#SwimmableHumboldt

Technically, summer will linger on though September, but with the arrival of August comes a certain quickening – in Arcata, for example, the resignation that the students are returning as the city gears up to greet them. Folks who haven’t yet made it to the river or hiked deep into the Trinity Alps feel the pressure of now or never. The algae danger has increased as the rivers have dropped. Fires in Oregon and Orleans have filled the sky with smoke, destroyed homes and otherwise marred summer’s beauty.

But not all hope is lost. We still have time in which to play – and with the constant onslaught of crime and crashes, finding those moments to be outside in Humboldt’s beauty is ever more critical. (Also, inspirational.)

Last chance to win #Swimmable contest

One thing that today, July 31, marks your final chance to do, however, is to participate in the Swimmable California Day contest. Although the big day happened on July 25, the photo contests sponsored by California Coastkeeper Alliance and Humboldt Baykeeper continues through today. Upload a photo of how you and yours enjoy California waters on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #swimmableHumboldt and #SwimmableCA. Judges will choose a grand prize winner, as well as top entries for best swimmable pet, best swimmable youngsters and wettest photo. 

Why Swimmable California Day? Having access to waterways that are clean and safe for swimming, surfing, paddling and playing is essential to the high quality of life we Californians enjoy – and helps drive our economy. Tourism and recreation account for 76 percent of all coastal employment, and make up a substantial part of our $40 billion ocean economy. 

‘Deep Water’ Ocean Night

Witness both a more adventurous and darker side of seafaring Friday night, when Ocean Conservancy, Humboldt Baykeeper and Humboldt Surfrider screen the exceptionally acclaimed documentary Deep Water as part of Ocean Night. Short summary: in 1968, Donald Crowhurst, the proprietor of a down-and-out manufacturing business for marine electrical components, avowed to enter the first Golden Globe sailing competition, a nonstop, one-man circumnavigational race against eight other competitors. He was ill-prepared and disaster unfolds one gripping nautical mile at a time. Full details in the Lowdown. 

Bird Ally X and Redwood Coast Fish Waste Response 

If you can’t make it out to Ocean Night, but still want to know about our local ocean wildlife needs, Bird Ally X presents the story of the rescue efforts to save brown pelicans contaminated by fish waste from anglers and the fish-cleaning industry. That happens at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge at 7 p.m. More info at 733-5406.

Plastic bag pollution update

Tired of plastic bags floating in the marsh, littering the dunes, clogging the sloughs and otherwise damaging our Humboldt waterways? Arcata City Council is taking a step to help reduce one of the most common pieces of trash locally by directing staff to move forward with a plastic bag ban. (Need a reusable Chico bag? You can buy one at Ocean Night! They’re fabulously durable and convenient!)

If you’re scoping this out in time and want to know more about plastic waste worldwide, be Waste Wise and the Plastic Pollution Coalition is hosting a public panel that starts at 11 a.m.