This unique report analyzes the health of beaches and coastal areas from across the nation based on several indicators, including water quality, coastal erosion and access to beach and surfing areas. The report covers the twenty-one coastal states where the Surfrider Foundation has chapters, and is by far the most comprehensive single collection of coastal zone information in the nation.

This year, the Surfrider Foundation's State of the Beach Report is focusing on a growing issue along America's coastal areas; the loss of beach access. The report spotlights four U.S. beaches where access is threatened, including Malibu's Latigo Canyon, New York's Rockaway Beach, Texas' Galveston Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida.

"Privatization is absolutely the number one threat to beach access," says Chad Nelsen, Surfrider Foundation's Environmental Director. "In many areas of the country over 75 percent of the beaches or coastal areas are privately owned and not open to the public."

However beach access is only part of the problem.

"Most people simply take for granted that our beaches are healthy and unfortunately that is not the case," continues Nelsen. "While our ocean waters may look safe to swim or recreate in, they're not. And although our waves and beaches may appear plentiful, they are constantly at risk of being lost due to the construction of seawalls and other armoring projects, shoreline erosion and coastal development. The State of the Beach report is one of the few resources available for people to access and learn about the critical issues threatening our oceans, waves and beaches."

While the printed version of Surfrider Foundation's 2003 State of the Beach report functions primarily as an executive summary, the full 500+ page version of the report can be found online at www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach.

The Surfrider Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world's coastal zones. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, today it consists of over 37,000 members and 60 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil.

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If you would like to become a member of the Surfrider Foundation, click here.

Christopher J. Evans, Esq.
Executive Director
P.O.Box 6010
San Clemente, California--USA--92674-6010
(949)492-8170

Join Surfrider Foundation today at www.surfrider.org

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