An urgent plea to protect the San Lorenzo River
Since the beginning of life on earth, organisms big and small have needed water for survival. Fresh clean water is still a coveted resource worldwide. Early and modern human civilizations gather around rivers. Traveling around the globe one can see where rivers are used for transportation, food, drinking water and leisure activities.
After the flood of the 1950s and after the construction of the levee it’s my belief the San Lorenzo River has slowly started to fade away as an important part of the City of Santa Cruz.
As residents we turn on the tap and use the water without a second thought – we take for granted it will be there. The last time I remember it not being potable was after the 1989 earthquake. The river is a historical spawning ground for coho salmon, steelhead, pink salmon as well as other resident fish. Day in and day out we use the water without appreciating where it’s from or what it could be. The history of the San Lorenzo River actually reminds me of the book “The Giving Tree” where Shel Silverstein illustrates sacrifice and altruism to the point of self- destruction. Let’s not let our beloved river become an old stump.
The riparian corridor has been neglected for decades and really deserves our attention. We can’t continue to allow our river to transport life destroying waste to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
I’d love to see kids playing, people fishing, floating, paddling, and swimming through town. Aside from recreation the river could provide jobs including fishing or other guides.
My family and I have been lucky enough to have vacationed in neighboring Western states. We, along with other Californians have long been wondering why we can’t enjoy rivers in our own backyards the same way. In Anchorage, we saw free life vests for people to use when visiting with a sign that said, “Kids don’t float.” In Colorado, we floated on inner tubes. In Oregon, we sat at a brewery and watched people fishing. In Arizona my husband piggy backed his grandma up the river for a picnic; and in Nevada we camped and enjoyed watching wildlife go by.
We can do better!
According to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), the number of all anglers, 6 years and older, has grown steadily in recent years, reaching 50.1 million in 2019, or roughly one in six Americans. Together, they spend more than $51 billion annually on equipment, licenses, trips and other fishing-related items or events. Anglers, like surfers, enjoy recreation in the water and care about preservation for future generations. Many are into catch and release and are passionate about protection of aquatic habitat. With a revitalization of the San Lorenzo River we could create an opportunity for future recreation, jobs, or a source of sustainable food for Santa Cruz residents and visitors.
Join me in reactivating the river. Walk or bike the levee. Pick up trash when you see it. Report graffiti or other illegal behavior. Support projects, activities, and nonprofits that encourage being stewards of this vital resource. We can make this change! Let’s be the same guardians we are when we’re protecting the Bay, the redwoods, the beaches and the open spaces.
In 2021, we need to work together to create policies that let us use and enjoy the San Lorenzo River while preserving it for future generations of citizens, visitors and wildlife.
Let’s protect, respect, and enjoy this most valuable asset we need for life in Santa Cruz, the San Lorenzo River.
Let’s be the same guardians we are when we’re protecting the bay, the redwoods, the beaches and the open spaces.