Here in southern Delaware, we are fortunate to have a number of environmental groups working to protect our irreplaceable natural resources. Many focus on the protection of open space, our Inland Bays and our diverse wildlife population. One group that every surfer should be aware of is the Surfrider Foundation. Though it may not be as well-known as some of the larger environmental groups, Surfrider’s purpose is one that impacts all of us who treasure the world’s oceans.

Founded in 1984 by a group of surfers in Malibu, Surfrider’s mission is simple. The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. The group is represented by more than 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. They seek to protect our oceans from undue harm and to uphold our rights to public beach access. The group has championed hundreds of campaigns in support of responsible alternative ocean energy, beach preservation, marine protected areas and the removal of dams in coastal watersheds.

Surfrider was also instrumental in gaining the approval of the federal Beach Act in 2000 to require a uniform national water quality monitoring, reporting and beach posting program.

In addition to Surfrider’s well-publicized legal successes against the oil and paper industries on the Pacific Coast, the group has also worked closely with many city and state governments to minimize their impact on the oceans.

These include getting the Orange County Sanitation District in California to agree to drop its Clean Water Action Section 301(h) waiver and stop the ocean discharge of 240 million gallons per day of partially treated sewage.

Surfrider has also played a key role in restoring natural dunes habitat located along the pristine Outer Banks, North Carolina coast and educating thousands of school children on beach safety, coastal pollution and beach ecology.

Our local Delaware chapter of Surfrider is actively working to protect your rights to beach access and clean water. The group dedicates hundreds of volunteer hours each year to activities such as local beach cleanups and dune grass plantings. The Delaware chapter has also played a key role in maintaining “surfing beach” designation for the few spots where surfing is permitted year round.

The group is currently fighting an important battle to convince the city of Rehoboth Beach to adopt a wastewater disposal plan that does not include ocean outfall.

Those of you who cherish Delaware’s clean, public beaches should think about spending some time as a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation. As Jim Moriarty, the group’s CEO, says, “Every minute contributed counts, every focused talent counts and every cent contributed and invested counts. This is not abstract to us. In fact it’s crystal clear - like we expect the oceans to be.”

For more information, visit surfrider.org/delaware.