A Brief History
The Isla Vista Chapter of Surfrider utilized its unique position as a student organization to create the Shoreline Preservation Fund (SPF). This fund is generated by a $3 per student per quarter fee that is billed in conjunction with the student's tuition. The money is then used to fund efforts that will maintain the UCSB coastline through preservation, education, access, research, and restoration. With the Environmental Affairs Board of UCSB as a cosponsor, over 4000 signatures in support were gathered on a petition to include the fee as an initiative in the general campus election. After writing and publicizing the proposal, the Shoreline Protection Fund was passed with 75.9% of the vote, the widest margin of victory of any initiative on the ballot. Last summer, the mission statement was refined, bylaws were written, and a board of student directors was chosen. Everyone is now invited to submit proposals to the Shoreline Preservation Fund. The board convenes each quarter to review the proposals and distribute the funds to the projects that are the most consistent with the mission statement. With over 20,000 students at the University, the fee amounts to approximately $180,000 per year of funding for the campus shoreline. The fee will remain in place for the next four years, after which it must be reconfirmed by ballot voting. The Shoreline Preservation Fund is a truly remarkable achievement. It is a perfect example of a grassroots, community based effort to care for its coast. The funds are generated by the students, administered by the students, and ultimately, the students will be one of the largest beneficiaries of a healthy coast. Water testing, interpretive signs, access improvement, and native species planting are possible uses of the SPF, but these possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the UCSB community.
Founding Members
Introduction to Board Members and Staff
