50 + Years of Advocacy and Engagement
ENGAGE LOCALLY, EFFECT CHANGE NATIONALLY
“The work, patience and perseverance done and shown by EAC has lead to a precedent-setting and forward-looking way to protect the valuable, beautiful and mysterious resources of the Gulf of the Farallones. You should all be very proud. The world, nation and I thank you.”
The Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC) was founded in 1971 at the height of the environmental movement by environmentalist, and veteran Marin County Planning Commissioner, Jerry Friedman. A long-time resident of Point Reyes Station, Jerry worked alongside many key players including nonprofits, government agencies, and landholders establishing a foundation for a legacy of local environmental protection. Throughout his life, he was a respected and valued voice of balanced growth, environmental quality, and collaborative decision-making.
EAC took on a critical role as a local grassroots environmental watchdog focused on protection of the unique environmental habitats, agricultural lands, and the rural community values of West Marin in the face of increasing development pressures.
During the 1960s and 70s, people became environmentally aware and active after experiencing a river on fire, contaminated water, polluted air, and mass species die-offs due to harmful pesticides. This was a time when being an environmentalist was not a highly divisive partisan issue. Many key pieces of environmental legislation came out of this movement, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. These environmental regulations were enforced by agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to clean the air, water, and protect habitats and species.
Some of EAC's earliest campaigns focused on protection of public lands in the newly created Point Reyes National Seashore, support of A-60 zoning to protect agricultural lands, and the mobilization of community efforts in response to the Standard Oil Spill in the San Francisco Bay that devastated beaches and sensitive estuaries like Bolinas Lagoon.
EAC’S KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
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Engaged in the public process to push for stronger management measures for the Point Reyes National Seashore General Management Plan and Water Quality Strategy implementation, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Led the effort to successfully adopt first-of-its-kind statewide aquaculture criteria or guidance for the siting of new leases, ensuring that the leases are in the public interest, and supported biodiversity protections like improving sustainability in fishing methods.
Advocated with partners for increased legislative power and funding to help the state and the Bay Area become more climate resilient by requiring cities to submit shoreline resilience plans.
Launched and managed the Cleaner California Coast Initiative, a collaboration between three counties (Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino) with Leave No Trace to increase public stewardship and lessen coastal pollution.
Expanded our internship program and launched the"Capstone Conversations" a community forum for summer interns to showcase their contributions. .
Expanded Litter Bugs Me roadside and coastal clean-up efforts to twice a year, and removed over 748 lbs. of trash and 133 lbs. of recycling from wildlife habitats and watersheds.
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Fought for and celebrated the protection of Tomales Dunes from development.
Advocated for and celebrated the designation of Drakes Estero Marine Wilderness.
Pushed for the protection of coastal resources in the Local Coastal Program update.
Successfully advocated banning offshore gas infrastructure development in Marin County without voter approval.
Advocated for local and statewide climate change adaptation planning.
Supported greenhouse house gas reduction and mitigation programs.
Created the Marin Marine Protection Area (MPA) Watch community science program.
Published the Duxbury Docent Program Report applying MPA Watch data.
Created the Duxbury Docent Program in partnership with Marin County Parks.
Successfully safeguarded critical eelgrass habitat from aquaculture development.
Supported the creation of a Stream Conservation Area to protect riparian habitat.
Opposed the Point Reyes National Seashore's General Management Amendment without significant modification to protect park resources and water quality.
Successfully advocated for increased water quality protections in the Point Reyes National Seashore and launched a recreational beach water quality sampling program partnership.
Supported County acquisition of San Geronimo Valley Golf Course property.
Published Marin's Monarch Movement and co-founded the Marin Monarch Working Group.
Sponsored the successful advocacy of students to ban single-use plastic foodware.
Launched a high school and college internship program to empower future advocates.
1st Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival (2010).
Moved to new office location with interactive environmental education exhibits.
Celebrated 50th Anniversary!
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Fought to protect the Tomales Dunes from development, sand mining, and sewage.
Advocated for the wilderness designation of Drakes Estero.
Supported strong coastal resource protection in the updated Local Coastal Program.
