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#GivingTuesday
HB Desalination Plant Stalled
Adopt A Green Abalone Family
Fat, Oil & Grease Disposal
Coastkeeper Garden Events
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Garden Volunteer Docents Needed!

For more info, email 

garden@coastkeeper.org


Dec. 14 from 9 - 11 am,
at Huntington State Beach, lifeguard tower #11. You can find more details on our website. Please send an RSVP to pamela@coastkeeper.org .
December 2013      

Happy Holidays from all of us at Orange County Coastkeeper!

 

It's #GivingTuesday: Give the gift of clean water and clean beaches today!  

 

We were successful in stopping the proposed Poseidon desalination plant!

 

Looking for a great holiday gift idea? How about adopting a family of green abalone for a loved one?

 

Be sure to properly dispose of your holiday cooking oil. We have all the info you need here courtesy of the OC Sanitation District.

 

Join us for one of our upcoming Coastkeeper Garden workshops.

#GivingTuesday

Today is #GivingTuesday™, a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages activities that support nonprofit organizations like Coastkeeper. 

 

We invite you to take part in Giving Tuesday by making a donation to support our clean water programs including WHALES education, coastal advocacy, marine habitat restoration or water quality research. With 86 cents of every dollar going directly to our programs, you can be rest assured that gifts of any size make a real difference. Click here to donate online, send us a check, or give us a call. 

 

And if you can't make a monetary contribution this year, join us for any of our upcoming volunteer opportunities

We won the battle, but the war isn't over
At its November 13th meeting, the California Coastal Commission postponed a decision on Poseidon Water's proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant. While the Commissioners see desalination as part of our water future, they affirmed that it has to be done right without significant impacts to the environment, which has always been Coastkeeper's position. 
 
When the Commissioners commenced deliberations after a nine-hour hearing, it became clear that there was not adequate support for the project as proposed. The Commission staff and Commissioners Zimmer and Bochco berated Poseidon for their shortcomings, including questionable ethics and their refusal to work with Commission staff when requested. Poseidon ended up withdrawing their application for a Coastal Development Permit, and must go back to the drawing board with new studies, including considerations for a new location for the plant site.
 
Read the full Huffington Post blog entry by Garry Brown here
 
You can still send comments to the Coastal Commission to voice your support for their
Photo by Tony Soriano
staff recommendations or to urge them to deny Poseidon's project. You can also write to Orange County Water District to tell them to not make a deal with Poseidon. More info available at: www.coastkeeper.org/desal-hb/.
 
Many thanks to those who fought alongside Coastkeeper in this battle: California Coastal Protection Network, Surfrider Foundation, Residents for Responsible Desalination, Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, California Coastkeeper Alliance, Desal Response GroupNational Resources Defense CouncilHeal the Bay, former HB mayor Debbie Cook, current HB mayor Connie Boardman, the many concerned Huntington Beach residents and Orange County ratepayers.
Abalone Families in Need this Holiday Season
Green Abalone The holidays are a time to help those in need. Orange County's population of native green abalone have been on the verge of disappearing for decades. For only $25, you can support our efforts to bring their population back.

 

If you are searching for a one-of-a-kind gift to give for the holidays, then how about adopting a family of green abalone? Doing so will earn you major points with your sea-loving gift recipient, and the donation will directly benefit our green abalone restoration efforts. 

 

To adopt a family of green abalone in someone's name for a special holiday gift, please contact Amanda Bird, our in-the-water marine restoration coordinator at amanda@coastkeeper.org  or call 714-850-1965.

Holiday Fats, Oil & Grease Disposal
In order to keep our waterways clean, we need to reduce stress on our sewers and wastewater
Photo from www.ifood.tv
treatment systems. The Orange County Sanitation District's What 2 Flush program educates all sewer users about what is items are safe to flush and go down our drains. Here is a simple tip for your kitchen sink: "the only thing that should be going down the drain is what comes out of the faucet." 

Garbage disposals have led to many people to treat their sink like a trashcan. Putting food, hair, oil and grease down the drain may cause pipes to clog, which can lead to environmentally damaging sewage spills. Fats, oil and grease, or FOG are a big threat during the holiday season. The best way to get rid of FOG is to let it cool/harden, mix it with other absorbent materials, place it in a bag or container and then throw it in the trash. Before washing, scrape and dry wipe pots, pans, and dishes with a paper towel and dispose of it in the trash. You can also use the grease can and plastic liners provided to collect all your excess fats, oils, and grease. Get more info about What 2 Flush here.
Coastkeeper Garden Events
  • Dec. 7, 10 am: Coastkeeper Garden Workshop 
    Click photo to enlarge
    • In case you missed the first workshop in our California Friendly� landscaping series, be sure to join us for our second workshop: Designing Your New Landscape. Cost: free! RSVP to garden@coastkeeper.org. 
  • Dec. 14, 10 am - 12 pm: Succulent Crafting Seminar
    • Learn how to make unique living gifts for the holidays, or any time of year. Local succulent experts will demonstrate gift ideas, teach visitors how to propagate succulents at home, and answer any questions. Cost: freeNo RSVP required.
  • Jan. 4, 10 am: Coastkeeper Garden Workshop
    • After covering how to plan and design a California Friendly landscape, the third workshop in our series will teach participants the basics on constructing their new landscapes. Cost: free! RSVP to garden@coastkeeper.org.
Thank you for your continued interest in Orange County Coastkeeper and Inland Empire Waterkeeper. 

Garry's Signature




Garry Brown
Founder & President