2019 Inland Ocean Coalition Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Building land-to-sea stewardship

LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER & DIRECTOR We release our Annual Report during tumultuous times, with a global pandemic and worldwide calls for justice for marginalized peoples. We stand in solidarity with every community working to end the profound injustices that black, brown, indigenous, and people of color face. Many of these injustices have only deepened during COVID-19.

With the pandemic still ongoing, it has become clear that protecting wild areas is of the utmost importance. With more people working from home and practicing social distancing, many are enjoying the open spaces and natural areas around them— perhaps for the first time. Protecting areas in our ocean is the same as protecting areas on land: it gives us beautiful places to enjoy and provides a place for wildlife to rebound and take refuge. We know the importance of protected areas on land—from our open spaces to our national parks—and together we continue to take action to establish other beautiful, biodiverse, and important protected areas in our ocean.

2019 was a big year for our ocean. Since 1995, the United Nations has held an annual conference to assess progress in dealing with climate change, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP).

Historically the conferences have focused primarily on land, but for just the second time in 2019, the focus was on our ocean. We were excited to see 2019’s COP deemed the ‘Blue COP’, and there was recognition on a global level that we cannot tackle the climate crisis without protecting our ocean.

One of our primary aims has always been to help individuals and communities recognize that we cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean. With international recognition of this fact, these important steps towards increased ocean protection give us hope to continue building a powerful land-to-sea movement.

2019 proved to be a year of tremendous growth for the inland ocean movement, and we couldn’t have done it without your

support. With all of us working alongside our chapter leads and state and federal legislators, you helped amplify the message that the future of life on Earth depends on a healthy ocean.

Six new chapters joined the inland ocean movement: Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Central and Northern Texas, and our third University Chapter at the University of Michigan. As our chapters continue to grow, so does our legislative and campaign work. With your support, we fought for over 50 policies, bills, and resolutions to support ocean and watershed health and participated in 50 meetings with members of Congress from 10 states.

These key strides give us hope for the future of our ocean as we work with supporters like you to continue building a powerful inland ocean movement. In these difficult times, we are hopeful that a new world is in the making, one that is more just, equitable, and sustainable, protecting the web of life that supports us all.

Thank you for making 2019 a successful year for ocean protection as we continue to grow the inland ocean movement across the United States.

You know that we don’t have to see the ocean to protect it, and we look forward to continuing this important work with you during these challenging times and beyond.

For our ocean and waterways,

Founder & Executive Director Inland Ocean Coalition

OUR STORY The Inland Ocean Coalition began as the Colorado Ocean Coalition in 2011 based on the premise that you don't have to see the ocean to protect it, and transitioned to become the Inland Ocean Coalition (IOC) in 2017.

In our fourth year as a national organization, we are still working with individuals, communities, legislative leaders, and a wide range of partners on key ocean protection, watershed health, and plastic pollution issues, while strengthening the leadership capabilities of our chapters. Our chapters leverage the organization’s programs, content, and communication strategies and work collaboratively to grow the inland ocean movement.

There are many national ocean conservation organizations addressing important ocean issues, but none with an inland ocean focus. We are unique in that we have boots on the ground in key districts, and as constituents, these supporters have direct access to legislative decision makers.

There is enormous untapped potential for getting people inland involved in ocean protection and for holding our legislative leaders accountable for their votes. Ocean issues need to be addressed on many levels—coastal and inland, as well as at the grassroots and federally. Our unique niche allows us to work with chapters and supporters to convey to our Congressional leaders that all of us have a stake in ocean protection.

We are working to build ocean conservation constituencies throughout the country. With your support, we empower individuals to be leaders in their communities and to become protectors of our ocean and waterways, no matter where they live.

Thank you for your continued support!

THE OCEAN BELONGS TO ALL OF US

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.

LAND-TO-SEA PROGRAMS By involving individuals and communities that want to be part of the solution, we build chapters, lead campaigns, and deliver programs that have a direct positive impact on our watersheds, coasts, and ocean.

