California Celebrates First-Ever Swimmable California Day

Jul 22, 2013

Local Events, Artwork, and Photo Contest Commemorate July 25th

Jason Flanders, San Francisco Baykeeper (916-202-3018)

(San Francisco, CA) – San Francisco Baykeeper proudly announces that the California Legislature has officially designated July 25th, 2013, as Swimmable California Day. Thanks to the work of our statewide California Coastkeeper Alliance, California Waterkeeper organizations and communities throughout the state will celebrate with a series of local events, a month-long social media contest and custom California Bear artwork.

Senator Ben Hueso (San Diego) and Assemblymember Mark Stone (Monterey)—both longtime open-water swimmers—introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 48 to commemorate the day, and officially recognized Californians’ rights to enjoy waters that are clean and safe for swimming. The state legislature formally adopted the resolution earlier this month with bi-partisan support from more than 60 co-authors.

“Swimmable California Day celebrates our coastal areas, bays, and rivers,” said Assemblymember Mark Stone. “My district is home to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of our nation’s most spectacular marine protected areas. It’s a wonderful place to view wildlife, and of course, go swimming.”

“California’s 238 million annual beachgoers rival the number of visitors to all of the nation’s state parks combined, and are crucial to our economy,” said Senator Ben Hueso, who represents San Diego.

LOCAL EVENTS. Connect with your local Waterkeeper to join outdoor celebrations:

  • July 25 (3:00 – 7:00 pm), Orange County Bolsa Chica State Beach, lifeguard tower #20. Contact Pamela Crouch, Orange County Coastkeeper (530-306-0122; orangecal.com/calendars/76/events/38144)
  • July 25 (3:00 – 6:00 pm), Riverside Martha McLean Park. Contact Megan Brousseau, Inland Empire Waterkeeper (951-261-1959; http://www.iewaterkeeper.org/events.html )
  • July 25 at 6:30, Santa Barbara Reef & Run ocean swim, Cabrillo Bathhouse at East Beach, Contact Penny Owens, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (805-450-9552; www.sbck.org)
  • July 27 at 10:00, Klamath River/Orleans Klamath Paddle & Party, (rafting at 10, party at 6pm), Contact Konrad Fisher, Klamath Riverkeeper (530-469-3218; KlamathRiver.org/paddleparty)
  • July 27 (11:00 – 3:00), Healdsburg Water Carnival, Veteran’s Beach. Contact Don McEnhill, Russian Riverkeeper (707-217-4762; parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Activities/Healdsburg_Water_Carnival.aspx).
  • July 27 (12:00 – 3:00), Santa Monica Beach, Tower 2 /Annenberg Beach House and Chantry Flats, Angeles National Forest. Contact Rachel Stich, Los Angeles Waterkeeper (818-636-2033; https://lawaterkeeper.org/event/swimmable-california-day-celebration-2/).
  • August 2 (9:30 – 11:30 am), San Francisco Pier 1.5, Boat Patrol and Media Tour, Contact Jason Flanders, San Francisco Baykeeper (415-856-0444 x 106)
  • August 3 (12:00 – 4:00), San Diego Swimmable Day Party, Mission Bay’s Ventura Cove. Contact Jamie Ortiz (858-337-7466; http://ow.ly/n43tj).

PHOTO CONTEST. Take a photo of yourself, friends or family enjoying San Francisco Bay and upload it by July 31 to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtags #SwimmableCA and #SwimmableSFBay. California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA) will announce a grand prize winner on August 1, as well as top entries for best swimmable pet, best swimmable youngsters, and wettest photo.

ARTWORK. CCKA partnered with 3 Fish Studios, the artistic home of painters and printmakers Annie Galvin and Eric Rewitzer, to create the Swimmable California mascot, a special swimming-themed edition of its iconic bear print. Annie Galvin’s California bear series was based on the album cover of “I Love You, California,” the official state song of California, which turns 100 this year. The husband and wife team runs a studio near Ocean Beach and is selling prints online to benefit CCKA. Learn more at www.3fishstudios.com.

San Francisco Baykeeper is the Bay’s pollution watchdog, using science and advocacy to enforce clean water laws and hold polluters accountable. For more information, visit us at www.baykeeper.org.

CCKA unites 12 local Waterkeeper programs to achieve swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters for all Californians. www.cacoastkeeper.org

Swimmable California Day is part of the Waterkeeper Alliance’s international Swimmable Water Weekend July 25-28, 2013, which celebrates our right to clean water and the Waterkeeper Swim Guide tool. The Swim Guide smartphone application provides up-to-date water quality information for more than 400 California beaches, coves, rivers and creeks. www.theswimguide.org

 

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