Local Events, Artwork, and Photo Contest Commemorate July 25th
Contact: Sara Aminzadeh, California Coastkeeper Alliance (415-794-8422)
Press Release
07/22/2013
(Sacramento, CA) – California Coastkeeper Alliance (CCKA) proudly announces that the California Legislature has officially designated July 25th, 2013 as Swimmable California Day. 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—and Senator Marty Block (San Diego) introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 48 to commemorate the day, and officially recognize Californians’ rights to enjoy waters that are clean and safe for swimming. The state legislature 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; tiny.cc/51th0w).
• August 2 (9:30 – 11:30 am), San Francisco Pier 1.5, Boat Patrol and Media Tour, Contact Jason Flanders, San Francisco Baykeeper (916-202-3018)
• 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. CCKA wants to see how Californians enjoy our world-renowned coastal areas, bays, rivers and creeks. Upload photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #SwimmableCA. CCKA will announce a grand prize winner on August 1, as well as top swimmable pet and youngster entries, 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.
###
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
Communications Consultant Lola Dvorak supports CCKA’s strategic communications by helping waterkeepers tell their stories.
