BeachScape

Beachscape is a flagship Surfrider Foundation program that is moving Surfrider to the cutting edge of citizen-based coastal mapping and creating a detailed dataset of the coast. The inspiration for Surfrider USA's current Beachscape program came from Surfrider Australia's state-of-the-beach and beachscape-type work that the Aussies have been doing for years.

The Surfrider USA Beachscape program utilizes one of the Surfrider Foundation's greatest strengths -- a dedicated and knowledgeable membership -- to characterize coastal areas on a local level. The Surfrider Foundation's membership represents an enormous work force of interested citizens with knowledge of their local coastlines. Tapping this community resource enables the Beachscape program to establish an accurate and credible baseline of coastal conditions that is widely available to local citizens, community activists, state and federal agencies. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to store, analyze and publish these geographic datasets, the Beachscape program illustrates cumulative trends and improves information that can promote sustainable coastal resource management. This program not only generates data to support coastal stewardship; it empowers local citizens with the information and skills they need to be effective advocates for coastal resource protection in their communities.

The Beachscape program is generating several products to disseminate the information collected to local groups, interested citizens and coastal management agencies. Data collected by program participants is made available via the Internet and compact disc. Individual chapters contribute to a national database and utilize the information as part of their local issue campaigns.

Beachscape serves to educate participants about natural and human-influenced conditions along their local coastlines: locations of outfall pipes, hard structures, accumulation of marine debris, beach access ways, etc.; it also creates a baseline "snapshot" of the nation’s coast. Beachscape promotes continuous mapping of the coasts to monitor change, track trends, and provide accurate data that can be used to encourage responsible coastal resources management. The program also seeks to build the GIS capacity of our chapters to put the information and resources in the hands of those working in local communities.

For more information about this program and how you can get involved, please e-mail us at jerseyshore@surfrider.org and put BEACHSCAPE in the subject field.