|  | Greetings Friend, It was wonderful to connect with many of you at our Annual Member Meeting last weekend, where we honored local environmental heroes, had conversations over delicious food and drink, and soaked in the sunshine. As the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) celebrates its 55-year legacy of protecting the coast and 50 years of the California Coastal Act, one truth is clear: lasting coastal protection depends on strong local leadership, but it can’t happen without YOU! For more than half a century, we have protected West Marin’s coastline through persistent advocacy and education, which have been essential to securing enduring protections. Today, our work responds to urgent threats like climate change, offshore oil, weakened environmental protections, and unsustainable development that endangers habitat and public access. As summer begins, we reflect on what we can accomplish together. I invite you to join us in defending the coast and keeping it open to all with a tax-deductible gift by July 20th to help close a $50,000 funding gap caused by recent grant cuts, powering rapid, effective advocacy when it’s needed most. Support from donors like you has already helped protect sensitive dune habitat at the Tomales Dunes at Dillon Beach, wilderness in Drakes Estero, eelgrass habitat in Tomales Bay, Marin County from offshore oil and gas development, and so much more. Read our articles below to learn more about our work to defend environmental laws and coastal access, monitor beach water quality, expand marine protected areas to advance California’s 30x30 goals and safeguard rare rocky reefs, train the next generation of environmental leaders through field trips and internships, and mobilize community action. Following Pride Month and Juneteenth, we’re reminded that strong communities and conservation depend on inclusion, solidarity, and collective action, and we strive to advance environmental justice both locally and in statewide policies. Our coast needs this leadership now more than ever. Act now—for tomorrow. In gratitude, |
| | | P.S. Three ways to get involved this summer and make a real impact for the coast: - Read the articles below to see how you can Take Action!
- Volunteer: Train to be a Marin MPA Watch volunteer and help collect key data to help manage marine protected areas at Duxbury Reef, Limantour Beach, Drakes Beach, and Corte Madera Marsh. Learn More & Sign Up
- Support conservation through art and sustainable gifts: Visit our Advocate Store featuring work by Allison Spreadborough and Vicky Vuong and scoop up gifts for you or a loved one. View Art Sale & Plan Your Visit
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| |  | Check Before You Swim! Where to Find Water Quality Info By: Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate When you spend a day on the water in West Marin, you want to know whether that water is safe. This is why in 2020, we restarted water quality sampling at Drakes Beach and Drakes Estero in partnership with the National Park Service and Marin County Environmental Health Services. Samples are tested for indicator bacteria that can signal the presence of pathogens that make people sick. Staff and volunteers collect samples, providing data to Marin County’s Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which alerts beachgoers when recreational waters contain harmful pathogens. When results exceed public health standards, warning signs are posted to help protect the public, and results are posted on the County’s website. We also share water quality exceedances in West Marin on our Instagram and Facebook as soon as we get results! Learn More: Water Quality Advocacy & Finding Results
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 | EAC Strengthens Stance on Herbicide Use in Tomales Bay State Park By: Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate The Tomales Bay State Park Forest Health and Wildfire Resilience Public Works Plan was approved in 2024 to address forest health and wildfire risk issues. While implementation has not begun, local concern about potential herbicide usage has mounted. Herbicide application is one of five possible treatment options (along with prescribed burning, mechanical treatment, manual treatment, and prescribed herbivory) Tomales Bay State Park may use for the project. Think of this as a “toolbox” rather than a prescriptive plan that mandates herbicide usage. There is built-in flexibility for non-herbicide alternatives to be used, which EAC will continue to advocate for. While we are generally supportive of the plan, we have raised concerns about herbicide usage since the beginning. We update that position to oppose any use of herbicides in the plan, including glyphosate. Learn More: What the Plan Actually Includes (NO aerial spraying proposed) & Ways to Reduce Toxins in our Environment |
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|  | EAC Welcomes New Team Members By: Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate This summer, we welcome our summer interns, a new board member, and two new staff members. Carmen Lavilla and Andrew Allanson, our Coastal Advocate Interns, participate in our coastal education programs while training volunteers for Marin MPA Watch. Anna Bassias and Paige Herbert, our Legal & Policy Interns, work on and research a myriad of legislative and environmental issues affecting West Marin and beyond. Since 2015, we've mentored over 60 interns, providing real-world experience to the next generation of environmental stewards. Learn about what our interns are working on at our August 5th Capstone Conversations event (RSVP). We also welcome Jude Stalker, a wildlife biologist focused on wetland, estuarine, and coastal environments, to our Board of Directors. Our team is growing! This February, Natalie Curtis joined us as a part-time Finance Manager, and Susan Pierson, our former Festival Assistant, rejoined this month as a part-time Operations Coordinator. These roles forward our mission, increasing capacity across programs and within our community. |
