Paddle to the Sea Arrives in San Francisco

NEWS ADVISORY
For June 5, 2010
Contacts: Eric Wesselman, 209-996-4652
Jessie Raeder, 323-823-5377

Paddle to the Sea Arrives in San Francisco
Paddlers Met By Lively Crowd at Pier 39

What
More than 200 onlookers will cheer as sea kayakers complete the final leg of Paddle to the Sea-a 241-mile journey down the Tuolumne River from the Sierra to San Francisco. The Tuolumne River Trust organized the event to build support for better stewardship of the Tuolumne River which provides drinking water to 2.5 million people in San Francisco and three other Bay Area counties. More than 1,500 people have participated in the journey to help save the salmon, promote water conservation, and teach the next generation of river stewards by connecting kids to the River. Paddlers rafted the famed whitewater run, canoed through the Lower Tuolumne past the confluence with the San Joaquin, made their way through the Delta, and will kayak into Pier 39 this Saturday.

Who
Ross Mirkarimi, San Francisco Supervisor (Confirmed)
Eric Wesselman, Executive Director of the Tuolumne River Trust
Brian Coggan, Andrew Cushman and Owen Segerstrom who are completing the entire journey

Hundreds have paddled for part of the month-long trip, but three are going the entire distance. Brian Coggan, Andrew Cushman, and Owen Segerstrom teamed up to do something bold for the Tuolumne. Last year Coggan paddled the Mississippi River from the source to the sea and decided to take on another iconic river closer to his home town of Sausalito.

When
Saturday, June 5
12:30-Kayakers arrive
12:45-brief press conference

Where
The Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 in San Francisco, CA (Embarcadero and Beach Streets).
Welcoming party and press event will be on upper balcony of the Aquarium of the Bay overlooking the water.