Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Our Coast on the Line: Why Santa Cruz Must Fight New Offshore Drilling

On November 20, 2025, the federal government released a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan, and it’s worse than expected.  The Trump administration is officially pursuing a dangerous new offshore drilling proposal that includes six new drilling locations off Central and Southern California, with leasing scheduled to begin as early as Spring 2027.

This plan threatens:

• Our beautiful California beaches
• Coastal tourism and local jobs
• Marine ecosystems and wildlife
• The health and safety of our coastal communities

We now have a critical window to stop this.

Until January 23, 2025 (at 9PM PST) the public can to comment and speak out against this new drilling plan.

Continue reading to see more details and action steps...

Surfrider Role in the Fight

The Surfrider Foundation and Santa Cruz Chapter oppose offshore drilling.

We are mobilizing: monitoring state and federal policy, preparing outreach materials, rallying volunteers, and keeping our community informed.

How You Can Take Action — Right Here & Right Now

1. Sign the online petition

• Click here to sign the petition. It takes just seconds.

2. Submit a public comment

• Click here to submit a comment.
• In your comment, you can share how offshore oil and gas development would impact the Santa Cruz coast — including risks to our local economy (tourism, recreation, fishing, and agriculture), the increased threats from climate change, and the harm drilling could cause to our wildlife, beaches, and marine ecosystems.
• Your voice truly matters. Please take a moment to submit a comment and help protect our Santa Cruz coast.

3. Join an event

January 3, 5:00 PM – Surfrider Offshore Drilling Information Session at Traveler Surf Club
https://x.gldn.io/e/E1hFL48q1Yb

January 6, 2:30 PM (tentative) – Sacramento Rally at the State Capitol

January 9, 6:00–8:00 PM – People’s Hearing at the Portola Hotel, Monterey

January 16, 4:30–6:30 PM – People’s Hearing at the Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito

January 21, 7:00–9:00 PM – Climate Action Coalition Educational Event at London Nelson Community Center

January 22, 6:00 PM – Capitola City Council discussion on the Five-Year Plan and proposed revisions to the onshore facilities ordinance 420 Capitola Avenue, Capitola

January 23, 9:00 PM PST – Deadline for all public comments on the Five-Year Plan

4. Stay informed

• Attend our monthly Policy Committee meetings on the 4th Monday every month from 6:00 – 7:00pm (Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/uer-wiwj-tui)
• Subscribe our newsletter to get updates right in your inbox.
• Read updates on Surfrider.
• Read the Protecting U.S. Coasts from Offshore Oil & Gas Drilling slides. 

5. Spread the word

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
• Share posts.
• Talk to your family, friends, co-works, everyone!

6. Sign and distribute postcards, flyers and more

If you have a printer, please print these documents and hand them out: 

• Santa Cruz Flyer Large
• Santa Cruz Flyer Small
• Surfrider Offshore Oil Drilling Fact Sheet
• Surfrider One-Pager Flyer
• Surfrider Toolkit

7. Contact decision makers

Write/email (see draft below) the following leaders to let them know you oppose new offshore drilling and expect bold local leadership.

Here’s a draft to get you started, but feel free to write in your own words to make it more personal:

Dear [LEADER NAME],

I’m reaching out as a Santa Cruz resident and someone who cares deeply about our coastline. I urge you to support legislation that permanently bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in California’s coastal waters.

Offshore drilling threatens our community in many ways — from the risk of oil spills and toxic discharges to long-term climate impacts. Protecting our coast is not just about the environment; it’s about preserving the culture, recreation, and livelihoods that make Santa Cruz unique.

Please: 
Support legislation to ban new offshore drilling, and
Advocate for the decommissioning of aging offshore rigs.

Personal Impact:

[ADD YOUR OWN PERSONAL STORY HERE — how would new offshore drilling affect your life, work, or connection to our ocean? Your voice matters and sharing your experience strengthens our message.]

Thank you for your dedication to our community and for standing up for our coast.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Optional: Contact info]

Why This Matters Now

We only have 60 days to comment and need to move fast. If leases are offered, it may be too late to reverse course.  By mobilizing now — in Santa Cruz and beyond — we stand a real chance of blocking this threat before it becomes reality.

Together, we protect what we love: our waves, our wildlife, our coast. Join us in saying loudly and clearly — No new offshore drilling for Santa Cruz County.

Questions

Do you have questions or feedback?  Please contact:

Morganna Johnson
Policy Committee Coordinator
policy@santacruz.surfrider.org

Thank you for your support,

Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz Chapter