Inland Ocean Coalition Annual Report 2018

ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Building land-to-sea stewardship

THANK YOU Dear Friends and Supporters, One of the most rewarding things that has happened over the years with the Inland Ocean Coalition is that I don’t get the response of “What! There is no ocean here,” as much as I once did, and I am getting more of “Now, that is an awesome idea – the ocean belongs to all of us.”

As we hear more and more about rising ocean temperatures, dying coral reefs, overfishing, and vast amounts of plastic pollution, people understand that ocean protection is no longer a coastal issue. It is exciting to open my email and have people from all corners of the US asking how they can get involved, start a chapter, or collaborate. It is this level of concern and engagement that will help us turn the tide and begin addressing ocean protection collectively, as opposed to primarily coastal states taking a leadership role.

In fact, having inland ocean chapters and boots on the ground is making a difference.

When you look at the number of committees in the Senate and House of Representatives that are addressing critical ocean, water, and climate issues, you begin to realize how important it is that these legislative leaders know they have ocean constituents in their districts.

2018 was a big year for us. We are now in our 2nd year as the Inland Ocean Coalition, after operating as the Colorado Ocean Coalition since 2011. Our funding has grown from consisting mostly of in-kind donations to actual financial contributions, some from large grant-making organizations. Last year we launched our Land-to-Sea travel program with trips to Cuba and a Youth Ocean Rangers Summit to Sea Program in the Florida Keys. Our Utah and Arizona chapters partnered with musician Jack Johnson, and during World Oceans Week, we Marched for the Ocean in Washington, DC, Boulder, Colorado, Chicago, Illinois, Tucson, Arizona, Buffalo, New York, and the Florida Keys. Our chapters are growing in their capacity and impact and new chapters continue to join our coalition.

Thank you for being part of the growing Inland Ocean Movement and we welcome your continued energy, enthusiasm, and support.

For our ocean and waterways,

Vicki Nichols Goldstein Founder & Executive Director Inland Ocean Coalition

Mission To create an inland movement that builds land-to-sea stewardship.

Vision For individuals and communities to take an active role in improving the impacts and relationships between the inland, the coasts, and the ocean.

OUR PROGRAMS The health of the ocean is in crisis. It is through targeted programs and environmental advocacy that immediate, specific, and persuasive action can be taken to protect and preserve our marine environment.

Ocean Protection Our oceans are at risk from offshore oil drilling, weakening of healthy fisheries legislation, attacks on our national marine monuments and sanctuaries, climate change, and overdevelopment. We build community-based ocean conservation constituencies throughout the country and fight for important ocean issues.

Watershed Health Watershed health is a critical component of land-to-sea stewardship, and to protect our ocean we must protect our waterways. We promote watershed health through creek cleanups, supporting bans on toxic sunscreens in the US and internationally, and advocating for healthy personal care products and eco-friendly lawn care practices.

Plastic Pollution We combat plastic pollution through campaigns targeting single-use plastics, movements that get to the root cause of plastic pollution, and scientific studies that assess the extent of microplastics in our waterways. We push for individual and collective change and are fighting back against the petrochemical industry’s aim to build or expand over 330 refineries and have 40% more plastic in commerce in the next decade.

IMPACTS 3,773 VOLUNTEER HOURS GIVEN BACK TO COMMUNITIES

343 NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS

$90,552 VALUE OF HOURS GIVEN BACK TO COMMUNITIES

73 NEW DONORS

127 COMMUNITY EVENTS HOSTED OR ATTENDED

55,363 PEOPLE REACHED IN PERSON

451,704 PEOPLE REACHED ONLINE

6,567 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS

2018 HIGHLIGHTS IOC Receives its First Major Funding The Inland Ocean Coalition received its first major funding in 2018. The organization received a two-year grant from the Metabolic Studio in Los Angeles for general operating support. Avocado Green Mattress also chose the Inland Ocean Coalition to be its August Giving Partner. We're grateful to these organizations for believing in our mission of building land-to-sea stewardship and are thrilled that their financial support will allow us to grow and continue to reach more individuals and communities that want to make a difference for our ocean and waterways.

