The Mayor’s Boat Ride a big day on the river:
The Mayor’s Boat Ride, held on Aug. 5th, was a splashing success! As the newspaper article below and Corey Young’s charming video will attest.
Argus Courier Wednesday, August 8, 2007. 160 take to the river for mayor’s boat ride!
A flotilla of “human-powered†watercraft of every description, from canoes and kayaks and rowboats to outriggers, a marine-cycle and a surfboard, converged on the Petaluma River Sunday morning, for the first “Mayor’s Boat Ride†guided by Mayor Pam Torliatt.
The tour of the Petaluma River, from the Marina to the Turning Basin, was organized by the Petaluma Small Craft Center Coalition and Friends of the Petaluma River. The two nonprofit groups are working to protect and enhance the river and are hoping to build a watercraft center to house and launch small human-powered boats. More than 85 watercraft and over 160 people participated in Sunday’s event.
|
|
|
| Mayor Pam (in blue) arrives at the Turning Basin | Colorful Mass Paddle Craft |
“Friends” on KPIX Ch 5 evening news:
On Wed. Aug 15th we took a TV crew for a river tour to highlight the threats posed by the Redwood Landfill. View the video of the news segment by clicking here.
Wings over the River – 7/5/07:
On July 5th Ray Peterson gave us a special tour of the Petaluma Watershed by Air! It was a chance to see the River and its environs from a new perspective; and for Jaimey Walking Bear shoot footage for the new informational video. Many thanks to Ray and Jaimey. We hope to have the video ready for viewing in September
|
|
|
| Jaimey and Ray take to the skies | Jaimey at work |
SRJC to host “The Great Petaluma Marsh” art show:
The Santa Rosa Jr. College Petaluma campus will be the site of a special art show featuring the River and Marsh. The show will run from Aug. 20th to Oct. 13th in the Mahoney Library. The exhibit, sponsored by Friends of the Petaluma Campus, will include works by artists and photographers as well as maps and interpretive panels.
 |
|
photo by Scott Hess |
There will be a reception for the artists on Wed. Sept 5th from 4 – 6 PM.
Wednesday, August 29 – Shop to help “Friends”:
Whole Foods of Petaluma will hold a “Friends of the Petaluma River Day†on Wednesday Aug 29th. 5% of all sales that day will go to “Friendsâ€. This is a rare privilege and a great opportunity for us. Be sure to shop at Whole Foods on the 29th and stock up on food and drinks for Labor Day. Tell your friends and neighbors!
|
|
|
Our Community 5% Days are one meaningful way we give back to our community. On designated days throughout the year a total of 5% of the day’s net sales are donated to local non-profit organizations. Customers help support our selected organizations just by shopping on these 5% Days.
Save the Bay joins “Friends” for paddle tour:
On July 21st we were asked to co-lead a sunset paddle with Save the Bay to celebrate Bay Nature Magazine’s special edition featuring the North Bay Wetlands. On a beautiful evening over two dozen paddlers enjoyed the mysteries of the Marsh.
 |
|
Save the Bay tour leaders “talkin’ marsh” with paddlers |
Copies of the special section “Highway to the Flyway†are available from Friends.
The Petaluma River Marathon – September 2, 2007:
Mark your calendars to participate in or to watch this exciting spectacle. To learn more about it or sign up for the event click here.
4th Annual Petaluma River Marathon-Half Marathon
Sunday morning, Sept 2, 2007
Presented by Friends of the Petaluma River
Overview:
Since 2004, The Petaluma River Marathon has served as the West Coast flat-water marathon/half maraÂthon championship for all paddled and rowed watercraft. This event is open to and safe for all levels of paddlers and rowers, from beginners to elite. It takes advantage of a unique combination of favorable factors:
- Excellent racing conditions: The water is usually flat at race time, and there is very little interference from motorboat wakes. The air temperature is cool at start time. The “river†(it is really an estuary) is almost precisely half-marathon length. So the full marathon is from head to mouth (on San Francisco Bay) and back.
- Beautiful venue: The picture of the S curve on the “Friends†logo does not exaggerate the unique character of the river. For most of its course, the river flows through a nature preserve that conveys an impression of pre-Conquest California. In the foreground, the competitors will pass next to native plants and wildlife, and in the background the California coastal range rises to define the horizon.
- Fortunate coincidence: The river is almost precisely 13.1 miles from the mouth in downtown to the mouth at San Francisco Bay. So the marathon course is down and back.
Times:
Registration opens: 6:30am
Racer’s Meeting:
- Full Marathon: 7:00am
- Half Marathon: 8:00am
Start
- Full Marathon: 7:30am
- Half Marathon: 8:30am
Lunch & awards when marathon racers finish
Start/Finish location:
The race begins and ends at the docks of the North Bay Rowing Club at the end of 2nd Street in PetaÂluma California. Enter 38.2314° N,122.6294° W in the search box on Google Maps to see the start and finish points. Racers can park in the parking lot at Foundry Warf adjacent to the gate into the North Bay Rowing Club boatyard.
Eligible craft:
Any rowed or paddled craft, including
For rowers:
Sliding-seat (8+, 4+, 4-, 2-, 4x, 2x, 1x), both flat water and open water designs), Fixed-seat craft are welcome, but 26.2 miles is a long way in a fixed-seat rowboat.
For paddlers:
Kayaks (both ocean and flat water), surfkis, canoes, and 1,2, and 6-person outrigÂger canoes. Paddle boards are welcome as well, but the same caution holds for paddle boards as for rowboats.
“Friends†needs volunteers to help with this event. Please contact us at (707) 763-7756.
Spartina abatement getting underway:
Friends of the Petaluma River’s Spartina team is busy preparing a work plan and getting permits to begin work on eradication of the invasive Spartina alterniflora hybrid that has infested our watershed. The team consists of Marshall Fitzgerald, Bob Caruso, John Shribbs, and Andy Rodgers. They have all contributed many hours to help get this project started.
 |
Copies of the special section “Highway to the Flyway†are available from Friends.
“Friends” needs your support:
Now more than ever we are need monetary support to expand our community work and conservation programs from our new offices. Membership renewals and donations are our primary means of support. Naturally, all donations are tax deductible.
Please renew your membership now.
If you are not a member yet, please consider joining Friends.
We hope to see you on the water and in the community
Dave Yearsley – Friends of the Petaluma River
Celebrate & Conserve
