,000.00 donation. Our message to the community was that if everyone contributed a little the unappropriated project funds could be accounted for.

We sponsored a special celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act this 8eptemb6r6 it centered around a poster contest open to any child up to the age of 17 years old who best illustrated the Clean Water Day theme. Another part of the event gifted Congress a custom sculpted glass "Wave", along with an inspirational thank you statement' for keeping the Clean Water Act alive. The day was recognized with Clean Water Day proclamations given by Congressman Sam Farr, State Senator Bruce McPherson who presented one from California, a Santa Cruz County-Proclamation, and Mayor Cynthia Matthews with one from the City of Santa Cruz. Mayor Garcia from Capitola was in attendance and Bruce McPherson actually paddled out to help form a human ring made with supporters of clean water.

To stay in direct contact with the community, we try and have informational booths at events that promote beach use or access issues. These may include surf contests, Camp KOME and the Sanctuary Day Celebration to name a few. Community relations are what we are all about. Out focus is where we live. We all need clean water.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Our organization positions itself as an environmental guardian. We are supporters of using recycled materials and recycle where possible. As part of our stewardship for clean water, we monitor events and    legislation dealing with proposed central valley piping of selenium tainted irrigation water into the Sanctuary. We are avid supporters of crop irrigation with reclaimed and    treated sewage outflow. Most     recently we have been getting more involved with organic farmers and the struggle they have producing and marketing their products.

This year we phased in the use of organic cotton for our chapter tee shirts. The general public does not know that normal agricultural production of cotton includes an incredible use of environmentally harmful pesticides. Though cotton production takes place away from our, local area, most everyone wears cotton at some time everyday. We support awareness programs like the Sustainable Cotton Project and local organic farming groups with "eco-quality" in mind. This fits into our goals to enhance and support a more ecologically safe environment.

Our built environment is essentially Mother Earth. Therefore, our focus is obviously on the natural environment. We have however, recently upgraded our     expensive methodology of multiple tube testing our water samples with a more efficient and accurate Membrane Filtration Test method. We are Able to share this technology by integrating student helpers from grade school to college. Plus, we are currently in talks with the Coastal Watershed Council, regarding sharing our lab resources.

The efforts of our Educational Outreach program are growing in success. This program benefits teachers that want outside educational sources to present information on the water cycle and how watershed and near shore activities effect water quality. This touring troop of volunteers is available by calling our chapter to schedule an in class presentation.

We will continue our efforts to actively educate, conserve, research and share our chapter resources for those who ask.