Microplastic Study in Colorado Headwaters In partnership with the Marine & Environmental Research Institute, the IOC carried out a pilot study that found evidence of microplastics in several high alpine mountain tributaries and urban reaches of Boulder Creek and the South Platte River. The report used data from citizen-led water sample collection from remote alpine lakes and headwater streams and urban reaches of two of the Front Range’s waterways. The water sample with the highest count of microplastics particles was collected near the difficult-to-access Fourth of July trailhead miles into protected wilderness outside of Nederland, CO.

March for the Ocean On June 9, tens of thousands of people came together for a massive demonstration to protect our global ocean and connecting waters, engage our neighbors and fellow citizens, and expand the diverse and youthful upsurge of activism in the name of protecting what we love—the ocean. The Inland Ocean Coalition and its chapters marched in Washington DC, Boulder, CO, Buffalo, NY, Tucson, AZ, Chicago, IL, and the Florida keys.

Summit to Sea: Youth Ocean Rangers in the Florida Keys Endorsed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s National Marine Sanctuary program, students who completed the training became certified Youth Ocean Rangers recognized for their citizen science merits. In collaboration with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, students participated in field research, coral out-planting, and learned about climate change, mangroves, plastic pollution, social responsibility, and more, to ultimately make a positive impact within their local inland region. Thank you to Tricia Petzold and Jen Atkinson for planning this expedition.

Healthy Oceans Coalition Training in Boulder, CO Inland Ocean Coalition chapter leads and staff attended the 2018 Healthy Oceans Coalition (HOC) advocacy training in Boulder, CO. The HOC is a nonprofit dedicated to building awareness of how the National Ocean Policy (NOP) supports our nation’s ability to manage our shared marine resources.

The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of how our work inland relates to the NOP, and to acquire practical communication and advocacy tools.

Land-to-Sea Travel: Cuba The IOC's first Land-to-Sea Travel expedition comprised of 11 days in Cuba exploring its culture, arts, and nature in partnership wtih Susan Bruce Travel.

The group was hosted by the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation of nature and humanity, as well as colleagues and research scientists from NOAA Sister Marine Sanctuary Guanahacabibes and saw first-hand how minimal development and conservation efforts have resulted in a stunning array of biodiversity on land and in the sea.

Jack Johnson Concert Tour Collaboration The Utah and Sonoran Desert Ocean Coalitions were selected as two of Jack Johnson’s nonprofit partners for his 2018 summer concert tour. The chapters were part of a matching fundraising grant from the Johnson Ohana Foundation. They also received exposure at their respective shows and through All at Once, Jack Johnson's social action network where concert attendees can make a positive change in their local and world community.

CHAPTERS In keeping with our vision for individuals and communities to take an active role in improving the impacts and relationships between the inland, the coasts, and the ocean, inland ocean chapters promote a healthy ocean and clean waterways through education, community engagement, and the local implementation of Inland Ocean Coalition programs, campaigns, and initiatives. Each chapter works on matters and issues unique to its locale and helps people understand the landto-sea connection. Chapters are encouraged to develop and share their own programs, campaigns, and initiatives to magnify the collective impact of the inland ocean movement.

2018 chapters included Colorado, Sonoran Desert in Arizona, Great Lakes in Michigan, Illinois, Utah, Buffalo, NY, Prairie in Manitoba, Canada, and University chapters at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Colorado State University, Fort Collins.

Inland Ocean chapters inspire and empower their communities and regions to promote the health of our ocean through inland ocean programs, campaigns, education, and community involvement.

In 2018, chapters hosted or attended 127 events, including creek cleanups, meetings with legislative leaders, a Summit to Sea Youth Ocean Rangers Training in the Florida Keys, Jack Johnson concerts in Utah and Arizona, World Oceans Day and Marches for the Ocean across the country, documentary screenings and panel discussions, volunteer leadership trainings, presentations in schools, and general outreach and tabling at a variety of events around the country.

