NEC

Join the largest volunteering event centered on the care of the environment, Coastal Cleanup Day! Now international, Coastal Cleanup Day has its humble beginnings right here in Humboldt County as a program of the Northcoast Environmental Center in the 1970s. Saturday, September 17 marks the 37th anniversary of the NECs Coastal Cleanup Day and the 32nd international anniversary. 

Sometimes referred to as a “just a Band-Aide on a larger problem,” beach cleanups are certainly not the end-all solution, but Coastal Cleanup Day is more than an ordinary cleanup. The day serves as a reminder to help protect what you love and feel proud you are part of a world-wide effort to make a difference. Resulting from the event, each year the Ocean Conservancy compiles an item-by-item, location-by-location Ocean Trash Index which provides the only global snapshot of the marine debris littering coasts and waterways around the world.

NEC

Last year, with support from local businesses, organizations and volunteers, over 400 people joined together to remove over seven tons of trash and recyclables from Humboldt’s beaches, rivers, bay and estuaries. Statewide, California picked up a total of 1,142,997 pounds of debris and internationally over 18 million pounds of debris were picked up by over 800,000 volunteers. 

In cooperation with the California Coastal Commission, the Northcoast Environmental Center will again organize over 40 cleanups throughout Humboldt County with hopes to increase participation and make a greater difference for our coast. Coordinating such a large event requires an immense amount of staff time and community coordination.  

Here’s what you can do:

  • Be a site captain: Site captains willing to lead a team of volunteers are needed for beaches so far unclaimed. Captains recruit teammates, oversee the cleanup, and report cleanup data. Sign up HERE and pick a site or create your own site HERE.
  • Sponsor Coastal Cleanup: Sponsors are needed to ensure the NEC’s capacity to make 2016’s Coastal Cleanup Day the biggest yet. This is a great way to publicize you business or organization as a friend of the ocean and clean waterways. Contact madison@yournec.org for sponsorship packages available. 
  • Join a team: Whether it be your favorite beach or the place closest to home, choose a site and sign up HERE. You will be put in contact with the site captain. 

For more information visit www.yournec.org/coastalcleanup or contact the NEC by calling 707-822-6918 or email coastalcleanup@yournec.org. 

LA Times

Coastal mega-development shut down

Last night at 10:30pm, the coast and all its protectors triumphed when the California Coastal Commissioners voted 9-1 to reject the proposed new mega-development, Newport Banning Ranch. The development would have traded the largest privately owned coastal open-space parcel in Southern California for 895 residences, 45,100 square feet of retail space, a hotel, a 20-bed hostel, and two clusters of oil wells.

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Banning Ranch is 400 acres of open space covered in vernal pools and wetlands. The land is critical habitat for species such as the coastal California gnatcatcher, burrowing owl and San Diego fairy shrimp. Thanks to the countless hours put forth by the public, tribes, scientists, Coastal Commission staff, and environmental agencies, this land will not be habitat for shopping malls any time soon. 

Check out the story in all its glory on the LA Times HERE

… and OC Register HERE