|  | | Greetings Friend, This spring, we are filled with a renewed vigor for coastal advocacy, as well as gratitude for the many people like you who make our mission to protect the coast possible. We are in the swing of legislative advocacy, working with partners locally and statewide to support legislation that keeps environmental protections strong and safeguards against offshore oil threats, including co-sponsoring state resolutions celebrating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act, a landmark environmental law that has protected coastal habitat, supported restoration, and ensured public access for five decades. Read more below for how you can join us in advocating for our coasts and oceans at an April 21st Fish & Game Commission meeting on Marine Protected Area petitions, and at California Ocean Day on April 28th. Thank you to the 65 volunteers who participated in Spring Litter Bugs Me roadside cleanup throughout February and March, where we collectively removed 360 pounds of trash and 5 pounds of recycling from our watershed, preventing further pollution into our ecosystem. We also welcomed a new cohort of Duxbury Docents and launched trailhead tabling, which will further enhance visitor education at Duxbury Reef. The Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival is right around the corner, and we are feeling grateful to our community of guides, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who make this an exciting time to support conservation. There’s still time to join the fun this April 24th - 26th: view ticket availability and register for an event, sign up to volunteer, help us close the gap on our sponsorship efforts, or visit our art show. In gratitude, |
| | | | ~ California Coastal Act: 50 Years of Coastal Protection and Public Access ~ |
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| The California Coastal Act celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and EAC celebrates 55 years of our coastal protection work. In the 1960s, rampant private development threatened public access to California’s coast—highways paved over sensitive habitats, railroad companies took strips of coastal land for their own possession, nuclear power plants were being proposed along the coast in earthquake-sensitive areas, and one company wanted to bulldoze the San Bruno Mountains to build condos. The current protections we enjoy today were not in place, and a growing number of people realized access to the coast could be lost forever. The threat of losing our coastal habitats and access prompted Californians to rally together to “Save Our Coast” in 1972, launching a diverse and bipartisan coalition that proposed Proposition 20, which would enshrine in state law that “it is the policy of the State to preserve, protect, and where possible, restore the resources of the coastal zone for the enjoyment of the current and succeeding generations.” This proposition was passed by popular vote, leading to the creation of the Coastal Act in 1976 and the California Coastal Commission to oversee it. |
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| Since 1976, the Coastal Act has been responsible for protecting vast amounts of coastal land and ensuring public access. This landmark environmental law reaches its 50th anniversary this year, with many accomplishments to celebrate: over the past five decades, the Coastal Act has established over 3,500 access points to the coast, restored over 4,600 acres of habitat, and given local governments $30 million to prepare for sea level rise. The Coastal Commission has partnered with local governments, nonprofit advocacy groups like EAC, state and federal agencies, and more to make this amazing work happen. The Coastal Act has enhanced public access, saved the coast from rampant armoring, and protected sensitive habitats and species. This landmark law ensures that California’s coasts belong to everyone—not only the mostly wealthy people who can afford to buy beachfront properties. EAC reaffirms its commitment to the Coastal Act, actively supporting strong coastal protections that safeguard our delicate marine and terrestrial habitats, including fighting dirty offshore oil and for the protection of the Act itself. On the 50th anniversary of the Coastal Act, commit to doing one small action to support a clean, healthy, and accessible coast for all! Learn More & Read the Full Update |
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|  | Welcome New Docents & Become a Tabling Volunteer! Duxbury Reef continues to amaze and inspire visitors and locals alike. This winter, we trained and welcomed 9 new docents to our team! Joining us from the East Bay, Marin (including West Marin and Bolinas), Sonoma, and San Francisco, they are eager to help educate the visiting public while they continue to learn about Duxbury Reef’s species and habitat. Spending time and serving at the reef is a lifelong learning adventure! We are so grateful for all of the docents' dedication to protecting this rare and special place on our coast, one of the largest shale reefs in North America. A huge thank you to all our instructors and guest speakers! We’re also expanding our program by adding a tabling option to facilitate visitor education as people head down to the reef, including informational materials and a dry touch-table box. We’d love to expand our tabling team; please contact [email protected] to learn how to become a Duxbury Tabling Docent. Learn More & Read the Full Update |
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 | Litter Bugs Me Success! We are so grateful to work with community members throughout the year to reduce trash pollution in West Marin. Thank you to the 65 volunteers who participated in Spring Litter Bugs Me roadside cleanup throughout February and March, where we collectively removed 360 pounds of trash and 5 pounds of recycling from our watershed, preventing further pollution into our ecosystem. We could not have made this possible without YOU and our partners, including Cleaner California Coast, SPAWN, Olema Association, Rotary Club, Paradise Ranch Estates, All Hands Ecology, St. Columba’s Church, West Marin School, and Nicasio Valley Ladies Auxiliary Fire Department. This work is made possible through the Marin County Department of Public Works’ support, which helps us activate community volunteers to help keep our watersheds and waterways clean every spring and fall. Save the date for Fall Litter Bugs me & Coastal Clean Up, September 15 - 19th. |