Ocean Protection Our ocean is 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 to protect our ocean from the heartland to the coasts.

Watershed Health 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 and landscaping practices.

Plastic Pollution We combat plastic pollution through campaigns targeting singleuse plastics, movements that get to the root cause of plastic pollution, legislation at the local and national levels, and scientific studies that assess the extent of microplastics in our waterways. We push for individual and collective change and are working to change the narrative around plastic pollution as a waste management issue to the ocean, wildlife, environmental justice, climate, and human health crisis that it is.

2019 HIGHLIGHTS Supporting Healthy Ocean and Water Legislation We signed onto over 50 policies, bills, and resolutions to support ocean and watershed health, submitted comment letters for key legislation and proposals, and fought for proposed legislation like the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. Key legislative issues included Key West's proposed ban of oxybenzone, protecting our coasts from offshore oil development, banning the sale of shark fins and rays in the US, stricter regulation of toxic chemicals like PFAS and coal ash, and a resolution to protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.

Meetings with Legislative Leaders In 2019, the IOC and its chapters had 50 meetings with members of Congress from 10 states, including Colorado, New York, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Texas, and Wyoming. The meetings covered key ocean and water issues with Senators and Representatives and IOC chapter leads and supporters encouraged them to vote in favor of our ocean, climate, and waterways. Meetings are an important way of letting members of Congress know we are paying attention to their votes and that they have constituents that care about protecting our ocean.

Six Chapters Join the Movement With the guidance of our new Chapter Development Manager, six new chapters joined the Inland Ocean Coalition: Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Central and Northern Texas, and the University of Michigan. Each chapter works on issues unique to its locale while utilizing the expertise of its chapter leads, from a plastic bag ban in Wyoming, to our Montana chapter's focus on sustainable marine fisheries, marine science and education in Alaska, Gulf of Mexico health for our Texas chapters, and local engagement and cleanups in Michigan.

Inland Ocean Action Summit at EarthX in Dallas, TX The IOC helped organize the first ever Inland Ocean Action Summit at EarthX, the goal of which was to help raise the profile of marine conservation so that ocean protection is no longer seen as simply a coastal issue but as a topic of national and global significance. Speakers included Fabien Cousteau, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Professor Jeremy Jackson, science communicator Danni Washington, and Director of the NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries John Armor.

The Masquerade Mermaid Ball in Boulder, CO The Masquerade Mermaid Ball was the Inland Ocean Gala of 2019.

Held in beautiful downtown Boulder, Colorado, we celebrated our connection to the ocean and highlighted that we can all make a difference, no matter where we live. A big thank you to our guests, generous sponsors and donors, and wonderful volunteers who made this event possible.

Microplastics Working Group With support from Northern Water, EarthX, the University of Colorado, and Patagonia, the IOC and University of Colorado scientists were able to take over 300 water samples along Colorado's front range rivers to develop best practices for microplastic sampling in rivers and creeks.

We are in the process of analyzing the data and look forward to sharing our results.

Reaching More People with Land-to-Sea Messaging We've been increasing our reach through our chapters, more community engagement, and increased publicity in the online media sphere. We reached hundreds of thousands of people with the importance of our land-to-sea connection through interviews on Colorado Public Radio, NowThis News, and KGNU Community Radio.

BY THE NUMBERS 116 COMMUNITY EVENTS HOSTED OR ATTENDED ACROSS THE COUNTRY

51 POLICIES AND RESOLUTIONS SIGNED ONTO CREATING MOMENTUM FOR STRONGER OCEAN PROTECTION

50 MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ON KEY OCEAN AND WATER ISSUES

6 NEW CHAPTERS LAUNCHED

230 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS

9,014 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS

CHAPTERS Our chapters are helping to grow the inland ocean movement from coast to coast. Chapters were able to grow their own programs and campaigns in 2019 and focused on issues like local plastic bag bans, community outreach and education, creek and beach cleanups, and supporting national ocean policy issues like safeguarding protections for national marine sanctuaries, healthy fisheries legislation, protecting our coasts from offshore oil development, and implementing the United Nation's sustainable development goals.

