For a decade, San Diego has paid homage to its liquid lifeblood, the San Diego River, through annual San Diego River Days events each spring. This year, San Diego River Days is back with free events along the length of the river from Santa Ysabel on the upper end to Ocean Beach at the lower end in an event for the entire family to enjoy. From May 11-12 and May 18-19, the San Diego River Park Foundation and its network of partners will host more than 40 family-friendly activities, including hikes, bike rides, garden tours, rehabilitation projects and kids activities to engage families in service projects and to educate them about the river that flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean via Ocean Beach. Activities around the mouth of the San Diego River: • Rare habitat restoration at the river mouth Join the San Diego River Park Foundation, Friends of the River Mouth and SDG&E as the groups work to help restore the rare habitat at the river mouth. Volunteers will build and paint access control posts, paint educational signage about endangered native species, remove invasive plants and create a lookout for a world-renowned bird-watching area. Participants are urged to meet at the Dog Beach parking lot on May 11 at 9 a.m. • Open house at the river mouth Explore one of the few remaining coastal wetlands and its fascinating flora and fauna. Expert docents from Friends of the River Mouth will lead guests on a guided tour and open house through the unique coastal habitat. Participants are asked to meet at the Dog Beach parking lot on May 12 at 10 a.m. • Explore a hidden native plan garden Visitors can explore the beauty of the Point Loma Native Plant Garden alongside members of the Friends of the Point Loma Native Plant Garden on May 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. Guests can experience a hands-on demo by RECON Native Plants and learn about native edible plants in the bountiful garden, located at 4444 Greene St. • Famosa Slough bird walk Walk among the Famosa Slough’s native bird species with Friends of Famosa Slough on May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. Whether you are a bird watcher or simply a nature lover, participants can view the variety of birds and unique salt marsh habitat at the city’s wetlands preserve. Participants are asked to meet at the first bench on Famosa Boulevard, south of the street’s intersection with West Point Loma Boulevard. For a full list of events along the river, visit www.sandiegoriver.org/sdriverdays, or call (619) 297-7380.
