| | Greetings Friend, I am grateful to greet you as EAC’s official executive director, and I hope you are all recovering well and were not harmed by the recent storms. It was a busy January, and the team and I have hit the ground running! We have been busy advocating for increased protections for our local beloved Marine Protected Areas, tracking recently introduced state bills, interviewing summer legal and policy interns, reviewing the draft California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update, and planning our 15th Annual Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival and Spring Litter Bugs Me events. In my new role here, it is important to me to get to know you and hear about your advocacy priorities and what you love about coastal Marin. I want to take this opportunity to invite you to join me and our team for Coffee with the Director on March 16th from 10 am - 12 pm at our office. This is a great way to meet the team, and learn more about our environmental advocacy work in coastal Marin in an informal setting over coffee and pastries from our local bakeries. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about our 2024 priorities, share concerns, and ask questions. I hope to see you there! |
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| | | | Adaptive Management for Local MPA Petitions
Ashley Eagle-Gibbs, Executive Director and Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook, Program Director We prepared and submitted two petitions to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) on November 30th to request changes in Marine Protected Area (MPA) regulations at two highly vulnerable locations in Marin County: Drakes Estero and Duxbury Reef. We also supplemented our comments on February 1st with additional community support and information. This follows the decadal management review and the need to adaptively manage our MPAs. Drakes Estero
We requested that Drakes Estero change from a State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), in which limited take is permitted (recreational clamming), to a State Marine Reserve (SMR), where no take is permitted, to be consistent with the SMR designation of the connected Estero de Limantour and with Drakes Estero’s designation as a Marine Wilderness. Duxbury Reef - We requested the following:
1) Change the designation from SMCA to SMR to more effectively protect imperiled reef species which are vulnerable to disturbance and take;
2) Extend the MPA south to encompass the section of the reef currently outside the MPA boundary;
3) Extend the MPA north to include the contiguous habitat to Double Point/Stormy Stack Special Closure. Keep Reading… |
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|  | Welcome Our 2024 Interns!
Grace Milstein, Communications Associate The EAC team is thrilled to welcome Adrienne Tosaris, Legal & Policy intern, and Will Galler, Communications intern, this Spring, 2024! Legal & Policy Intern Team:
Adrienne Tosaris is a student at the University of Minnesota Law. Originating from Marin County, Adrienne is dedicated to water law and safeguarding California's coastlines. Christopher Mouawad will continue his work on lands, waters, and biodiversity with us this semester with a legislative focus. Chris joined us as a Legal & Policy Intern in May 2023; in January 2024, he transitioned to our inaugural Legislative Fellow.
Coastal Advocate Intern:
Jessie Kamman will continue her internship on the Marin Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch. She wishes to pursue a career in ocean science and conservation, particularly fish population research, to advocate for expanded protections and MPAs. Communication Intern:
Will Galer is a junior at the University of Southern California majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Economics. His internship includes developing communication items, including content creation and marketing for our mission and key fundraisers like the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival.
We really enjoy working with this fabulous team of interns whose curiosity and unique perspectives help us advance our programs to protect coastal Marin. Our internship program provides students with opportunities and real-world work experience that will help shape their future careers. We hope you can meet some interns this spring! We want to thank the Resources Legacy Fund, JW & HM Goodman Family Foundation, Cynthia Lloyd Scholars Fund, and individual donors, like you, for their generous support of our internship program. Learn more about our intern team… |
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 | Team Up to Clean Up Our Roadsides March 28th - 30th
Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook, Program Director | Photo: Sarah Killingsworth Spring Litter Bugs Me is coming up in March. Litter Bugs Me, a roadside clean up effort, is a great way to work together to protect West Marin’s watersheds, bays, oceans, and wildlife throughout the year. In partnership with Marin County, we recruit volunteers to help clean up the roadsides ahead of the County’s annual roadside mowing program. Roadside mowers shred trash, which contributes to the formation of microplastics and makes it much harder to clean up. Trash of all sizes threatens the health of terrestrial and marine wildlife, and ultimately all of us, as it spreads throughout our environment. Sign Up To Volunteer on March 28th, 29th, and 30th in the following regions: - Chileno Valley
- Inverness & Inverness Park
- Point Reyes & Olema
- Samuel P Taylor & Platform Bridge Road
- San Geronimo Valley
- Bolinas
Volunteers will choose a date and location to clean up. Our team will contact you to coordinate with your team after registering, including when to pick up supplies. |
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|  | Share Your Love for West Marin on Our Interactive Board
Grace Milstein, Communications Associate What do you LOVE about West Marin? Share your love and unique experiences in West Marin by filling in this interactive board: "What I Love About West Marin" or emailing us. West Marin is not just a location; it's a feeling, an experience, and a source of endless wonder. Whether you're a long-time resident or a visitor who's been captivated by its charm, we know there's something about this place that you love. Participate in this virtual canvas where you can post your thoughts and memories. Leave a ‘sticky note’ to share what makes West Marin an extraordinary place for you. It could be anything – from the awe-inspiring natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, and welcoming community to the rich cultural and historical narratives that weave through the region. Read what fellow community members love and get inspired. Your contributions will show what makes West Marin truly special. We can't wait to read what you say, and feel the love. Your contributions will help inform a beautification project in our Point Reyes Station office, as well as help our team convey the stories about the places and spaces we all love in West Marin, supporting our advocacy. |
