Greetings Friend,

The view outside my window yesterday was of the dark overcast smokey haze that my three-year old daughter described as, “creepy.” The skies provide us with a distinct reminder of our changing climate. In West Marin, the last few weeks have been difficult and stressful, like so many other areas in California, the Point Reyes Peninsula and surrounding communities are coping with a wildfire. The Woodward Fire was sparked by the August lightning storm in the Point Reyes National Seashore Phillip Burton Wilderness Area. The fire perimeter is now 95% contained and we expect “thousand hour fuels,” large trees to continue to burn until we get our first significant rainfall, hopefully in October. 

Our Executive Committee met yesterday and reflected on the processes of this fire, ignited by lightning in Wilderness. The team of fire personnel assembled to contain the fire did an excellent job protecting structures within and that border the Seashore. We look forward to learning more about the fire in the coming months and the work to contain the blaze. I am already thinking ahead to what the spring will reveal after a season of rainfall (wishful thinking) since our region is adapted to fire and many plants depend on fire for regeneration.

Today, I am happy to share with you our rebranded monthly email publication, the Online Advocate. Our monthly newsletter will keep you posted on the latest efforts to protect and sustain the unique lands, waters, and biodiversity of West Marin. Our September issue is focused on safeguarding our coast and ocean, combating the climate crisis, and ways to celebrate California biodiversity this week. We also included some important updates from our friends and partners you don’t want to miss, and for those policy wonks out there, some reminders on upcoming meetings. 

Unfortunately, our office continues to remain closed to the public and our staff is working remotely. If you need to reach us, please contact us by email or call the office and leave a message.

We miss seeing our friends and community members. I hope you are safe and well during these challenging times.

In good health,

Executive Director

MISSION

To protect and sustain the unique lands, waters, and biodiversity of West Marin. 
We achieve this goal through advocacy, education and engagement opportunities.

VISION

Our work strives to provide long-term protection and conservation of the unique ecosystems and rural communities of West Marin, and serves as a foundation of environmental protection for future generations.

Marin Adopts Restrictions on Offshore Oil & Gas

We did it! The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that will effectively ban offshore oil and gas development in the County of Marin. We are grateful to Supervisor Rodoni, Supervisor Sears, and County of Marin’s legal counsel for their diligence and commitment to renewable energy and coastal protection. Thank you to all of the supporters of this ordinance who sent in their comments to help us get this critical ordinance over the finish line. While there was a string of these ordinances enacted in the 1980s, this ordinance is the first of its kind in California since then!   

Read More

Aquaculture Updates

In July, the California Coastal Commission released a draft of its Coastal Development Permit Application Guidance for aquaculture and marine restoration. This guidance is helpful in several ways, as it outlines the regulatory process for aquaculture operations.

Building an environmentally sustainable aquaculture operation in an intertidal area is a complicated process to ensure any infrastructure does not harm sensitive habitats and species, does not encroach into boat navigation routes, and does not create pollution, like accidental loss of bags, and cultivation equipment.

EAC commented on the Commission’s pre-draft outline in April and organized California coastal organizations to submit comments in general support of the Draft CDP guidance last month.

Read More

MPA Community Forum

Join EAC and the Golden Gate Marine Protected Area (MPA) Collaborative for an online listening session where community members and enforcement officers will be able to share and discuss issues impacting compliance of MPA rules and recommend local solutions. California MPAs in Marin include: Double Point/Stormy Stack, Drakes Bay, Drakes Estero, Duxbury Reef, Estero de Limantour, Estero de San Antonio, the Farallon Islands, Point Reyes Headlands, and Point Resistance.

This is your chance to voice your MPA compliance concerns, inform your local resource managers and enforcement officers of problems, and recommend solutions to problems.

Wednesday, September 30th
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Register

Drawdown: Marin Strategic Plan

Drawdown: Marin is a community-driven campaign to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change impacts. In July, they released their Draft Strategic Plan after working with over 150 people over 2 years through 6 Stakeholder Collaboratives to develop ideas for local solutions to climate change. 

EAC participated in Drawdown's carbon sequestration and climate resilient communities groups helping to develop local climate solutions focused on Blue Carbon Wetlands Restoration, and the Water-Energy Nexus, Micro-Hydro Turbines. You can learn more about these projects in the Strategic Plan.

Drawdown accepted comments through the end of August, and a revised plan will be presented to the Marin County Board of Supervisors later this year in conjunction with the County’s 2020 Climate Action Plan Update. We look forward to the County’s Climate Action Plan update in the coming months. 

Learn more about Drawdown: Marin and EAC’s climate work.

California Failed to Pass Single-Use Plastic Reduction Bill

The California Legislative session ended at midnight on August 31st without passing SB 54, the comprehensive Circular Economy & Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (joint bills SB 54/AB 1080). The vote in the Assembly was very close (short 4 votes) after it passed the Senate.  

Looking to the future, we expect to see this bill resurface again as it is essential in curbing the plastic pollution problem. This comprehensive proposed legislation is part of a growing movement, and we are making progress collectively including the introduction of the landmark federal Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act! 

We thank Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Marc Levine and for their Yes votes! 

Learn more by watching The Story of Plastic or by checking our EAC’s Youth Against Plastic campaign.

It's CA Biodiversity Week

California Biodiversity Day takes place on September 7th each year, marking the anniversary of the launch of the California Biodiversity Initiative in 2018. This annual event celebrates our state’s exceptional biodiversity, while also encouraging actions to protect it. This year, we are excited to have many partners joining us to host California Biodiversity Day events from September 5 to September 13. Please check out the events below to see how you can participate in celebrating California Biodiversity Day 2020!

In addition to celebrating biodiversity, EAC participated in a national campaign last month, the #stopextinction challenge, meeting with Senator Feinstein’s office, advocating for biodiversity and curbing the illegal wildlife trade. 

Sign Up for an Online Event Today!

Learn More: California Biodiversity Fact Sheet
 

It's Coastal Clean Up Month

Coastal Clean Up Day is every Saturday in September!

This year, cleaning the coast will start at our own front doors. For safety reasons, there are no large, centrally organized cleanup sites this year. Instead, cleanups will be self-guided and close to home. Practice physical distancing, and strictly follow both local ordinances. This How-To Guide includes additional safety tips.

Cleaning your neighborhoods, local parks, streets, and storm drains helps protect our coast. Trash travels through storm drains, creeks, and rivers to become beach and ocean pollution. Help clean the beach by picking up litter in your community with your household.

Report your cleanup by recording data on the CleanSwell app or by completing this form. You can also use that form to enter the Most Unusual Item Contest.

Learn More