Like many bodies of water around the world the San Francisco Bay is heavily affected by pollution. Rain water runoff carries pollutants from refineries, scrap yards, shipping docks, landfills, and countless other industrial facilities into the Bay. There have also been two oil spills in the last 10 years. This is obviously bad news for local wildlife, those of us who surf in San Francisco, and people who care about the health of our environment.
To mitigate further damage, or better yet eradicate this trend altogether it’s imperative to raise awareness about the situation and enforce meaningful regulations. That’s where organizations like San Francisco Bay Keeper come in. According to their website, San Francisco Bay Keeper “works to reverse the environmental degradation of the past and promote new strategies and policies to protect the water quality of the San Francisco Bay.”
San Francisco Bay Keeper takes a multifaceted approach to improving conditions in the Bay. They monitor water quality and collect data, educate the public about the issue, patrol the area, hold government agencies accountable, and take legal action when needed.
As part of a campaign to raise funds and awareness for the cause they’re running an event called the Bay Parade and inviting the local community to get active on the water. Participants can swim, kayak, stand-up paddle, or sail from the Golden Gate Bridge to McCovey Cove, where a celebration will be broadcast on the Jumbotron at ATT Park. This event is a perfect example of how to get creative, engage and inform the local community about serious issues, make positive change happen, and have fun while doing it.
For details on how to get involved and register for the event as a participant click here. The Bay Parade is set to run July 9, 2017.
Events posted on The Good Brine are subject to change. Please check directly with organizations and venues to confirm times and locations.
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photo by Jake S.