Greetings Friend,

With the start of a new year, we are full of gratitude, hope, inspiration, and excitement as we envision the possibilities the year may hold.

We are grateful for our supporters and the EAC community who helped us meet our year-end financial goals. Thank you to everyone who contributed in 2020, our membership is the highest it has been in several years, and we are heartened by your support during these challenging times! Scroll below to join our circle, renew your membership, or learn other ways to give in 2021.

We are hopeful with the change of federal leadership and heartened by the immediate actions of the administration to act and prioritize the climate crisis. We are optimistic that the connections of environmental health, public health, environmental justice and equity are being prioritized at the national, state, and county levels and look forward to engaging in these discussions in the coming months while undertaking environmental justice and diversity training for our board, staff, and volunteers. 

We are constantly inspired by the lands, waters, and coastal biodiversity in West Marin. We are fortunate to have in our “backyard” this amazing interconnected bioregion that supports ecological diversity. We are honored and blessed to engage in this work to ensure its protection for current and future generations.

We are excited for what the future holds. This year, EAC turns 50! We are planning celebrations for our community to enjoy later this year when we can gather and reflect on the past, present, and explore the vision for the next 50 years! With each new day, we are taking one step closer to reopening our office and connecting with our community in new and exciting ways.

I am looking forward to embracing this year and the challenges that remain with a full heart, open mind, and renewed hope for what may come. My heart is full, thank you for your continued support. 

In gratitude,

P.S. Save the Date for the our annual Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival April 22nd - 25th, 2021! Due to pandemic and a variety of restrictions (permits, etc.), our focus will be  keeping our community safe, and focusing on a virtual program with up to four classes a day, a lunch and learn segment, and a special keynote program. We are excited about the possibility of keeping the "festive" in the festival, and inspiring people across the world about our amazing resources. More details coming soon! 

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.

Join the West Marin Climate Action on February 23rd to Electrify Your Ride event. 

It's a Wrap! Marin MPA Watch 2020 Results 

The productivity, wildness, and beauty of California's coast and ocean are central to its identity, heritage, and economy. In 1999, California passed the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) to create a network of interconnected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect the state's marine life and habitats; marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage; and to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities. Throughout this process, we have been engaged as a stakeholder attending community planning meetings, coordinating with organizations, individuals, and government agencies to support this effort.

EAC launched our Marin MPA Watch program in 2013 in partnership with Point Reyes National Seashore and the California Academy of Sciences. We record data on consumptive and non-consumptive offshore and onshore activities in and around MPAs in Marin County that improves our understanding of how people are using these new MPAs. We conduct surveys from access points at Drakes Beach, Limantour Beach, Duxbury Reef, and Corte Madera Marsh.

Our 2020 report and analysis of visitor impacts is now available for review. 

Learn More

Support for Climate Adaptation Efforts

EAC continues our work on climate adaptation including our support for consistent statewide efforts.

In November 2020, we spoke at the California Coastal Commission meeting (Commission), lending our general support for statewide Shared Principles for Adaptation Planning. We are particularly supportive of long-range planning, nature based solutions, the protection of priceless coastal resources, the community character of our coastal villages, and public access.

At the meeting, a Joint Statement (with the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities) was adopted that included guiding principles, opportunities, and challenges associated with pro-active and effective sea level rise adaptation for California’s coastal communities.

The Statement includes an acknowledgement of basic sea level rise planning needs such as the use of best available science, policies on disclosure and assumption of risks related to sea level rise hazards, and policies to ensure that new development is appropriately sited with a phased approach where necessary.

Learn More

The Fight to Protect the Pacific

A new year, a new administration.

We are encouraged by the changes that we have seen so far, including Biden’s move to pause new offshore oil leases and the federal legislation, the West Coast Ocean Protection Act, introduced by Senator Feinstein, which would temporarily prohibit any leases off of the Pacific coast. Congressman Huffman also introduced a companion bill in the House. EAC and other NGOs had urged the new administration to take prompt action at the end of last year.

Richard Charter, a legendary coastal advocate, EAC partner, and Senior Fellow at the Ocean Foundation, “called the presidential order — included in a package of measures addressing climate change — ‘the biggest step in half a century toward protecting coastal resources.’”

The last four years have reminded us, we must remain vigilant. Therefore, we continue our work with the Protect the Pacific coalition to keep offshore oil off of our coast. In November, we worked with Surfrider to pass a resolution opposing offshore oil and gas drilling in the town of Fairfax, and in August we advocated for a county ordinance to restrict offshore infrastructure development without a vote. Collectively, Protect the Pacific has secured 98 resolutions opposing offshore oil on the West Coast!

Learn More

Western Monarch Population Decline and How You Can Help

In case you missed it, we launched our report, Marin's Monarch Movement, in December 2020. We are aflutter with excitement with the actions it has inspired in our community!

Now that the report is out, the work to implement the Right Actions, In the Right Place, Right Now kicks off. Our report provides a list of action items informed by the best available science for individuals, organizations, and communities to take based on where they are located. There are different needs for areas defined as overwintering habitat (coastal zone) compared to breeding and migratory habitat (inland areas). 

Monthly, a Marin County Western Monarch Working Group is meeting to implement the actions to support the monarch throughout the county. This includes coordinating habitat conservation and restoration, propagating native milkweed, creating factsheets, how to videos, and partnerships with local native plant nurseries to get pollinator support plants in the ground this spring and summer. 

In the coming weeks, we will be announcing some upcoming events and surprises for folks who have downloaded our report. So ... if you have not downloaded your copy, now is the time! Spring planting starts soon!

Learn More and Download the Report

Coastal Commission's Review of the Seashore's Management Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking to wrap up the Point Reyes National Seashore’s General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA). Before NPS can finalize the GMPA, they must obtain consistency determinations from other federal and state agencies. This includes receiving a federal consistency determination from the California Coastal Commission (Commission). 

The contentious review was scheduled to take place on January 14, 2021. This received broad public pushback as that date did not provide the Commission staff or the public with appropriate time to review the complex plan and impacts. Once the GMPA is finalized, it will guide the management of the Ranchland Zone for 20-years! It is essential that any decisions based on continuing ranching in the Seashore are based on science and prioritize protecting park resources. The January date was widely viewed as a political push to obtain the consistency determination before the prior federal administration left office on January 20th. 

We launched an action alert in early January for our community to contact the Commission and express their concerns with the rushed plan. On January 7th, NPS and the Commission reached an agreement to allow more time for review. The future meeting date has not been officially set, and we will notify our community once the public notice is issued. 

You can learn more about this issue and EAC's position by reading our online blog and webpage dedicated to this complex issue.

Learn More

Our Online Store - Giving with Purpose

Give a gift with purpose and support our nonprofit mission with a gift from our online store. Shop wildlife notecards, prints, or our West Marin Wild reusable cups and utensils. Shop Now