"The responsibility for the actions and agenda of the government ultimately fall on the shoulders of those who elect the government into power. The people of New Hanover County need to hold their elected officials responsible for the preservation of our natural resources and the continued smart, well planned growth of our city."

-Cape Fear Surfrider Foundation

Cape Fear Surfrider Open Meeting: Monday, October 12th

FREE FOOD AND SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER!

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is holding an open meeting on Monday, October 12th at 7:00pm at the Mellow Mushroom! Free appetizers will be served.

Our special guest speaker, Jennifer O'Keefe, Coordinator for New Hanover County's Keep America Beautiful program, will give a presentation about her experience visiting the Atlantic Ocean plastic gyre, her thoughts on plastics in the ocean, and information about the Keep America Beautiful Program. In July, Ms. O'Keefe visited the North Atlantic Gyre, and her presentation will include videos, photos, and stories from her trip.

We'll also give you an update on our current projects and upcoming events. Please attend if you are interested in volunteering!
Questions? Email capefearchapter@surfrider.org.

For more information about the Keep America Beautiful Program, visit http://www.nhcgov.com/AgnAndDpt/KAB/Pages/Home.aspx

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will NOT organize or conduct the Cape Fear Clean Water Classic Surf Festival in 2009.

While the contest has been successful in the past, the Cape Fear Chapter has decided to strengthen other activities and campaigns and discover new avenues to realize the goals of the Surfrider Foundation locally.

Over the years, the Clean Water Classic Surf Festival has evoked tremendous volunteer efforts and community support. In 2008 the Cape Fear Chapter experienced a net financial loss on the event due to the lack of a major sponsor. While the loss was not large, a similar situation could happen this year. This was not the only deciding factor in choosing to forgo this event as a Cape Fear Surfrider activity. The Cape Fear Chapter also considered the total amount of financial, volunteer, and other resources necessary to conduct such an event and decided to re-focus these important resources into efforts that draw the most direct lines possible to Surfrider’s strategic initiatives. These include Beach Access, Beach Preservation, Clean Water, and Protecting Special Places.

The Cape Fear Chapter hopes, with the help of our wonderful volunteers, to achieve great progress locally on these initiatives through Conservation, Activism, Research, and Education. The Chapter has a number of significant projects and events planned in this regard, and we encourage you to become involved. Become a member of the Surfrider Foundation by visiting www.surfrider.org, and contact capefearchapter@surfrider.org if you would like to volunteer locally or present an idea for a project, campaign, or event. To find out about upcoming events and meetings, visit the Cape Fear Chapter website at http://www.surfrider.org/capefear/. The Cape Fear Chapter welcomes your ideas, and we hope that everyone can dedicate even a small amount of time to work towards our shared goals.

Thank you for your support and all you do in your daily lives to promote cleaner, more accessible, enjoyable beaches.

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation

INTERNATIONAL SURFING DAY ON JUNE 20

Here are some images from the celebration of International Surfing Day’s five-year anniversary. Founded by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine, and presented by Monster Energy, International Surfing Day unites surfers from around the world in celebration of the sport of surfing, and encourages all ocean lovers to give back by participating in local Surfrider Foundation chapter events.

Our Position on the Titan Cement Plant
The Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation believes that the environmental impact of the proposed Titan Cement Plant strongly outweighs any economic benefits associated with the project. Many of the residents of the Cape Fear region have chosen to live here because of the beauty of the natural environment. The Titan Cement Plant project has the potential to adversely effect the environment and therefore the health of our children and neighbors within the Cape Fear Region. Protecting the natural environment and providing environmental education to the children and residents of the Cape Fear Region are two core priorities of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Therefore, the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation strongly opposes the Titan Cement Plant project. Because this is such an important issue, we urge you to contact your local politicians to let them know your views on the proposed project. Additionally, we encourage you to visit stoptitan.org to educate yourself about this issue.

Please take care of Masonboro Island so we can all continue to enjoy it for a long time into the future.

