Thank you to those that participated in Save Our Shores' Ocean Leadership Conference! We received valuable feedback and hope to continue our dialogue with Coastside residents in regards to what types of Save Our Shores programs and resources would best fit your community needs.

Please take a look at the feedback that we recieved from the Conference (below). Some of the Conference participants along with Save Our Shores staff will be hosting a Creek Cleanup effort at Pilarcitos Creek on May 17th from 9am-1pm in order to address the marine derbis problem. This event  will mark the first of many collaborative efforts between Coastside residents and Save Our Shores staff.

To add an issue to the list below or to find out more about the upcoming Pilarcitos Creek Cleanup contact Emily at the Save Our Shores office. We look forward to hearing from you  as your voice is critical to these beginning stages of our collaboration.

Feedback from 3/12/2008

1. What community problems/ issues would you like to see addressed?

Sustainable Fisheries

·         protecting fishing industry and culture of community

·         water diversion issues & impacts of fisheries

Sand drift and harbor dredge, Sanctuary regulations

Education around non-point source and point source pollution

·         Focus education toward youth: have a focus for elementary school kids on inspiring stewardship ethic

Investigate chemical and biotic sources of pollution

·         Identify sources of fecal pollution in harbor and Capistrano Beach

·         Conduct studies/ assess water quality and origin of pollution (foam near bridge?)

·         Have more scientific quality studies on water quality

·         watch dogging of studies to ensure response to conclusions

Storm Drains

·         Some drains don’t have grates so trash flows down them

·         Put ‘No Dumping, Drains to Bay’ signage on drains

Facilitate/Coordinate with local groups

·         Map out what organizations are already here, what they are doing/what they say they are doing, and provide contact information so people can access them and their resources

Debris

·         Issues of availability of garbage and recycling receptacles

·         How to address those non-contracted individuals who gather people’s recycling during the night

·         Styrofoam and plastic bag litter (need to work to ban these items as they are prevalent)

Marine debris cleanups especially after storms

·         Organize and provide equipment for beach and creek cleanups

Oil spill response preparedness

·         Education and training

2. How would you like to see them addressed?

• Research alternatives to plastics and Styrofoam and work to make them available
• Address policy issues around Styrofoam items, including how other cities have put bans on certain items.  Also work with restaurants to see who will voluntarily switch to reusable items.
• More community events for people to interact with each other and forums for discussions
• Engage more w/ high-schools for community service requirements
• Sit down meetings w/ organizations & regulatory agency heads to get buy-in from local community groups
• Research collection of existing research into non point source pollution to identify gaps
• Get  RCD project to be more accessible to the  public
• Utilize resources and collaborate with the  Coastside Collaborative & Chamber of Commerce

3. Specifically how you would like to see SOS address them...

• Conduct classroom presentations
• Start Adopt-a-  "beach highway creek river watershed" program
• Organize and run more beach cleanups especially after storms
• Conduct a community assessment  of what organizations are already in place, what they do, and identify gaps
• Move  more towards preventative programming ---> going after the sources/roots of the problem & away from reactive programs
• Tabling/Education outreach at events in community such as the Pumpkin Festival, Flower Festival, and Farmer's Markets.
• Advertise in local media outlets such as the Half Moon Bay Review

Community Feedback from 3/15/2008

1. What community problems/ issues would you like to see addressed?

·         Identify sources of pollution and target specific company’s such as Jamba Juice, Popeye’s, McDonald’s, 7-11, and other local restaurants

·         Need better cost/benefit alternatives to plastics (e.g. biodegradables)

·         Need lids for all recycling and garbage receptacles so debris

·         Pillarcitos and Arroyo Cunada creek need to be cleaned up

·         County rat traps are washing into the creeks

·         Venice beach seagull population problem

·         Need more community involvement with watershed issues

·         Manage riparian corridors

2. How would you like to see them addressed?

• More education and outreach in community
• Coordination with other organizations and businesses to assess who is doing what
• Make research accessible to public (specifically water quality studies)

3. Specifically how you would like to see SOS address them?

• Conduct educational outreach by make classroom presentations, and coordinating with church groups, businesses (like the Ritz), and other local clubs ( like the Lions Club)
• Make contact with groups like Surfrider in order to collaborate on projects and share resources
• Provide press kits for activities and cleanups that will be accessible to volunteers
• Target outreach to specific neighborhoods like Ocean Colony and Cunada Cove
• Establish office or place for locals to stop by and get resources (provide a library of research that could be lent out to public)
• Collaborate with Eco-Tours (e.g. provide educational component to the tours)
• Canvass local restaurants and businesses and encourage them to recycle and switch to plastic alternatives.

Community Feedback/Additional Comments 3/19/2008

• Collaborate with already established Marine Protection Groups such as Fitzgerald Friends, FMSA office, Surfrider group, etc.
• Engage with ecotourism members
• Engage with emergency response and law enforcement agencies (e.g. for hazard mitigation and natural resource management)
• Engage HMB Yacht Club and California kayak groups and other boating related groups
• Engage with dog walkers