At Surfrider San Luis Obispo, our connection to the ocean is personal. We are a community of surfers, swimmers, and beach-lovers dedicated to protecting the coastline that is our home.
The waves, the beaches, and the vibrant marine ecosystems of the Central Coast are under threat. The burning of fossil fuels has fundamentally altered our atmosphere, and the ocean has been our silent hero, absorbing over 90% of that excess heat and 25% of the resulting carbon dioxide [1].
We are now witnessing the “Triple Threat” to our local waters:
●Rising Tides: Sea levels are projected to rise by at least a foot by 2035, threatening to drown our beaches and coastal habitats.
●Ocean Acidification: As our water absorbs $CO_2$, it becomes more acidic, disrupting the very foundation of the marine food web.
●Extreme Weather: More severe storms and warming waters are damaging our reefs and altering the waves we love.