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 | Support the Western Monarch Today
Grace Milstein, Communications Associate Have you seen western monarch butterflies clustered together at overwintering sites along the coast? According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, there has been a notable decline in Monarch populations throughout California in the past year, with numbers decreasing by over 50% in West Marin. Coastal areas of Marin County are important overwintering habitats for western monarch butterflies. If you live within five miles of overwintering sites (in coastal areas), consider planting blooming nectar plants in winter and early spring. Nectar is crucial for fueling monarchs during their migration and overwintering. Milkweed should not be planted within five miles of overwintering habitat! Inland areas of Marin County are important breeding and migratory habitat for western monarch butterflies. Planting native nectar and narrowleaf milkweed is critical for inland areas of Marin. Do not plant tropical, non-native milkweed - it can carry a microscopic protozoan parasite affecting monarch butterflies' migration success and lifespan. Additionally, tropical milkweed does not die off during winter like native milkweed, which can confuse butterflies and cause them to breed when they should be migrating or overwintering. Interested in learning more? Download our free report, Marin’s Monarch Movement, and use the list of action items for individuals, organizations, and communities to take action to support this threatened species. Also visit the Marin Monarch Working Group website to learn more. EAC is part of this working group. |
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| |  | Become a Summer Coastal Advocate The application period to intern as a Summer Coastal Advocate is now open. Apply to intern. Please help us spread the word! Coastal Advocates work alongside our team to manage the local chapter of the state-wide MPA Watch community science program (Marin MPA Watch). Interns gain valuable leadership and communication skills through assisting with program and data management, volunteer recruitment and training, events and community outreach, and communications. In addition, they often help with key projects and events and build donor and partner relationship skills. This internship includes remote and in-person work, including working outdoors. Each intern will be responsible for a capstone project that forwards our mission and will be presented to our supporters and community in late summer. Bilingual Spanish-speaking applicants are encouraged to apply. Compensation: We offer stipends for our summer Coastal Advocate interns due to generous funding through the Resources Legacy Fund, JW & HM Goodman Family Foundation, Cynthia Lloyd Scholars Fund, and individual donors, like you. Learn More & Apply
Learn More about Marin MPA Watch |
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 | CA Sea Level Rise Guidance - Open for Public Comment The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has released the draft State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance: 2024 Science and Policy Update. This report contains the best available science on sea level rise and coastal impacts. The draft guidance is now available for public review and comment until March 4, 2024. Please email all public comments directly to OPC at Ben.Dorfman@resources.ca.gov with the subject line “Sea Level Rise Guidance – Public Comment.” We are reviewing the guidance and will be submitting comments on the draft guidance with partners. EAC staff also met with OPC staff to discuss the guidance before it was released. Sea level rise and increased climate-driven flooding will continue to threaten the public and coastal habitats. To build resilience for coastal communities and ecosystems, thoughtful science-based planning and adaptation actions must happen now. This guidance, coupled with the recently launched Senate Bill 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Grant Program and $660 million maintained in the Governor’s FY 24/25 Budget for critical coastal resilience programs and projects, will help prepare California. Unfortunately, significant cuts have already been proposed to the state’s coastal resilience budget this year. We join Surfrider in fighting to preserve funding for coastal adaptation for the second year in a row. OPC will hold 3 virtual regional workshops in February: - Register for Central Coast Workshop
- Register for North Coast Workshop
- Register for South Coast Workshop
The final guidance will be presented to the OPC for review and adoption at its June 4, 2024 meeting. Read the Draft Report |
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| | | We endeavor to keep our website up to date with the latest information on our campaigns and included some quick links in case the topic you're most interested in isn't featured in this month's e-news! Some links to campaigns are below or click on the images to view those pages directly. |
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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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| | | Shop Our Advocate Store Online - Giving with Purpose Give a gift to the advocate in your life and support our mission.
Shop hats, totes, tees, sweatshirts, and more in a variety of styles. Shop Now |
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| | MISSION To protect and sustain the unique lands, waters, and
biodiversity of West Marin. |
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VISION Our work strives to provide long-term protection and conservation of the unique ecosystems of West Marin and serves as a foundation of environmental protection for future generations. |
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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 | info@eacmarin.org |
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