San Clemente, CA (October 21, 2010) – On Friday, October 29th, Surfrider Foundation Chapters in San Diego, South Orange County, West Los Angeles/Malibu and Santa Barbara will host simultaneous “Nightmare at Gaviota” Halloween fundraisers to raise money for the fight to stop mega-developments along this pristine stretch of coastline.
The idea to host multiple Chapter events to Save Gaviota grew out of the Surfrider Foundation’s landmark “Save Trestles” Campaign, when Southern California Chapters banded together to block a toll road through the heart of San Onofre State Park, that would have ultimately destroyed the famed Trestles surf break.
"Preserving the Gaviota coastline has been a top priority for Southern California Chapters for over a decade,” said Nancy Hasings, Surfrider Foundation’s Southern California Field Coordinator. “So much of the Southern California Coastline has already been severely impacted due to rampant coastal development, and we hope this regional event will not only raise funds needed to continue the fight, but to also raise awareness and generate strong support for permanent protection of the Gaviota coastline.”
The Gaviota Coast – southern California’s last contiguous stretch of undeveloped coastline – faces numerous development projects, including 72 mansion-style residences proposed just two miles from the urban limit line. Development of this unspoiled coast would reduce public access, create a loss in native biological diversity and an overall decline in the health of our ocean and coastal ecosystems.
Since, 1992, Surfrider Foundation’s Santa Barbara Chapter has actively opposed development of the Gaviota Coast. Its long-term goal is to preserve the coastline most threatened by development – a 20-mile stretch between Gaviota and Goleta.
“This is all that is left of Southern California’s once unspoiled coastline, and we will never give it up,” said Santa Barbara Chapter Chair Sandy Lejeune.
Check out a “Nightmare at Gaviota” event at one of the following locations:
6:00 PM
The Beach Club – 1903 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054