About 300 people turned out for Surfrider Foundation San Diego County’s 30th annual Paddle for Clean Water on Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Ocean Beach Pier.

The event included a host of activities, starting with breakfast for paddlers and beach yoga, to promote clean water and protest ocean pollution. The paddle involved crafts such as surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, etc. in a non-competitive paddle around OB Pier. It was a mass display of solidarity for coastline protection.

“The Paddle for Clean Water is a gathering for all San Diegans who love our coast and ocean,” said Alex Ferron, San Diego County Chapter manager. “It’s a fun, family-friendly event that shows elected officials and other decision-makers that clean water matters to all of us.”
Mitch Silverstein, San Diego County policy coordinator for Surfrider Foundation, said the paddle event started out in the early ’90s in response to a growing number of sewage spills. “It wasn’t even about the border sewage issue, which wasn’t happening that much yet,” he said adding the focus has changed gradually over the years.

“The event has really morphed into a rallying call and an awareness-building event rather than something specific,” Silverstein said. “Usually, it’s (focus) whatever the biggest clean-water issue is for the year.”

What is the big issue in 2022?

“Definitely our cross-border sewage crisis,” answered Silverstein adding, “It’s been going on forever. There have been a lot of developments. We’re doing some good work and making some progress.”

But Silverstein offered this caveat. “Really, our water is polluted any time it rains. We’re just trying to advocate for better treatment of stormwater and wastewater. Everything ends up in the ocean eventually.”

Silverstein talked about one of Surfrider San Diego’s first big victories, a successful clean-water lawsuit in the late 1990s to early 2000s. “The lawsuit forced the City to repair some stormwater and sewage infrastructure,” he said.

The Oct. 2 paddle occurred at 10 a.m., followed by a group photo, words from Surfrider Foundation leaders and guests, and a prize drawing, which featured a surfboard and Jack Johnson concert tickets.

A local surf rock band closed out the event with a live set at noon. The emcee was local radio personality and longtime Surfrider supporter, Chris Cantore. Guests were able to visit booths hosted by Surfrider partners, which included Un Mar De Colores, San Diego River Park Foundation, Groundswell Community Group, Paddle For Peace, San Diego Coastkeeper, Run for the Sun, and San Diego Community Power.

Of Surfrider’s mission, chapter manager Ferron said it was “ocean conservation in San Diego, all 72 miles of coastline.” She added, “there are a lot of issues right now – water quality, beach access, coastal erosion, all sorts of stuff related to ocean conservation and health.”

The nonprofit spokesperson said the intent of the paddle is to “raise awareness about local water-quality issues,” noting, as just one example, “That 50 million gallons of raw sewage a day goes into the ocean off San Diego’s coastline.”

Ferron said beach access is another major concern. “In San Diego, it is not very easy to access the coastline if you don’t live there, or if you are on the lower end of the socio-economic scale,” she said.

Added Ferron, “We hope to be paddling for another 30 years. But, hopefully, we won’t have the same need too.”

For more information about San Diego Surfrider Foundation, visit wwwsurfridersd.org.

The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. The foundation works to protect oceans and address the dangers to them, today and in the future. Its Ocean Protection Initiative includes grassroots campaigns to establish and support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), oppose new offshore oil drilling and seismic testing, participate in regional ocean planning, and ensure renewable ocean energy does not damage the oceans.