Protecting Marin’s Coast
for Over Five Decades

In 2026, California celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the California Coastal Act, the landmark law that has protected our coastlines, wildlife, and public access for half a century. At EAC, we’re celebrating 55 years of coastal advocacy — five decades of grassroots action that continues to keep its promises alive today. Together, they are a call to action:

Your Membership Powers
This Legacy Forward

Here at the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin (EAC), we work every day to safeguard West Marin’s extraordinary habitats, from the waters off Point Reyes to the beaches, tidepools, grasslands, wetlands, and the Bishop pine and Douglas fir forests. But our public lands need
you now more than ever. 

Locally and statewide, we have successfully advocated in 2026: we’ve staved off dirty developer- and billionaire-backed Coastal Act attacks, supported statewide environmental education funding, and worked to finalize California’s first Aquaculture Action Plan.

However, across the country, public lands and waters face growing pressure from the federal administration, which seeks to weaken environmental protections, limit public access, and put our natural world at risk. Here in West Marin, we are committed to protecting our coast and ocean for communities and the environment. 

That means that speaking up, showing up, and taking action is vital to our ongoing efforts.

I hope we can rely on your generous support. As we approach the final stretch of our fundraising year, every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $30,000, which means your support can double our impact to protect the coast. In 2026, your support has helped us:

• Fight the federal offshore oil drilling plan and pass legislation that prevents state infrastructure from being used to expand federal drilling off California’s coast;

• Defend California’s Coastal Management Program as the federal government threatens its certification — California’s authority over its coastline, which safeguards against harmful projects;

• Urge Marin County to adopt a deep-sea mining ordinance to protect our ocean from the Trump Administration’s interests in this risky emerging industry;

• Defend the work of California’s environmental agencies as they come under pressure for standing up for our state, ensuring continued coastal public access;

• Support legislation that expands equitable outdoor access, internship programs, and environmental education, to ensure more young people can experience, understand, and advocate for public lands. 

• Coastal Marin’s wealth of ecological diversity is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including more than 50 threatened or endangered species. From the rolling dunes and grasslands overlooking Tomales Bay to the preserved waters of Drakes Estero, not to mention the forest and wetland habitats, these ecosystems support biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and provide irreplaceable beauty and resources for local communities and species.

Please renew your support today or make a special gift to help us unlock the full match. Your contribution — in any amount — has a critical impact! 

Without adequate funding, we will face key program cuts in 2027! This year, I am hoping you might be able to increase your support. Our nonprofit is facing grant cuts and a more competitive funding framework, as many federal programs for environmental causes have been slashed. Less than 5% of philanthropic funding nationally reaches environmental organizations, so we rely on our community supporters. Your contributions will help us fill key gaps so that we can continue to offer flagship programs like youth field trips, support seashore restoration, and water quality testing.

Our shared natural treasures are under constant threat. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, habitat destruction, limited funding, and weakening environmental protections jeopardize the future of the coast. As the late Peter Douglas, former Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, once said: “The coast is never saved. It’s always being saved.”

Advocacy work doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, persistence, and expertise—countless hours spent reviewing legislation, drafting public comments, meeting with local and state officials, and standing up for our coast every step of the way. Over half of our annual revenue comes from direct contributions from individuals like you—making your support essential to everything we do. View how members have contributed to real, measurable protection for nearly 55 years. 

Our coast and ocean belong to all of us—they are living ecosystems that sustain wildlife, strengthen our communities, and inspire us.

Thank you for joining us in this important moment by taking action to protect our coast and public lands.

Membership vs. Event Sponsorship/Donations

Membership funding is the foundation of our work.
When someone becomes a member, they are investing in our mission to protect the unique lands, waters, and biodiversity of West Marin. Membership dollars provide flexible support that allows us to respond to urgent needs, sustain programs, advocate for important issues, educate the community, and keep the organization strong year-round. Members are the people who stand with us for the long term and make our ongoing work possible. Take the next step in your stewardship and join today!

