California businesses unite to preserve the state’s waterways

Twelve local Waterkeeper organizations and the California Coastkeeper Alliance have announced the launch of a network of California businesses that will begin working together to protect the state’s rivers, streams, ocean, coasts, and bays.

Called the Blue Business Council, the network of business so far includes: Channel Island Outfitters, Clif Bar, h2hotel, Hotel Healdsburg, Humboldt Bay Oyster & Tourism, New Belgium Brewing, Patagonia, Pro SUP Shop, Pura Vida Bracelets, Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and Shelter.

“As an outdoor business with our headquarters in coastal California for 40 years, we care deeply about protecting and cleaning-up our waterways to ensure that they are swimmable, fishable and drinkable,” said Hans Cole, environmental campaigns and advocacy manager at Patagonia, ”The Blue Business Council brings a strong new voice on this front, and we support California Coastkeeper Alliance’s efforts to engage this group of likeminded citizens and businesses in action and advocacy.”

California’s rivers, coasts, and bays feed a $106 billion tourism industry as well as a $39 billion fishing industry. Despite this, nearly half of California’s waterways are too polluted to swim in, fish in, or drink out of. Cities along the state’s coast spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year to clean up garbage and marine debris.

“Water is a renewable resource, but it is not inexhaustible,” said Sara Aminzadeh, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance. “California’s current drought underscores the need for decisive action and innovative policy reforms to protect our blue economy.”

The members of the Blue Business Council understand how important clean, abundant water is to the state, that’s why they’ve taken the Clean Water Pledge. This mean that they have pledged to support initiatives that strengthen California’s economy by making its coasts and waterways safe and clean.

Both the California Coastkeeper Alliance and the members of the Blue Business Council will be celebrating Swimmable California Day on July 25. The day was officially designated by the California legislature last year in recognition of Californians’ right to clean coasts, beaches, estuaries, rivers, streams, and lakes.

Read more about the story at California Economy Reporting.

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