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 | Inspiring Local Youth at the Reef By: Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook, Program Director Last month, we partnered with Sustainable Marin Schools to provide a field trip learning experience to fourth-grade students from Lynwood Elementary School. Together with three Duxbury Docents, students explored the wide variety of sea life found at Duxbury Reef and Agate Beach. For many of the students, this was their first time visiting a rocky reef—and none had ever experienced the wonders of Duxbury Reef firsthand. The students’ excitement and thoughtful questions showed how much they enjoyed discovering fascinating species like chitons, purple sea urchins, coralline algae, and giant green anemones, while also experiencing the sights, sounds, and coastal sea air. These experiences help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards who understand why protecting West Marin’s lands, waters, and biodiversity matters! Learn More: Field Trips & Environmental Education Programs |
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| |  | Join Us as a Community Science Volunteer! By: Leslie Adler-Ivanbrook, Program Director Our summer Marine Protected Area (MPA) Watch volunteer training season has begun! We are expanding the program by offering refresher trainings for returning volunteers. Updated materials will ensure all participants apply survey protocols consistently and collect high-quality data. We are also continuing our MPA Watch Intercept survey pilot project at Limantour Beach and Duxbury Reef. Brief conversations with coastal visitors will help us better understand how people experience and connect with these special places. Learn More:
Read the Full Update
Become an MPA Watch Volunteer
From the Perspective of a Coastal Advocate |
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 | California's Coastal Authority at Risk: Comment by Aug 22 By: Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate When federal projects are proposed that could impact California’s coast, our state has a say in how they get done through our Coastal Management Program. Unfortunately, the federal administration has criticized this program for “obstructing” offshore oil production, spaceport development, and other projects that could severely harm our coast. It is now reviewing the program, which could potentially lead to decertification and loss of funding for coastal programs. We can’t afford to lose California’s coastal authority. Take Action now! Learn More & How to Submit Written Comments or Join a Virtual Meeting |
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 | Protect Duxbury Reef By: Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate Duxbury Reef is one of the largest shale reefs in North America and is home to almost 200 species. This is our one chance for the next ten years to safeguard all of this special connected habitat. The Fish & Game Commission will vote on our petition to increase protections at Duxbury Reef in October. Support this effort by letting the Commission know you support ocean conservation and adaptive management that keeps California’s marine protected area network resilient amid climate change, marine heatwaves, and increasing visitation. Take Action. Learn about our updated position, which supports continued recreational fishing at Duxbury Reef while protecting the full extent of the rare, biodiverse, and ecologically connected rocky reef habitat. |
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| |  | Take Trails Forever Survey & Improve Our Park Help shape the future of the coast with the Point Reyes Trails Forever initiative at Point Reyes National Seashore. Trails Forever is a partnership between the National Park Service, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and Point Reyes National Seashore Association to improve the trail system in the park. Take the Survey and share your thoughts. |
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 | July 18th Point Reyes Butterfly Count Join the Point Reyes Butterfly Count to monitor butterfly populations! The North American Butterfly Association's counts are open to the public. All ages and abilities are welcome. Do not bring a net, but DO bring binoculars and field guides. The count participation fee is $3 - please bring cash. When: Saturday, July 18th, 10 AM to 4-5 PM
Where: Bear Valley Picnic Area, Point Reyes
RSVP: [email protected] |
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 | Participate in West Marin Visioning This community-driven initiative will define a long-term vision for the future of West Marin, bringing together the ideas of community members, businesses, community organizations, and public agencies to define priorities that support a resilient environment, a thriving economy, and vibrant communities. Sign up for the listserv to learn about upcoming ways you can engage! EAC plans to engage in this important process. |
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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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