Event sponsorship supports a specific opportunity and helps bring a program or event to life.
Sponsors and event donations help underwrite the costs of creating a meaningful experience—such as an educational festival, community gathering, or public program—while also receiving recognition and visibility for their support. Sponsorship makes it possible to expand reach, welcome more participants, and create high-quality experiences that connect people with our mission.

Both are essential: Annual memberships provide the steady foundation that keeps the work moving, while sponsorships help us create impactful moments that bring people together and grow awareness of the cause.

“We are grateful for sponsors because they help make visible, inspiring events possible—but our members are the backbone of our organization. Their ongoing support gives us the stability and flexibility to do the important work beyond any single event.” - Jess Taylor, Donor Engagement & Events Director

2025 Major Wins & Milestones

Your charitable support was vital to our mission and success this past year. Thanks to your generosity, we continue to provide a critical voice for coastal Marin’s lands, waters, and biodiversity, and we were able to:

• Champion the passage of SB 484, a groundbreaking alliance between housing, environmental justice, and coastal advocates—delivering affordable housing solutions that protect California’s coast for everyone.

• Release the Community Water Guide, empowering everyday Californians to become passionate water advocates and protectors of their local watersheds.

• Secure statewide climate bond funding despite significant political and economic hurdles—ensuring California’s climate resilience stays on track.

• Advance ecosystem restoration with $2.7 million dedicated to vital planning in the Point Reyes National Seashore, safeguarding this iconic landscape for generations to come.

• Defend local waterways by successfully halting the Nicasio Spillway Modification Project and advancing innovative, eco-friendly alternatives like fish passages and water conservation.

• Protect watershed health through ongoing water quality testing across the Seashore and advocating for consistent, Seashore-wide regulatory standards.

• Launch engaging educational signage at Duxbury Reef and train a new team of inspiring docents to connect visitors with the magic of our coastal ecosystems.

• Piloted a first-of-its-kind survey to better understand how people experience and enjoy Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), informing future stewardship.

• Adopted a landmark 5-year partnership with the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District to dramatically reduce harmful pesticide use in West Marin.

• Mobilized over 300 community volunteers for hands-on coastal stewardship, education, and conservation action.

• Led a multi-agency summit on tidepool best practices, uniting local partners under shared protocols to protect delicate intertidal habitats.

• Kept our watersheds clean, preventing nearly 1,000 lbs. of trash and 100+ lbs. of recyclables from polluting creeks and shorelines with the help of 180+ dedicated volunteers.

• Trained six passionate interns, equipping the next generation of environmental leaders with hands-on fieldwork experience and mentorship.

Looking Ahead: Our 2026 Initiatives

As we plan for the year ahead, we’re focusing on bold, urgent initiatives that protect our coast, inspire our communities, and secure a thriving future for both people and nature:

• Protecting Public Lands & Vital Habitats at Point Reyes National Seashore
  We’re advocating for meaningful rewilding and continued water quality monitoring to ensure restoration efforts are both successful and transparent—preserving this beloved landscape for generations to come.

• Safeguarding Our Coast & Ocean
  We’re taking a stand against dirty offshore oil, expanding protections for local Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and celebrating 50 years of the California Coastal Act, a legacy of coastal protection that continues to inspire.

• Ensuring a Healthy Tomales Bay
  We’re actively participating in the Ocean Protection Council’s aquaculture action plan to shape a sustainable future for our bay, opposing poorly sited lease proposals that threaten eelgrass, shorebirds, and marine mammals, and fighting the unchecked federal expansion of offshore aquaculture.

• Ensuring Sustainable Development
  We’re working to ensure affordable housing and coastal protection go hand in hand; championing policies that make our coastal communities both livable and resilient for people and wildlife alike.

• Inspiring Community Action & Stewardship
  We’re growing our Duxbury Docent Program to engage more visitors in the wonders of Duxbury Reef—one of the smallest MPAs on the California coast and home to one of North America’s largest shale reefs, teeming with over 200 tidepool species.

• Fostering the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
  We’re providing transformative outdoor experiences for underserved youth through field trips to tidepools and forests, while supporting college and graduate internships focused on advocacy, stewardship, and the protection of Marin’s extraordinary ecosystems.