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April 10, 2009 -

Local Government Liable For Big Surf Injuries?

Good article in the O.C. Register on the issue of local government liability for injuries sustained in heavy surf.  The article focuses on two cases in Newport Beach, one of which involved a drowning while the other involved a broken neck.

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March 2, 2009 -

Shell Beach Access Litigation

Good article at MSNBC on ongoing litigation over public access at Shell Beach in San Luis Obispo county, and a ruling last month that a disputed trail is actually public due a prescriptive easement.

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December 31, 2008 -

Litigation Moot?

Interesting article in the L.A. Times on the continued erosion of the oft-litigated Broad Beach in Malibu.

“If the latest projections of sea level rise are right, you can kiss goodbye the idea of a white sandy beach,” said Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. “You are going to be jumping off the sea wall onto the rocks below.”

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December 19, 2008 -

Beachmen in Black

The feds have stepped in on two ongoing coastal disputes in Southern California in the last few days:

• Federal judge in San Diego orders protection for seals at Children’s Pool.
• Feds back Coastal Commission and block San Onofre toll road.

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December 11, 2008 -

Fire Rings Going From San Diego

San Diego is reportedly going ahead with the removal of 186 fire rings from city beaches as part of its effort to deal with current budget problems.  Savethefirepits.com details the issues and discusses local efforts to save the fire pits.

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December 9, 2008 -

Demographics On SD Beach Alcohol Ban

Great article on election demographics behind San Diego’s November approval of Proposition D, the beach alcohol ban.  While voters in Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach and Mission Beach rejected the ban, voters from other neighborhoods, notably neighborhoods with older voters and more families, provided the votes that passed the ban to protect those beach area residents who didn’t support the ban.  

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November 26, 2008 -

What Path?

Interesting article out of Shell Beach (San Luis Obispo County), where the New Times SLO is reporting on a public access case and a claim of implied public dedication of an access path.  The article reports allegations that facing a loss in court the property owner may be trying to erode the path to render it unusable.

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November 25, 2008 -

Been Busy

My blogging stint with KPBS Citizen Voices ended this month, culminating in a fantastic dinner at Karl Strauss last night.  The project was a lot of fun, but combined with some vollunteer efforts against Proposition 8 it took a lot of time during the election cycle.   I’m looking forward to being able to refocus some energy and time onto this site.  Coastal access and beach use issues remain both important and contentious in California, and are very near to my heart.

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October 29, 2008 -

San Diego Proposes Restricting Kayaking

San Diego lifeguards will reportedly be posting signs banning the launching and landing of kayaks in certain parts of La Jolla Shores.  According to the Union-Tribune, the move is in response to complaints about the number of kayaks in the area, and conflicts between swimmers and kayakers.

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October 18, 2008 -

Dangerous Hunting

Good article in the Los Angeles Times on the risks of abalone hunting in California also details the legal restrictions.  Commercial harvesting is banned in California, and the restrictions on recreational harvesters limit the area of the hunt, the number and size of the abalone, and the equipment that may be used.

Abalone divers must have licenses and can take only one species, the red abalone, north of San Francisco. Divers are limited to three abalone a day and 24 a year. Each one must be at least 7 inches in diameter.

Divers are allowed to use a mask, snorkel and flippers. Typically, they also wear a weight belt and take along a covered inner tube to hold their gear.

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Interesting Sites

70 Percent Good site focusing on reporting and documenting break conditions for waveriders
Coastal Marine Resource Center Non-profit from the New York-New Jersey Harbor Bight
Free PB Opposition to additional beach regulations at San Diego’s Pacific Beach
Race for the Oceans A forum for swimmers and swimming fans to dive in to ocean conservation.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.
Wave Ride Net Surfing and surf spots