SANTA CRUZ WORLD SURFING RESERVE STEWARDSHIP PLAN SEPTEMBER 2015 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………… 4 About Santa Cruz WSR …………………………………………………………………………… 4 WSR Selection Criteria …………………………………………………………………………… 5 Reserve Management ……………………………………………………………………………. 6 World Surfing Reserve Map ……………………………………………………………………… 7 Reserve Stewardship Plan ………………………………………………………………………… 7 Water Quality Action Plan ………………………………………………………………………… 7 Trash & Marine Debris Action Plan ………………………………………………………….. 8 Sea Level Rise Action Plan ………………………………………………………………………. 9 Annex Materials ……………………………………………………………………………………… 11 2 Acknowledgments This Reserve Stewardship Plan represents the collective effort of many valued colleagues and partners. Save the Waves staff would like to particularly appreciate the investment of time and expertise by all of the participants in the 2014 World Surfing Reserve Summit, which was the genesis of this plan. Special appreciation to the World Surfing Reserve Vision Council and Executive Committee for the site selection and Ryan Craig program leadership they provide. Vision Council members include: Vision Council Executive Committee Scott Atkinson, Conservation International Chad Nelsen, Surfrider Foundation Zachary Plopper, Wildcoast Jess Ponting, Center For Surf Research Nik Strong-Cvetich, Save The Waves Coalition Vision Council O’Neill Archives Fernando Aguerre, International Surfing Association Pedro Bicudo, Salvem o Surf Michael Blum, Malibu Surfing Association Tony Butt, University of Plymouth Joao De Macedo, World Surfing League – Big Wave Tour Carlos Antonio Ferrer, Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve Steve Hawk, Sierra Club Magazine Dean LaTourrette, Save The Waves Board of Directors Stéphane Latxague, Surfrider Foundation Europe Santa Cruz Waves Neil Lazarow, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Len Materman, San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority Hugo Tagholm, Surfers Against Sewage 3 Executive Summary In April 2012, Santa Cruz was officially dedicated as a World Surfing Reserve (WSR), globally recognized for its quality of surf, unique environmental characteristics, strong surfing heritage, and local conservation leadership. The Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve is part of a growing network of surfing protected areas around the world, joining locations in Portugal, Australia, Peru, Mexico, and Chile in the World Surf Reserves Program. World Surfing Reserves is a program of Save The Waves Coalition, a global non-profit headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Figure 1: Pleasure Point at sunset (Photo: Will Henry) The Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve lies within the heart of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, encompassing about seven of the sanctuary’s 276 miles of coastline, including world- renowned right-hand point breaks Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. In all, some two dozen surf spots— points, reef, and beachbreaks, both famous and lesser known—fall within the reserve’s boundaries. However there are some key challenges that continue to affect this coastline, including water quality, trash/marine debris, and sea-level rise. The Santa Cruz WSR is managed by a Local Stewardship Council (LSC) and Save The Waves Coalition. This group, comprised of local surfers, environmentalists, elected officials, and business leaders, manages the WSR in collaboration with other environmental, community and stakeholder groups whose missions align. The Santa Cruz WSR serves as a hub for coastal conservation efforts and serves to convene and integrate existing environmental efforts with the goal of preserving the waves and coastal resources of Santa Cruz. About Santa Cruz WSR Santa Cruz has earned the sheltered status of a World Surfing Reserve because of its diverse mix of surf breaks, its pervasive and deep-rooted surf culture, and its thriving but fragile coldwater habitat. Most surfers who’ve spent any time in Santa Cruz agree that the quality, consistency and aesthetic appeal of its waves make it the best all-around surf town in the continental United States. The reserve’s seven miles of serrated coast feature more than two dozen quality spots—from one of the West Coast’s best longboarding waves to a heaving deepwater peak where big-wave surfers train. The wide array of points, reefs and beachbreaks channel Pacific swells from all directions, and the 4 prevailing winds blow favorably year-round. Santa Cruz’s surf roots date back to 1885, when three Hawaiian princes rode hand-hewn redwood planks in waves breaking at the San Lorenzo Rivermouth—the first documented surf session on the American mainland. A small but devoted core of local surfers kept the sport alive through the first half of