SUPPORTERS Thank you to the more than 200 individual donors, businesses, and foundations that supported the Inland Ocean Coalition's work in 2018.

$50,000+ Avocado Green Mattress Metabolic Studio

$5,000+ Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation Patricia and Bernard Goldstein Family Foundation

$2,500+ Anonymous The Matrix Group

$1,000+ Dave and Judi Zaches Foundation Epic Water Filters Garfield Foundation Kim Payes Realty Microbreweries for the Environment Grant

$500+ Tyler Bosshart Toni & Bruce Bowden Jane & Walt Enterline Greg Evans Diane Heasley

Wade Norris & Shonika Proctor Trust Point Inc William Petzold Michael Readey Steve Weaver Kelly Webb

$250+ Dennis Arfmann Wendy Benchley Community Foundation of Northern Illinois James Edwards Vicki and Bruce Goldstein Katey Greene Katie Hawk Diane and Reinhard Hohensee Jean Housepian Zori Levine & Josh Goldstein Susan Moran Carolyn Moreau Andrew Muller Ted Ross Kathy Rudge Sonja Sabels & David Kahn William Shutkin Lynn ThorĂŠ

$100+ Anonymous Elke Adler Ivi Brenner Elaine Burritt Coal Creek PT Cafe Aion Emily Cangie Erin Cooper David Gallegos Lukas Haug Lori and Josh Kahn Joanie Kleypas Vance Martin Amanda Masters Pat McClearn Matt Moseley Musejar Ruth Petzold Rincon Del Sol Patricia Rosenberg Kathleen Rye Chris Shrope Marcia Spoonley Laura Stark-Ghayur Heidi and Scott VanGenderen Cindy Ward Darcie Weiser Alicia Wisney

$50+ Anonymous Bohemian Biergarten Inc. Susan Brodie Susan Brushaber Rob Bryan Nancy Casey CC Chain Patrick Chandler Tom Diegel Susie Eastman Hanna Erdahl Katherine Ferguson Judy Gilligan and David Kline Mary Ann Hammond David Helvarg Janice Lopitz Barbara & Tom Miller Native Foods Tricia Petzold Kate Rau Larry & Melinda Richards

Nadya Sustache Anne Swieringa Swoon Jewelry Studios Britta Voss Debbie Welles Whitney Wise Denise Yourick

$25+ Carolyn Anctil Debnath Chatterjee Janet Diederichs Julianne Dorkin Jacqueline Fabricant Katie Frisch Adele Gillis Sara Gunning Tom Hammond Emily and Jen Heffner Pamela Johnson Kevin Kandefer Tiffany Kenyon Lori Lafon Danica Larson

Nancy Lynam Tessa Mall Joanna Mandell Cassaundra McBride Mary McIntyre Allison Neal William Patterson Guy Philbrick Jessie Pierce Refill Revolution Paddy Ryan Howard Schmidt Stephen Tracy Jack Walker Michelle Walsh Hunter Whitney Amber Winters Dan Zbozien Naomi Rusk and Stephen Schmitz

IN-KIND COMPANY SUPPORTERS 12@Madison 4Ocean Bacco Trattoria & Mozarella Bar BCE Productions BigRedF Restaurant Group BioGlitz Blackbelly Market Boulder Organic Ice Cream Company Budo World Arts City of Boulder Coal Creek Physical Therapy Decadent Saint Denver Zoo Downtown Aquarium Eldora Mountain Resort Elliott McDowell Photography Epic Water Filters Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Goddess Garden Organics Gondolier Italian Eatery Healthy Oceans Coalition IHG Hotels Jack Johnson Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar Kimpton Hotel Born Leah Nickie Advanced Aesthetics Lucky's Market in North Boulder Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Neptune Divers, Utah North End at 4580

Oasis Brewing Company Ocean First Divers Om Cara Jewelry Patagonia Pouring Man Productions Prana Rioja Mediterranean Restaurant River and Woods Rocky Mountain Paddle Board Salty Blue Designs Sam's Tours Palau Sanuk Seattle Fish Company Sherpani Shine Restaurant Silver Oak Winery Stream2Sea Suerte Tequila Susan Bruce Travel Swoon Jewelry Sydney Hoerler Photography Terry Chiropractic Wellness Center The Laughing Goat The Shaw Institute United by Blue Vapor Distillery Vessel Weaver's Diver & Travel Center Wild Standard Restaurant Zeal Optics Inc.

