Riding an ever-swelling wave of popularity in preserving natural resources and the environment, the San Diego River Days event continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
The massive environmental celebration ” the largest event of its kind in San Diego ” has been expanded this year to encompass two weekends, beginning Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. The fifth annual River Days 2008 will continue Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18.
Chock full of cleanup projects, bird watching, nature hikes, bike rides and beautification projects all along the 52-mile length of the San Diego River, this year’s event will feature more activities than ever before, according to organizers.
“We’re raising the bar because of the growing interest in the river and in the creation of a river park,” said Rob Hutsel, executive director of the San Diego River Park Foundation. “To accommodate that interest, we’ve taken the number of activities from
24 last year to 36 this year and we’ve gone from a single day five years ago to a weekend-long event last year. Now, we’re doubling it to spread over two weekends.”
Thousands of participants from Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and across San Diego are expected to join in the event, which will dot the map from the river’s headwaters in Julian to its outlet at Dog Beach in OB.
Hutsel said San Diego River Days 2008 is expected to draw as many as 10,000 environmentally conscious residents eager to explore up and down the length of the river.
“Really, the motivation behind River Days is that this is an incredible resource in our own backyard that San Diego grew up on,” Hutsel said. “People have realized in recent years that the river has become neglected and polluted and that we have turned our back on this wonderful natural resource. This gives people a chance to learn about it and reconnect as an asset for the entire community.”
Hutsel said plans are in the works to create a San Diego River Park that will consist of at least 30 miles of trails to be completed or started in the next two to three years.
The beauty of the River Days events, he said, is that there are plenty of activities happening up and down the length of the river to appeal to anyone.
“We want people to understand that they aren’t locked into any one activity at any one location,” Hutsel said. “We encourage them to participate in as many events and activities as they wish.”
River Days will formally kick off at 9 a.m. and activities will run the gamut during the two weekends. Additional information and exact locations of activities can be obtained by calling (619) 297-7380, or by visiting www.sdriverdays.org.
Activities for Saturday, May 10 include:
“¢ 9 a.m., bike tour along the river from Mission Valley to Dog Beach and back, with a glimpse of the future river trail. Participants should meet at the parking lot across from the Fashion Valley trolley station. The event is hosted by the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.
“¢ 9 a.m., Famosa Slough volunteer project allows participants to learn about Point Loma’s wetlands while helping to care for it. The event is hosted by the Friends of Famosa Slough.
“¢ 9 a.m., Dog Beach cleanup; participants are asked to gather at the entrance to Dog Beach at the end of Voltaire Street. The event is hosted by the Friends of Dog Beach.
“¢ 9 a.m., dune habitat restoration project allows participants to help restore native sand dune habitat at the river’s estuary. Participants should gather at the east end of the access road on the river’s north side near Friars Road and Sea World Drive. The event is hosted by the San Diego Audubon Society.
“¢ 9 a.m., aquatic adventures at the river mouth provides a tour of the estuary and hands-on biological monitoring and habitat restoration. Participants are asked to meet in the grassy area adjacent to Dog Beach. The event is hosted by Friends of the San Diego River Mouth.
Activities for Saturday, May 17 include:
“¢ 9 a.m., Point Loma native plant garden and open house, led by naturalists until 11 a.m. The event is hosted by the Friends of the Point Loma Native Plant Garden and San Diego River Park Foundation.
“¢ 1 p.m., nature-writing workshop at the Point Loma Native Plant Garden for children and adults. The event is hosted by workshop coordinator Jan Wellik and Friends of the Point Loma Native Plant Garden.
“¢ 1 p.m., Famosa Slough bird and nature walk; participants are asked to gather on Famosa Boulevard south of West Point Loma Boulevard. The event is hosted by the Friends of Famosa Slough.
Hutsel said in the case of cleanup projects, participants will be provided with all the necessary supplies. It is recommended to dress appropriately for the activity. Even if participants are trying to hit multiple activities during River Days 2008, every little bit counts, he said.
“A couple of hours can make a huge difference when you combine that with the efforts of thousands of other people,” Hutsel said. “This is where we all come together as a community.”