**MEDIA ADVISORY** Unusually High Tides and Stormy Weather Foreshadow Sea Level Rise Impacts on CA Shoreline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2011
Media Contact: Sara Aminzadeh, California Coastkeeper Alliance, (415) 794-8422
Starting tomorrow, some of the year’s highest tides and winter rains will lash California’s coastal and bay shorelines, providing a glimpse of what the state can expect as sea levels rise in the coming years.
Environmental groups and government agencies are working with volunteers to document this winter’s highest tides, known as “King Tides.” The initiative will help communities and policymakers visualize projected flooding, and inspire them to take action to protect homes, harbors, shoreline treatment plants, and other key infrastructure, as well as beaches, wetlands, and public access to the coast.
Organizers expect King Tides from February 16-18th, with particularly high swells on February 17 from 7:30-10 a.m. To help document the potential impacts of rising sea levels, groups are calling on citizens to submit photos taken in areas already known to flood, and areas where high water levels can be gauged against sea walls, bridge supports or dikes. Citizens are encouraged to get out their cameras and capture images. Participants can submit photos to www.flickr.com/groups/cakingtides. Photos from the January King Tides event are available at www.flickr.com/groups/bayareakingtides.
Where to view and photograph King Tides.
North Coast/Humboldt: Eureka: Woodley Island; Indian Island (photographed from Highway 255 bridge); Del Norte St. Pier; Halvorsen Park/The Adorni Center. Arcata: Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary (at the end of I Street). Central Humboldt Bay: King Salmon Beach. Manila/Samoa: locations along New Navy Base Road.
San Francisco Area Outer Coast: Ocean Beach; Stinson Beach; Pacifica: Beach Blvd. Sea Wall near the municipal pier; Laguna Salada. City of Capitola. City of Santa Cruz.
Inner SF Bay: Proposed Treasure Island development site. South Bay: Redwood Creek and proposed Redwood City dev. site, Dumbarton Bridge. Marin: Corte Madera, Richardson Bay, Gallinas Creek (north of China Camp).
Santa Barbara Area: Isla Vista beaches, Goleta Beach County Park, Leadbetter Beach, Butterfly Beach, Miramar Beach, Padaro Lane, Carpinteria Salt Marsh, Hobson State Beach, Faria, and Emma Wood State Beach.
Santa Monica: Broad Beach, Malibu shoreline homes, Marina del Rey, Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles.
Orange County: Seal Beach/Sunset Beach Oceanfront (City of Seal Beach), Huntington Harbor (Huntington Beach), Newport Beach islands and peninsula (Newport Beach).
San Diego: San Diego Bay, Oceanside Beach, San Elijo Lagoon, Del Mar Dog Beach/San Dieguito Lagoon Entrance, Torrey Pines (where Penasquitos enters the ocean), La Jolla Shores, and Mission Beach.
View NOAA tide charts for specific tide and location information: co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tides11/tpred2.html#CA.
Using law, policy and science, the California Coastkeeper Alliance supports and enhances the work of California’s 12 Waterkeeper organizations and works to ensure that Californians enjoy clean water and a healthy coast. www.cacoastkeeper.org. ###