Raised concerns about pollution at Chicken Ranch Beach.
Opposed Bolinas Lagoon Army Corps of Engineers dredging plan.
Advocated for the creation of California's network of Marine Protected Areas.
Fought to protect wetlands and riparian areas from development.
Joined Save Marin's Coho Campaign for Stream Conservation Area standards.
Supported the removal of non-native deer from Point Reyes National Seashore.
Provided community education on septic system development to reduce pollution.
Joined a coalition to find solutions to reduce pollution in Tomales Bay that closed oyster operations in 1998 due to public health issues.
Supported Marin County Green Building Codes.
Raised public awareness about the population decline of the western monarch butterfly.
1st West Marin Wild Art Show (2003).
Launched website www.eacmarin.org.
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Fought to protect Estero Americano's watershed from Santa Rosa's wastewater.
Co-sponsored the Oyster Music Festival to raise funds to protect Estero Americano.
Sued to require the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to issue regulations on jet ski use that later resulted in the ban of jet skis in the entire Sanctuary.
Spearheaded the designation of Tomales Bay as an International Ramsar site.
Published a habitat survey of Easkoot Creek for the Bolinas Lagoon Management Plan.
Opposed Point Reyes National Seashore's plan to kill tule elk for population management.
Fought the Marin Coast Golf Ranch development along Estero San Antonio.
Opposed expansion of the West Marin Dump site.
Fought against agricultural subdivision plans along the eastern shoreline of Tomales Bay.
Published the West Marin Green Guide.
Organized public input for Shoreline Disposal Company to provide curbside recycling.
Produced Madre Tierra Solo Hay Una, a bilingual educational video.
Published the Phoenix Report following the Mount Vision Fire.
1st Litter Bugs Me Roadside Clean-Up Event (1997)
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Continued opposition to offshore oil drilling along Marin's coast.
Advocated for coastal resource protections in Marin's first Local Coastal Program.
Opposed native deer hunting plan within Point Reyes National Seashore.
Helped Create Waste Watch to stop the expansion of the West Marin dump.
Raised awareness about septic and agricultural pollution in Tomales Bay.
Supported the preservation of local farming and agricultural conservation easements.
Advocated for Fish and Wildlife Tomales Bay Aquaculture Management Plan.
Pushed for a study of the impacts of Giacomini dam on Lagunitas Creek.
1st Piper on the Ridge (1987 - gifted to EAC as a fundraiser by Kate Munger).
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Founded in January 1971 following the Standard Oil Spill by Jerry Friedman, Marj Stone, Gordon Ashby, Sim Van der Ryn, Kate Worsley, and others. EAC was incorporated as a nonprofit on March 17, 1971, and the nonprofit fees were paid for by the reimbursements Standard Oil made to volunteers who helped clean up oiled beaches.
Protested the diking of Tomales Bay with a 50-vessel sail-in.
Protested the development of Mount Vision Road in Point Reyes National Seashore.
Fought to stop the West Marin General Plan from being adopted.
Pushed for A-60 zoning (1 house/60 acres) to protect agricultural lands from subdivision.
Opposed offshore oil drilling along Marin's coast.
Testified in support of Point Reyes Wilderness Plan.
Established the first recycling center in West Marin.
Supported California's beaches and tidal lands for public use and wildlife (Marks v. Whitney).
Pushed back against plan to double RV trailers near Tomales Dunes due to pollution issues.
Successfully advocated banning hydraulic mining of ghost shrimp in Bolinas Lagoon.
Raised concerns about water availability, drought, and human waste.
Due to the commitment of prior generations and organizations, like EAC, West Marin is now an international destination, with three national parks, three state parks, miles of open space, and agricultural lands where people come to enjoy, recreate, appreciate, and discover our natural world.
NEWSLETTERS: 1971-1989
We have scanned all of our newsletter archives. These newsletters offer a unique glimpse into the thoughts, events, and cultures of yesteryears. Whether you're looking to dive deep into historical research or simply take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, our digital archive is now available for you to explore. A special thank you to EAC member Dominique Richard for scanning the documents.
