Annual Clean Water Celebration Strengthens Local Defense Against Federal Threats to San Diego Environment

SAN DIEGO, August 23, 2017–– As federal decision-makers threaten to weaken environmental regulations necessary to protect San Diego’s ability to safely fish and swim, San Diego Coastkeeper hosts an event to continue its ability to serve as our water’s local defense. On September 13, the water watchdog group’s annual Seaside Soiree will bring community leaders and environmental advocates together to protect and restore clean water across San Diego County. 

 

Coastkeeper says protecting our waters at the local level is the most important battleground in today’s weakening federal regulatory climate. 

 

“In San Diego County, our economy and our quality of life are powered by clean water,” says San Diego Coastkeeper Executive Director Matt O’Malley. “As federal policies cease to prioritize the protection of our fishable, swimmable, drinkable water, we are now — more than ever — San Diego’s last and most crucial line of defense for clean water.”

 

As well as serving to call San Diego to action, Seaside Soiree will celebrate San Diego Coastkeeper’s recent victories for fishable, swimmable, drinkable water including: 

• Advocating for EPA and Coastal Commission permits for approval and implementation of the Pure Water project
• Reaching agreements in several enforcement cases to stop stormwater polluters and protect the region’s waters
• Training and engaging 158 Water Quality Monitors, who invested more than 1,900 hours of their time, to collect important water quality data 
• Engaging 6,333 community volunteers to remove 9,399 pounds of trash from beaches across San Diego County
• Reaching 7,932 students, teachers, and community members through its hands-on water education curriculum

Community leaders, policy-makers and a number of California environmental leaders will join the celebration including California State Senator Toni Atkins. 

 

Held at Bali Hai restaurant on San Diego Bay, guests will have a chance to learn more about San Diego’s unique water quality issues and solutions through first-hand demonstrations of the harmful effects of pollutants like cigarette butts and lawn fertilizer. Supporters will also bid on prizes and trips through a silent auction and savor delicious food from a roaming buffet. VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to tour the bay on Coastkeeper’s boat, Clean Sweep, with board member and three-time Olympic medalist and sailor Mark Reynolds. 

 

San Diego Coastkeeper thanks its 2017 Seaside Soiree sponsors, including the 

 

Waitt Foundation, San Diego International Airport Authority, KPBS, Stewart and Emily Halpern Charitable Fund, NextGen America, San Diego State University, Responsible Solutions, BAE Systems, Tosdal Law Firm, DeLano and DeLano, HomeAdvisor, Schmidt Design Group, BWE, Sunroad Resort Marina, Collaborative Land Solutions, Briggs Law Corporation, Coast Law Group and Sun Harbor Marina. 

 

To continue empowering San Diego County’s water watchdog, purchase VIP or general admission tickets here. To sponsor or underwrite the event, contact Stephanie Ritter at [email protected] or 619-758-7743 X111. 

 

To learn more about San Diego Coastkeeper’s legal and policy efforts to defend San Diego’s water against weakening federal regulations, Matt O’Malley is available for interview. Contact Jamie Hampton at [email protected] or 858-337-7466.

 

To learn more about San Diego Coastkeeper and how you can protect our county’s waters, please visit www.sdcoastkeeper.org.

 

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San Diego Coastkeeper

Founded in 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper protects the region’s bays, beaches, watersheds and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. We balance community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem. For more information, visit San Diego Coastkeeper online at http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org.