We took a quick trip to the Oregon coast early this week and were greeted by waves and views that instilled wonder. From the protected cove sheltered by Seal Rock to the dunes at Agate Beach we hiked the beaches and exclaimed over the beauty.

It wasn’t until the last walk in the evening as we trekked up and down the rolling dunes that I noticed something besides rocks and sun-bleached shells crumbled in the sand. If you click on the photo of the massive beach log and look closely at the sand in front of it – it’s all microplastics!

Once I really SAW the microplastics, I couldn’t un-see them. They were truly everywhere. It would take a team of hundreds sifting the sand to clean even the amount in the relatively small are where we had walked. How did I miss seeing that earlier – after all, plastic debris is always on my radar.

Animals can mistake small, often colorful microplastics for food. This can lead to the introduction of toxic chemicals to the animal and has been known to lead to digestive blockage in fish, seabirds and turtles. . A Seaside (Oregon) based conservation group Sea Turtles Forever wants to make a difference.

They clean the sand using a unique screen filtration system. Developed by Sea Turtles Forever founder Marc W. Ward, the systems look like a cross between a medical stretcher and a flour sifter. Dirty sand is piled on a sheet of fine mesh stretched between two long poles, and the mesh catches plastic and other foreign material while allowing the sand to fall through. According to Ward, a static charge in the mesh can catch plastic particles as small as 100 micrometers across.

The result? An area of silky, pure sand free of plastic litter — especially the tiny bits that pose a threat to wildlife. You can watch the group in action here.

Besides making your own personal choice to bring re-usable food and drink containers when visiting the beach, picking up what you see, or maybe even making on of may types of sand sifters – you can learn about local groups you can assist in their larger strategies against microplastics.

Because we paddle and surf, it’s great to know that the brand we purchase can make a huge environmental difference. One example is Starboard Blue. As a producer of plastic-based products, Starboard introduced plastic footprint reporting after pioneering work with the Ocean Recovery Alliance. In 2017 the world’s first Plastic Offset Program was launched. Starboard offset parts of their plastic footprint through their POP initiative. Every day their own team collects beach/ ocean plastic litter. They have collected more than 657 578 kg over the past years and are continuing to expand and improve the program by sourcing recycling sites to process the collected waste. Starboard is working with VERRA to become one of the first projects certified under the Plastic Waste Standard.

Are the beautiful dunes of the Oregon coast doomed? Not if we add to the momentum of advocacy, sustainability and action.

I live about 45 minutes from Elk Lake in Oregon. It’s a real gem that’s perched 4900 feet above sea level and surrounded by snow capped mountains even throughout the summer.

I always plan to arrive relatively early in the day so I can meander around the shoreline and in and out of the many bays. Later, when the breeze picks up I love to grab a session with my Starboard V3 FreeWing. In addition, I always bring a reusable bag so if I spot plastic floating in the lake I can retrieve it.

Two things happened today that surprised me. First of all it was a busy summer Saturday almost two weeks since school’s been out. The lake has seen plenty of traffic both on the beaches and on the water. During my 5 mile paddle on my Starboard 12’6″ Zen Touring board in a range of 1-15 feet of pristinely clear water, this is all the debris I spotted: one worn tennis ball, a cigarette lighter, one child’s flipflop and one plastic lid. IN ALL OF THAT AREA I spotted juts 4 things!

This made me so happy and so proud of all the visitors to this lake who obviously want to keep it beautiful by being careful with their plastic, their belongings and maybe even with their careful cleanup before heading home.

The second thing that surprised me was a sudden wall of purple thunderheads that brought in rain – and a promise of lightning. So, I did not get to fly my wing – but I’d call the day a success just the same.

Over the decades, from my time teaching middle school science in the 1970s, to the publication of The Quest for Blue Planet Super Heroes and the Blue Life Journal, I have been inspired by the massively good work of so many. Most recently, participating in a terrific project fueled by a social media currency, I am enjoying regular invitations to actively make a difference for the environment while having fun. Since World Ocean Day was this week, it seemed like a great time to share.

How easy is it to bring along a re-usable bag during a paddle and gather up the plastic you see in the water or on the beach? Best of all, having a habit like this is a visible reminder to those around you – not only to collect plastic but also to “refuse, re-use and recycle” their own plastic and trash.

Fortunately, here in Deschutes County we have the beautiful Deschutes River meandering throughout. Keeping our river healthy is dependent on the stewardship of the next generation. As a former Board member of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council I am thrilled to share the amazing work they have done this past spring.

The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council has worked with hundreds of students throughout Central Oregon this spring! With our education program, The Upstream Project, they provided hands-on stewardship experiences designed to educate and inspire students of all ages to participate in streamside science, stewardship projects, creative writing, music, and art projects.

UDWC’s education program is largely dependent on support from private donors and community members, and our ability to do this work and to become lifelong caretakers for our natural spaces!

Having a team, a social media project and community groups to join is a great way to keep our personal motivation high while making a difference. Engaging young people with your efforts is crucial – they are our FUTURE FIGHTERS.

But wait! There’s more! By picking up trash or planting trees, going paddling you could win a ZEN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. Join Starboard in a journey towards a sustainable future and make a positive impact on the planet. By showcasing your passion for sustainability, you have the chance to be crowned as the Ultimate Future Fighter! The contest is powered by CORA CORA MALDIVES AND BLUE TIKI