Six new chapters joined our coalition in 2019: Wyoming, Montana, Central Texas, North Texas, Alaska, and the University of Michigan.

Existing chapters, like Arizona and Colorado State University, were revamped and revitalized to include new leadership. IOC chapters were active on key policy issues and in elevating the importance of ocean news in their communities through op-eds, letters to the editor, and outreach at local events.

Chapter events included the Inland Ocean Action Summit hosted at EarthX in Dallas, fly-ins to Washington DC to speak with Senators and Representatives about important ocean and water issues, creek cleanups, COP25 speaking engagements, presentations at schools and local events, rallies, and other community-building activities.

These events continue to provide opportunities for chapters to grow, engage, network, and respond to some of the most important ocean protection issues facing our planet.

The impact of our chapters soared to new heights in 2019 and we look forward to their continued growth and to bringing on more chapters in the new decade!

2019 Inland Ocean Chapters Alaska | Arizona | Buffalo, New York | Colorado | Colorado State University | Central Texas | Great Lakes, Michigan | Illinois | Montana | North Texas | Prairie, Manitoba, Canada | University of Michigan | University of Colorado | Utah | Wyoming

DONORS Thank you to the more than 200 individual donors businesses, and foundations that supported our work in 2019. $75,000 The Packard Foundation

$50,000+ Resources Legacy Fund Metabolic Studio

$25,000+ Patricia and Bernard Goldstein Family Foundation Wonder: Strategies for Good and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research

$10,000+ Ocean Conservancy Scintilla Foundation

$5,000+ American Littoral Society Blue Frontier Earth Day Texas The Henry Foundation

$2,500+ BOCO Dental Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck EarthX Northern Water

$1,000+ Coal Creek PT Diane Heasley

Epic Water Filters Genesee Mountain Foundation National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Starbucks The Ocean Foundation Weaver's Dive & Travel

$500+ Bruce & Toni Bowden Carolyn Grant Chef Soraya Christine Jochim Cora Fruta Dovetail Solutions Enterline Woodworks Greg Evans Jane Enterline Kelly Webb Kelly Wright Kim Payes Realty Stream2Sea The Denver Foundation Trust Point Inc.

$250+ AK Cornelius Alessandra Schwartz Amanda Masters Anonymous Budget Dumpster Elizabeth Kraus IOOS Association

Jacquie & Andrew McKenna Kadee Schoettle Kelley Ryan MUSEjar Patricia Rosenberg Sonja Sables Steiner King Foundation Ti Gurich Mougne Vicki Eggers

$100+ Allison Shapiro Amy Lewis Amy Ludtke Amy Kenney Anonymous Brad Johnson Brandon Lowitz Cameron Schofield Caroline Himes Carrie Kaiser Chris Shrope Christina Lewis Cindy Overhardt Community First Foundation Corrine Walker Courtney Nachlas Craig Light Darcie & Peter Weiser Deborah Wall

Dede Walker Diane Hohensee Duane Kline Emily Scott Erin Cooper Gary Walker Gary Wockner Hazel Wong Jacki Donner James Edwards Jill Isenhart Jill Lintukorpi Joanie Kleypas Joanna Mandell Joanne Tate Kelli Walden Kenda Peterson Kimberly Roth Kristall Laursen Laura Levesque-Catalano Lilly Wendt Linda Carbone Lisa Wooninck Lori Struski Lori & Josh Kahn Louise Chawla Lynn ThorĂŠ MaryAnn Briggs Michael Readey Michael Figaro Monika King Monnie Barrett Paula Doyle Rachel Bacon Rebecca Gruby Richard Reading Rob Bryan Roland Evans Ross Eggers Sally & Glen Sudol Sarah Judkins Sarah Guy Scout & Molly's Boutique Shannon Simposon

Stan Deetz Stefanie Pabst Susan Crossman Susan Brodie Susan Eastman Live West Realty Tana Matzuck Teri Eastburn Tina Thien-An Tran Tom Hammond William Shutkin Zehra Cheatham Zori Levine