the 20th Century, but it wasn’t until surf fever swept from coast to coast in the 1960s that surfing became forever woven into the very fabric of the community. In the decades since, innovative Santa Cruz surfers and manufacturers—from wetsuit designers to surfboard manufacturers—have influenced wave riders worldwide. Today, Santa Cruz is home to thousands of surfers, many of whom are devoted to protecting the coast from the ongoing threats it faces. The success of these coastal stewards is evident to anyone who ventures near the coast here on a day when the sun is out and the waves are up. From Natural Bridges to Opal Cliffs, the surf zone buzzes with locals and visitors alike—all vying for waves along Santa Cruz’s world-class coastline. WSR Selection Criteria World Surfing Reserves are selected by a governing ‘Vision Council’ consisting of academics, environmental leaders, surf elders, and scientists. Their selection of Santa Cruz as a World Surfing Reserve was based on the following criteria: i. Surf Quality and Consistency - At least 23 consistent surf breaks are sited along this coast, including the world-class breaks of Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point. Most are reef or beach breaks with a few outstanding point breaks, and almost all naturally break right within this zone. Winter is always the best time for surfing consistent waves, and the breaks are rated from “expert” to “beginner,” so surfers of all ages and levels can find a suitable wave in the area. ii. Environmental Characteristics - Santa Cruz is a marine protected area located within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Santa Cruz’s kelp forest, the largest in the nation, is home to many sea otters, seals, sea lions and varieties of sea birds, sharks and migratory whales. Each spring when the northwest winds blow, cold, nutrient-rich waters rise up out of submarine canyons, nourishing lush growths of marine algae and surface plankton blooms. These provide sustenance for the rich marine biodiversity found along the Santa Cruz coast and make the surf zone a truly wild and awe inspiring environment. 5 iii. Surf Culture and History - Santa Cruz proudly claims to be the location of the very first board surfing ever in North America, at the “Rivermouth” break in 1885, as documented in The Santa Cruz Surf Museum. When three visiting Hawaiian princes had surfboards milled from local redwood and demonstrated surfboard wave riding for the first time, Santa Cruz was immediately established forever as the birthplace of surfing on the continent. The Santa Cruz Surf Club Figure 2: Santa Cruz is the original 'surf city' where the sport of surfing was first practiced in continental USA by three Hawaiian formed in 1936 and helped solidify a Princes in 1885 (Photo: Harry Mayo Collection) strong surf culture that continues today as a key part of the area’s identity, with many local residents embracing surfing as a central part of their lifestyle. iv. Local Capacity – Santa Cruz is a conservation minded coastal community that has shown strong support for their WSR designation. In 2014, the Santa Cruz WSR hosted an all day summit that convened over 50 local leaders from nonprofits, the scientific community, and local government to collaboratively steward the WSR. The Santa Cruz WSR Stewardship Plan is an outcome of the WSR Summit. Reserve Management Each WSR is managed by a Local Stewardship Council (LSC), which provides WSR oversight and governance. The Santa Cruz LSC is a cross section of the local surf and environmental communities, which meets regularly to steer the activities of the WSR. The Santa Cruz LSC members include: Hilary Bryant, Former Councilmember, City of Santa Cruz Brian Kilpatrick, Director Marketing/Communications, O’Neill Wetsuits Jim Littlefield, West Coast Director, Surfers Environmental Alliance John Leopold, Supervisor, County of Santa Cruz Jane McKenzie, Santa Cruz Longboard Union Nick Mucha, Save The Waves Coalition Mark Stone, California Assemblymember Nik Strong-Cvetich, Save The Waves Coalition Dan Young, Santa Cruz Surfing Club Preservation Society 6 World Surfing Reserve Map Reserve Stewardship Plan In April 2014, Save The Waves Coalition and the Local Stewardship Council of the World Surfing Reserve teamed up on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the dedication of Santa Cruz as a World Surfing Reserve to convene over 50 key community stakeholders in an action-oriented conference to address environmental challenges to Santa Cruz’s surf resources. Focus groups concentrated on addressing three key challenges; water quality, trash issues, and sea level rise. Each of the focus groups identified the ‘hot spots’ within the WSR, identified root causes of the issue, and then proposed key strategies and concrete actions to mitigate the threats.