Surfrider Foundation’s Mission

A grass-roots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of

oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.

Transform landscapes and hardscapes to prevent water pollution by applying CPR: Conservation, Permeability & Retention. We do this through education, hands-on events, and policy work.

www.oceanfriendlygardens.org

Ocean Friendly Gardens Program Mission

KnowYourH2O.org(Ecosystem-Based Management)

Ocean Friendly Gardens

Green Streets

Wastewater Reuse

Integrated Water Management

at home

in your

watershed

in your city

in your

neighborhood

individual

action

public

policy

Urban Runoff Is The No. 1 Source of Ocean Pollution

Dry Weather

Wet Weather

To Storm Drains…

During a storm, billions of gallons of water may run through the storm drain system.

This overwhelms the cleaning system and pollutes our waterways.

Increased runoff also means decreased groundwater recharge.

Through The Flood Control System…

Image courtesy of Heal the Bay

To Our Oceans and Beaches…

Flooding, Road Wear

&Pollutants

Car oilMetals

PesticidesNutrientsSedimentBacteria

Resource Conservation District-Santa Cruz

Water Seen As A Problem: Pipe, Pave and Pollute

And Harmful Algal Blooms

Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous) from human activitiesWikimedia

Combined Sewer Outflows – in older big cities:Stormwater + Untreated Wastewater Can Flow To Ocean

www.moundsvillewwtp.com

Natural Watershed

By King County, WA DNRP

A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. US EPA

“Spongy” soil - Soil microorganisms bring plants food and water, and filter pollutants. Water is stored in soil.

Built-On Watershed

By King County, WA DNRP

Image courtesy of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability & Environment.

Runoff

Overspray

Evaporation

Green waste

ImpermeableSurfaces

Compacted Soil

How Typical Runoff Occurs

No Shade

Wasted Resources &Poor Quality of Life

Unused Landscape

No Habitat

No Rainwater HarvestingNo Food Security

Poor Air Quality

Focus On The First Flush

First ¾ – 1 inch of rain after a dry period

Contains 80% of the pollutants

Start Thinking of Your Home As A Mini-Watershed

Apply C.P.R. To Revive Watersheds and Oceans

Conservation

Permeability

Retention

Conservation

Retention

Your Yard Is Connected To The Beach

Conservation of Water, Wildlife Habitat, & Energy• Native plants adapted to climate. No fertilizers & chemicals• Veggies and fruit trees ok: reduced food-miles• Spacing plants for mature size: reduces green waste

Permeability

Retention of rainwater • For plants, maintain stream flows, sinks into groundwater• In barrels if needed to water fruit trees and veggies

Permeability of soil and hard surfaces• Healthy, biologically active soil: compost, mulch• Gaps in hard surfaces. Good air & water flow

Average Rainfall Enough for Plants & Nourishes A Watershed

1,000 sq. foot roof x 1 inch rain x .62 gallons/sq. ft = 600 gallons

This water can:Irrigate plants

Maintain creek flowsRecharge groundwater

City of Santa Monica, CA

More Benefits - Less Money & Time

OFG Program Strategic Planning

• Build on Surfrider programs – Blue Water Task Force, beach clean-ups, fighting storm water outfall pipes

• Hands-on training - volunteers & land owners (& renters) - agencies & professionals – apply to their projects

• Create examples - spark change

• Collaborate - government, water districts, landscape professionals, academia, NGOs, community groups

OFG Program Components (Template):Educate, Train, Assist and Connect People

Garden Assistance Program (GAP)

Hands-On Workshops (HOWs)

Lawn Patrol: Neighborhood Walk

Basics Class

OFG Sign, Book, Blog and Online Tracking

CPR, GAP and Lawn Patrol © 2010 Surfrider Foundation. All rights reserved.

YOUR LOGO HERE

OFG Activist Toolkit

OFG Lawn Patrol = Neighborhood Walk

Outdoor Education * Training The Eye * Spotting OFGs for Signs * Help Those Almost There

We Look For Gardens That Are Ocean Friendly

And Educate About Gardens That Are Not

Not good: rain chain drains into underground pipe to street

We Offer Info & Help To Go OFG

Attend a Class or Workshop and get involved!

OFG Program Series

800 sq. ft. lawn retrofitLawn used 21,000 gallons of water/year Dry and wet weather runoff

(1) OFG Basics Class:• Taught by professional • Picked a person ready to

go OFG

(2) Hands-On Workshop:Site Evaluation• Measure site• Check runoff & water use

With A Little Professional Coaching He Developed A Design

(3) GAP

Funding:½ City of Ventura Public Works Dept.½ Surfrider Chapter – backfill with participant donation of $10 for Series

Simple Design – Dug Out Soil Mounded

His All-In Cost Was $600, Including Food

December 2010 – 4” of Rain

Copying Nature – 3 S’s: Slow, Spread, Sink

Streams Don’t Flow in a Straight Line or have concrete linings. They have curves, ups and downs, and permeable sides and bottoms.

• Slow it – rocks at base of downspout; rain chains; mulch or gravel.

• Spread it – small amount distributed to multiple areas.• Sink it – soil holds onto water, supplies creek flows, or

recharges groundwater.

March 2011 – Another 3.5” of Rain

No Irrigation Needed Through August 2011

Reduced Water Use by 90%Zero Dry-Weather RunoffZero Wet-Weather RunoffBuilt Habitat

June 2013 – Filled In

Scaling Up – GAP Host Helps His Neighbor

“Sheet mulching” parkway – smothering grass

OFG vs. Rain Garden

Rain garden:• Water from part of roof• Direct to shallow

depression• Plants adapted to wet

conditions

OFG• Applies CPR to whole

site• Prevent runoff

everyday, including dry weather

Green Streets – “Before”

Professional Design

Un-Compacted and Mulched

Surfrider Brings Media And Volunteers: GAP Workday

Donated Services: Contractor & Host Cut Curbs * Professional design * City’s no-cost permit

Angled cut = water flows in easily (20” wide)

Multiple “sponges”

Basins, not swales

Existing soil

ID utilities – call Dig-Alert (writing on street & sidewalk)

Sponging & Cleaning Rainwater:Polluted runoff from street sponged up by soil and cleansed

Next Step - Permeable Driveway

Cut Your Driveway & Curb Neighborhood Block Parties!

If We Had A Million

Dollars…

We’d Have 5,000+ OFG Driveways &

Curb Cuts

OFG Blossoms Through An Collaborative Approach① Bringing OFG to Agencies,

Professionals, Non-Profits

② Professional Leadership & Support at Hands-on Activities

③ Multiple Funding Partners

④ Highly visible sites, e.g., public ones

⑤ Multiple benefits: water quality, water supply, flood management, etc.

Recap

• Principles - CPR: Conservation, Permeability,

Retention- Slow it, Spread it, Sink it

• Program – walks, talks, workdays, workshops

• Partnerships – fills gaps and scale up

Action Plan

• Form OFG CommitteeChair, lead activities, tabling/speaking, policy work

• Evaluate Chapter Capacity and Interest Existing programs & resources (Chapter 5-Toolkit)Reach out to professionals, agencies, etc.

• Develop a Strategic PlanSample one: Chapter 9-Toolkit

My roles - support Chapters and Surfrider Staff:Resources – website, blog, forum, regular updates Expertise – talk, assist

Paul Herzog - pherzog@surfrider.org, 310-430-9760 or 310-439-2500