$50+ Adam Kittel Andrew & Kristi Ruben Andy Sheldon Barbara & Tom Miller Brenda Laurita Brooke Lynn Elzweig Chad Andres Cooper Ross Daniel & Angie Dorsch Daniel, Natalie & Olivia Wright Danielmark's Brewing Co. David Helvarg Debbie Welles Elaine Burritt Elizabeth Hoffman Ellen Andres Emerson Eggers Emiko Patterson Gabriella Pelosi Janice Lopitz Jerry Johnston Joanie Tarovs Judy Amabile Julie Byle Kathy Kadel Leah Nickie Advanced Aesthetics Marcia Spoonley

Melinda Richards Melissa Gorchynsky Melissa Harvey Melissa Humbert Milward & Amy Simpson Natalie Guggenheim Rachael Merkt Samuel Sanders Sandy McKee Sarah Krueger Stephanie Krueger Stephanie Wilson Susan Bruce Swoon Jewelry Tamara Glover Ziad Hasasneh

$25+ Abbey Turner Brian Vansteenkiste Christine Helling Jack Walker Jean Housepian Joelle Westcott Kelly Johnson Kerry Lightenburger Kim Molinelli & Matthew Puccio Lori Andres Lynn Buhlig Maddie Karr Maria Carre Mendelle & Erich Elit Michael Dirks Nicolas Biber Nikki Andresen Peyton Miller Randy Macpherson Richard Veit Robert White Starla & Thomas Mason Steve & Jen Sanderson Tamar van Vilet Wade Norris

CORPORATE PARTNERS

BARE CREEK

AUCTION DONORS Matt and Kristin Moseley Kelly Wright

Ruth Petzold

Edie & Jim Hooton

Steve Weaver

Bruce Goldstein

Brad Schwarz Glenna DeZafra Jane Enterline Rivkah Bacharach Lance Kittel Susan Bruce

Maddie Boatwright

Charlotte Vick

Trenna Daniells Kathy Rudge

Dr. Paddy Ryan

Carin Reich

KEY PARTNERS Thank you to our wonderful partners and collaborators!

FINANCIALS REVENUE The organization's 2019 revenue was $334,909 where $88,871 came from individual contributions, $19,038 came from corporate and small business giving, and $227,000 came from grants and foundations.

EXPENSES Plastic Prevention 28% Ocean Protection 43%

Administration 12%

Watershed Health 17%

Advisory Board Kelly Webb, Chair Amy Britton Christine Jochim Christopher Shrope Debbie Welles Erin Cooper Jane Enterline Kathy Rudge Matthew Mosley Max Boykoff, Ph.D.

Michael Dirks Nicolas Biber Paddy Ryan, Ph.D. Patrick Chandler Rob Bryan Shawn Rodine Susan Bruce Ted Ross Whitney Wise

Staff Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director Christine Evans, Program & Communications Manager Michelle Kaufman, Operations Manager Lance Kittel, Chapter Development Manager Taylor Shedd, Ocean Policy Manager

Interns Casey Marsh Monique Laurita

Chapter Leads Abbey Turner, University of Colorado, Fall Semester Adam Desorbo, North Texas Ann McElhatton, Illinois Austria Cohn, Colorado State University Charlotte Vick, Central Texas George Cummings, Central Texas Ivy Fredrickson, Montana Jane Enterline, Great Lakes Julie Ellstrom, Great Lakes Kelly Wright, Wyoming Kristin Wisneski-Blum, Sonoran Desert Libby Kirk, University of Michigan Lorelei Redmond, Sonoran Desert Lori Shink, Great Lakes Maria Gedris, University of Michigan Mavis McRae, Prairie, Manitoba, Canada Regan Nelson, Montana Stephanie Krueger, Buffalo, NY Tricia Petzold, Utah Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Colorado Whitney Leigh, Alaska Zehra Cheatham, University of Colorado, Spring Semester

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

@inlandoceancoalition

www.facebook.com/InlandOcean

@InlandOceanCo

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