IN-KIND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS Rivkah Bacharach Tom Callahan Erin Cooper Glenna DeZafra Susan Eastman William Enterline Bruce Goldstein Vicki Nichols Goldstein Bradford Heap Dana and Ash Heather Jack Johnson Dr. Laura Johnson

Sheila Lucero Jace Mougne Karen Okada Ruth Petzold Kathy & Scott Rudge Emma Ruffin Adina Sanders Johanna Walker Steve Weaver Kelly Webb John Weller Rosalind Wiseman

FINANCIALS REVENUE The organization's 2018 revenue was $155,481, where $29,581 came from individual contributions, $4,500 came from small businesses, $50,250 came from corporate partnerships, and $71,150 came from grants and foundations.

2018 turned the tide for the Inland Ocean Coalition. New funding allowed us to move away from being primarily an inkind organization to one with significantly increased capacity.

EXPENSES

Watershed Health 20%

Ocean Protection 40%

Plastic Pollutio n 20% Administration 10%

Fundraising 10%

OUR PEOPLE Advisory Board Kelly Webb, Chair Amy Britton, Sustainable Tourism Chris Shrope, Leeds Board Fellow Debbie Welles, Plastic Pollution Specialist Erin Cooper, Watershed Initiatives Jane Enterline, Chapters Jenifer Atkinson, Sustainability & Stewardship Kathy Rudge, Fundraising Chair Kiki Nordstrom, Events & Outreach Matthew Mosley, Marketing Max Boykoff PhD, Associate Professor, CU-Boulder Michael Dirks, Plastic Pollution Specialist Mikki McComb-Kobza PhD, Marine Science Education Nicolas Biber, Plastic Pollution Specialist Paddy Ryan PhD, Travel Author, Photographer, & Educator Patrick Chandler, Plastic Pollution Specialist & Educator Rob Bryan, Events & Outreach Shawn Rodine, Outdoor Recreation Susan Bruce, Land-To-Sea Travel Ted Ross, Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate

Staff Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director Christine Evans, Program & Communications Manager Michelle Kaufman, Operations Manager

Chapter Leads Ann McElhatton, Illinois Brooke Elzweig, CU Chapter President, Spring Chris Wells, Illinois Jane Enterline, Great Lakes Julie Ellstrom, Great Lakes Kristin Wisneski-Blum, Sonoran Desert Lorelei Redmond, Sonoran Desert Lori Shink, Great Lakes Mavis McRae, Prairie, Manitoba, Canada Paul Burnsworth, Colorado State University Stephanie Krueger, Buffalo, NY Tricia Petzold, Utah Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Colorado Zehra Cheatham, University of Colorado, Fall

Interns Brooke Elzweig Claire Gentry Emiko Patterson Parissa Reynolds

"The Inland Ocean Coalition has really opened my eyes, not only about our collective impact on the oceans, but on how our day-to-day actions affect our local waterways. This awareness has been personally transformational, as I now evaluate everything I do through the lens of my water footprint.

Perhaps more importantly, IOC has provided the support and the tools to help me spread the word to my engineering students, many of whom were not familiar with issues such as the current plastic pollution crisis that exists throughout our waterways. These are small steps, yet with the support of IOC, we’re making real change possible.�

- Dr. Michael Readey, Professor of Engineering, University of Colorado

INLAND OCEANÂ COALITION www.inlandoceancoalition.org vgoldstein@inlandoceancoalition.org

@inlandoceancoalition

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT The Inland Ocean Coalition is a project of The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.