Coastkeeper rallies behind photo event to capture abnormally high "King Tides"
Orange County Coastkeeper
Garry Brown, Executive Director, 714-850-1965
Ray Hiemstra, Project Manager, 714-850-1965
02/11/2011
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Orange County residents are invited to take part in a statewide volunteer effort to record this winter’s highest tides – known as “king tides” – occurring between Feb. 16-18, with the highest tides expected between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17.
Orange County Coastkeeper is among several groups calling on citizens to go out during the king tides to shoot photos of coastal areas known to flood, and areas where high water levels can be gauged against sea walls, jetties, bridge supports or dikes.
The photos – especially before and after shots -- will be used to help identify and catalog coastal areas vulnerable to tidal inundation and to promote awareness of the potential impacts of sea level rise. Submit Orange County photos, along with contact information, date, time and location to http://www.flickr.com/groups/cakingtides/
“It’s important to visually document areas in Orange County that might be at risk,” said Orange County Coastkeeper Executive Director Garry Brown. “San Clemente, Dana Point, portions of Laguna and the entire coast from Newport to Long Beach are areas considered to be at risk.”
Scientists predict a steady increase in the rate at which sea level rises, due primarily to the impacts of climate change. The Pacific Institute forecasts a 12-inch rise by 2050, and an elevation gain of up to 5 feet by 2100. Information gathered from the photo event will help policymakers better prepare for the future.
Last month, the city of Ventura began moving a paved bike path and parking lot 65 feet inland to accommodate sea level projections 50 years out, the L.A. Times reported.
Orange County Coastkeeper has been involved in a number of projects that will also help to address the problem through wetlands restoration. Wetlands act like natural sponges buffering against rising sea levels, higher tides and increased storm and wave activity.
Orange County Coastkeeper has campaigned for federal funding for the dredging and successful restoration of Upper Newport Bay, and has been involved in several other wetlands projects as well. It is currently overseeing a long-term project to replant eel grass in the Upper Newport Bay.
For more information on the king tides and the photo project, visit the California Coastkeeper Alliance website at http://www.cacoastkeeper.org/.
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About Orange County Coastkeeper: Orange County Coastkeeper was founded in 1999 to identify pollution issues affecting water quality in local rivers, bays and coastal regions and to remedy them through education, advocacy, restoration and enforcement. For more information on the organization, visit www.coastkeeper.org
