OFG slideshow for Hawaii Surfrider Chapters Conference

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. Urban Runoff Is The No. 1 Source of Ocean Pollution
Dry Weather
Wet Weather

5. To Storm Drains…

6. 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…

7. Image courtesy of Heal the Bay
To Our Oceans and Beaches…

8. Flooding,
Road Wear
&
Pollutants
Car oil
Metals
Pesticides
Nutrients
Sediment
Bacteria
Resource Conservation District-Santa Cruz
Water Seen As A Problem: Pipe, Pave and Pollute

9. And Harmful Algal Blooms
Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous) from human activities
Wikimedia

10. Combined Sewer Outflows – in older big cities:
Stormwater + Untreated Wastewater Can Flow To Ocean
www.moundsvillewwtp.com

11. 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.

12. Built-On Watershed
By King County, WA DNRP

13. Image courtesy of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability & Environment.
Runoff
Overspray
Evaporation
Green waste
Impermeable
Surfaces
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

14. Focus On The First Flush
First ¾ – 1 inch
of rain after a dry period
Contains 80% of the
pollutants

15. Start Thinking of Your Home As A Mini-Watershed
Apply C.P.R. To Revive Watersheds and Oceans
Conservation
Permeability
Retention

16. 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

17. 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 flows
Recharge groundwater

18. City of Santa Monica, CA
More Benefits - Less Money & Time

19. 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

20. OFG Program Components (Template):
Educate, Train, Assist and Connect People
Garden Assistance Program (GAP)
Hands-On Workshops (HOWs)
Lawn Patrol: Neighborhood Walk
Basics Class

21. OFG Sign, Book, Blog and Online Tracking
CPR, GAP and Lawn Patrol © 2010 Surfrider Foundation. All rights reserved.
YOUR LOGO HERE

22. OFG Activist Toolkit

23. OFG Lawn Patrol = Neighborhood Walk
Outdoor Education * Training The Eye * Spotting OFGs for Signs * Help Those Almost

24. We Look For Gardens That Are Ocean Friendly

25. And Educate About Gardens That Are Not
Not good: rain chain drains into underground pipe to street

26. We Offer Info & Help To Go OFG
Attend a Class or Workshop and get involved!

27. OFG Program Series
800 sq. ft. lawn retrofit
Lawn used 21,000 gallons of
water/year
Dry and wet weather runoff

28. (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

29. With A Little Professional Coaching He Developed A Design

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

31. Simple Design – Dug Out Soil Mounded

32. His All-In Cost Was $600, Including Food

33. December 2010 – 4” of Rain

34. 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.

35. March 2011 – Another 3.5” of Rain

36. No Irrigation Needed Through August 2011
Reduced Water Use by 90%
Zero Dry-Weather Runoff
Zero Wet-Weather Runoff
Built Habitat

37. June 2013 – Filled In

38. Scaling Up – GAP Host Helps His Neighbor
“Sheet mulching” parkway – smothering grass

39. 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

40. Green Streets – “Before”

41. Professional Design

42. Un-Compacted and Mulched

43. Surfrider Brings Media And Volunteers: GAP Workday

44. Donated Services: Contractor & Host Cut Curbs *
Professional design * City’s no-cost permit
Angled cut = water flows in easily (20” wide)

45. Multiple “sponges”
Basins, not swales
Existing soil
ID utilities – call Dig-
Alert (writing on street
& sidewalk)

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

47. Next Step - Permeable Driveway

48. Cut Your Driveway & Curb Neighborhood Block Parties!
If We Had A
Million
Dollars…
We’d Have
5,000+ OFG
Driveways &
Curb Cuts

49. OFG Blossoms Through An Collaborative Approach
① Bringing OFG to Agencies,
Professionals, Non-Profits
① Professional Leadership &
Support at Hands-on
Activities
② Multiple Funding Partners
③ Highly visible sites, e.g.,
public ones
④ Multiple benefits: water
quality, water supply, flood
management, etc.

50. Recap
• Principles
- CPR: Conservation, Permeability, Retention
- Slow it, Spread it, Sink it
• Program – walks, talks, workdays, workshops
• Partnerships – fills gaps and scale up

51. Action Plan
• Form OFG Committee
Chair, 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 Plan
Sample 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