E-Mail
Print
The San Joaquin River is one of two California streams designated by the federal government to become a blueway – a boating trail to camping, fishing, bird-watching and other kinds of recreation.
A U.S. Interior Department report names the San Joaquin and the Los Angeles River in Southern California as blueway sites. The department says it will help the regions link wildlife refuges, parks and other public recreation spots on the river.
An announcement about the blueway designation is expected Thursday from the San Joaquin River Partnership, 13 groups and agencies dedicated to restoring the river. The campaign is just beginning the planning stages.
"The San Joaquin River Blueway is about lifting up the region," said Dave Koehler, a long-time river restoration advocate and coordinator of the partnership. "The blueway will connect individuals and families to the Valley's rich natural and cultural heritage and creates recreation opportunity for healthier lives."
Interior is naming two rivers in each state this year for blueway status, giving local groups direct access to federal agencies and resources in planning. It is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, a federal push to connect people with nature.