Masonboro Island is one of ten North Carolina
Coastal Reserves and is also part of the NC
National Estuarine Research Reserve. The island is
protected and managed under a state-federal
partnership with NOAA and housed within the NC
Division of Coastal Management.
Why is Masonboro protected?
The lands and waters within the Coastal Reserve have
been protected to preserve the natural character,
habitat and communities of the sites for the benefit of
the citizens of the State of North Carolina.
What is the mission of the program?
The NC Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine
Research Reserve have been established to protect
coastal and estuarine sites so that they will be
available for research and education purposes.
Can the public visit Masonboro Island?
Although the island was protected primarily for
research and education, traditional uses such as fishing
and recreation are allowed as long as they do not
interfere with these primary uses. Appropriate use of
the Reserve allows for both protection of the natural
resources and continued public enjoyment.
How can I learn more?
Visit the Coastal Reserve website at
www.nccoastalreserve.net for more information about
the program and its sites.
Who do I contact about Masonboro?
To learn more about Masonboro Island or to get
involved as a volunteer, contact the Southern Sites
Manager at 910-962-2998.

Chair

Dave Howard is a life-long North Carolina resident who developed his passion for the ocean through visiting the Outerbanks of North Carolina on family vacations. Dave has been a Surfrider Member/Volunteer for over 10 years and has served as an executive committee member for the past three years. Dave’s 24 years of surfing has taken him to the coasts of North Carolina, Hawaii and Oregon.

Vice-Chair

Al Meadowcroft has been a resident of the Cape Fear Region for the past 15 year and has been surfing the world’s coasts for over thirty years. Al’s major reason for being involved with the Cape Fear Chapter is to preserve and protect the oceans and beaches for future generations. Al has been a member of the Cape Fear Chapter executive committee for the past 5 years.

Treasurer

Adam Shay loves spending time outdoors and in and on the water. He became actively involved with the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation in 2006 and has served as the treasurer during that time. Adam has an MBA and currently specializes in taxes.

Volunteer Coordinator

Suzanne Blake works as the Emergency Manager for UNCW and has lived in Wilmington for the past six years. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Suzanne has a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University. She grew up surfing and lifeguarding on the beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Suzanne is looking forward to her role as the Volunteer Coordinator and meeting as many Cape Fear Chapter volunteers as possible!

Marketing Manager

Lenny Senkarik comes to the Cape Fear Region from South Jersey. He brings with him two media degrees from the Art Institute, and is a well traveled surfer. His passion and love for a clean planet is a driving factor for his desire to join the Cape Fear Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

Please take a moment to welcome the new officers into their roles. At any time, you can contact the chapter officers at capefearchapter@surfirder.org.

As always, thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you out at one of our upcoming events.

The Cape Fear Surfrider Chapter is committed to being a positive agent of change in our local communities and environments. At the present time two major issues are threatening to erode the quality of life for New Hanover County residents and Visitors from around the globe; and large quantity sewage leaks directly into public waters.

Sewer Spills from the North East Interceptor (NEI) have resulting in more than 4.7 million gallons of sewage leaked into Hewletts Creek in the past two years.

Sign the petition : support requiring the City of Wilmington to enter into a Special Order of Consent with the State, establishing an acceptable timetable and structured enforcement program to assist the City in achieving compliance with its NPDES permit and protecting our precious coastal waters.

ACCESS 33 SAVED!!!

For more information on Public Beach Access 33 visit : access33.org

Take action and join the fight to preserve our quality of life and the health of our natural environment. -->

Current City, State, and Federal Correspondence over the sewage spill issue:

Letter Sent by the EPA to the City of Wilmington
State "Notice of Violation"

Standing Information:

"Northeast Interceptor Improvements Presentation"

City of Wilmington page for Sewer System Improvement Updates

Sewer System Condition Assessment

Wilmington City Council Members

Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority

Wilmington Dept. of Waste Water Treatment

Your Elected Representatives:

New Hanover County State Representatives-

Carolyn H. Justice (District 16) Carolynju@ncleg.net
Daniel F. McComas (District 19) Dannym@ncleg.net
Thomas E. Wright (District 1) Tomw@ncleg.net

Senate Members-

Julia Boseman (District 9) Juliab@ncleg.net

Cape Fear Surfrider.. Keeping You in the Loop
StarNews 12/11/06 - "Final cost of repairs to the North East Interceptor are estimated at $41 million. It is anticipated that the cost will be split between the city (45%), the county (45%), & Wrightsville Beach (10%). "

WWAYTV3 12/11/06 - Since 2004 4.7 million gallons of raw sewage have spilled from the NEI. The environmentally sensitive area of Hewlett's Creek has taken the brunt of the action. The state says it will be more than a year from now, at the earliest March of 2008, before it will lift the moratorium on new hook-ups to the NEI.