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| |  | Send Comments by 4/17 & Attend 4/21 Meeting to Advocate for Duxbury Reef & Strong MPAs Great news! The California Department of Fish & Wildlife has recommended that the Fish and Game Commission protect the full extent of Duxbury Reef’s intertidal habitat in a State Marine Conservation Area. On April 21st, the California Fish & Game Commission (Commission) will be discussing petitions that were submitted to adaptively manage California’s marine protected areas, including EAC’s petition to increase protections at Duxbury Reef’s rare rocky intertidal habitat. The recommendation proposes to continue allowing access for recreational fishing, offshore commercial fishing, and non-consumptive uses at Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area (tidepooling, dog walking, education, surfing, boating, and research) while protecting the full extent of the rare, biodiverse, and ecologically-connected rocky reef habitat, large parts of which are currently unprotected. We will additionally advocate for clarified language that better protects the reef while maintaining most recreational fishing. How YOU Can Help: Tell the Commission You Support More Protection at Duxbury Reef |
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 | Point Reyes National Seashore Community Open-House Please join a community open-house about the future of the Point Reyes National Seashore co-hosted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the National Park Service (NPS), and the Department of the Interior (DOI). When: Thursday, April 16th, 5 - 8 PM Where: West Marin School Gym Click here to let us know you’re attending and to find suggested talking points. We encourage you to attend, tell TNC, NPS, and DOI staff your vision for the future of the Seashore and its management, and ask questions. There will be several stations for the public to engage with staff. No RSVP required; drop in anytime. Learn more about TNC’s role on the Seashore, as well as FAQs, here. |
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 | California Ocean Day is April 28th, 2026! Join EAC at Ocean Day and bring your love of the ocean to Sacramento! Join a team of advocates that will meet with state leaders at the Capitol on April 28th to lobby in support of legislation that will protect our coast and oceans for all. You don’t need to be an expert in ocean policy to learn how to advocate at Ocean Day - simply sign up, and you’ll be placed in a team with an experienced advocacy leader who will guide you through the day, with plenty of resources to learn about 2026 legislative priorities. You’ll also get to meet fellow activists, artists, and decision makers across the state. Full agenda. If you plan to attend, please reach out to us so we can coordinate and potentially be placed in the same lobbying team. You are also welcome to sign up independently. Register Here by April 14th |
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| |  | Tabling Volunteers Needed to Help Monarchs This winter's count of overwintering monarchs in California was the third lowest ever, which means we need to do everything we can to help this iconic species. Join the Marin Monarch Working Group, which EAC helped co-found, and volunteer at their upcoming tabling events to hand out fliers and provide outreach on the benefits of planting milkweed and nectar plants. Tabling opportunities include: April 18: Jr. Ranger Day, Muir Woods April 25: Tam Valley Earth Day April 26: Mill Valley Earth Day June 14: Butterfly Festival, Mare Island Please reach out to Marin Monarch Working Group if you are interested! Learn More
Marin’s Monarch Movement |
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 | Support Dark Skies Late last month, SpaceX filed a request with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking authorization for a new satellite constellation. Not hundreds of satellites. Not thousands. One million. The proposal would deploy a vast network of AI data centers directly into low Earth orbit. This move would increase the number of satellites in the sky by nearly 70 times, representing the largest expansion of orbital infrastructure in history. Without meaningful oversight, this project could permanently alter the night sky as we know it. Add your name to DarkSky’s open letter calling on SpaceX to conduct a full environmental review, commit to satellite invisibility standards, and engage with the scientific community before deploying a satellite constellation of this scale. Learn More
DarkSky West Marin
International Dark Sky Week April 13-19: Events |
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 | Open Seats on Parks & Open Space Commission and Women's Commission Want to become more civically engaged and offer guidance to Marin County on policy? Apply for the Parks & Open Space Commission and advise the Board of Supervisors (Board) regarding parks and open space policy, and to conduct public hearings on parks and open space matters considered for recommendation to the Board. You can also apply for the Women’s Commission to help study problems, consult with the Board, prepare information, advise, and counsel local residents, as well as County, State, and Federal officials concerning matters related to discrimination against women and the violation of women's rights. The Commission may also conduct hearings and recommend improvements in related programs. Note, there is an opening for District 4 / West Marin. Apply Today |
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| | | |  | | Did you know you can set up a recurring gift online? Whether you choose to set up an annual recurring gift or spread out your giving monthly or quarterly,
a recurring gift is a great way to help provide consistent donations, so we can focus on protecting what you love in West Marin. |
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| | | | MISSION To protect and sustain the unique lands, waters, and biodiversity of West Marin. We achieve this goal through advocacy, science, education, and engagement. |
| VISION Protected resilient ecosystems in West Marin’s coastal communities
for current and future generations. |
| EQUITY & JUSTICE We apply an equity lens to our guiding principles and work. We acknowledge how systemic, historical, and current social structures impact human relationships with our natural environment. We recognize that inequities and racism, past and present, result in reduced access to resources and increased environmental vulnerability. We are committed to evolving on an organizational level, expanding our program outreach, and broadening the voices and perspectives that drive our vision and policy work. The health of our environment thrives on ecological diversity, and the movement to protect it must be diverse and inclusive, which has not always been the case. |
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| Contact Us Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC)
PO Box 609 | 65 Third Street, Suite 12
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663.9312 | [email protected] |
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