In the summer of 2016, Surfrider Foundation and SweetWater Brewing Company joined forces to Save Our Water. We engaged in an inaugural partnership and marketing campaign rooted in water conservation and water quality and how these initiatives contribute to ocean protection.
Based in Atlanta Georgia, SweetWater Brewing Company understands that their industry - crafting tasty beer - relies on clean water and they make a priority of protecting this precious resource. This year marked the 10th anniversary of Sweetwater’s Save Our Waters campaign and we were excited when they invited Surfrider Foundation to engage as their first 'salt water' environmental conservation non-profit partner to join, alongside four other environmental nonprofits, Building Conservation Trust, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited and the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Supporting the conservation of some of the nation’s most threatened rivers, streams and coastlines is a cause near and dear to the brewery. Nearly 20 years ago, Freddy Bensch traveled from Boulder to Atlanta with a fresh environmental conservation degree from CU in his pocket and a desire to put what he learned and, more importantly, what he felt to work. Bensch says, “While pursuing my dream of creating SweetWater Brewery, I used my education and experiences to develop an environmentally responsible business, which remains embodied in the work we do every day.”
Improving and maintaining water quality in coastal watersheds and marine environments has remained one of the Surfrider Foundation’s top priorities. Our Clean Water Initiative strives to understand the issues, provide solutions and raise awareness on the importance of protecting water supplies and preventing pollution along our coasts. The funds raised through the Save Our Water campaign for Surfrider will support the building of Ocean Friendly Gardens, which apply CPR: Conservation, Permeability and Retention to landscapes to conserve water, create habitat for wildlife, and reduce polluted runoff from the landscape. The funds will also allow our Blue Water Task Force to expand water quality monitoring by testing water at the beach. This program informs the public so they know where it is safe to swim and surf, and helps identify pollution problems so they can be fixed.