[Water_news] 3. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATERSHEDS - 9/26/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

September 26, 2008

 

3. Watersheds –

 

 

California beaches again rate high in water quality

A Heal the Bay survey credits drought and monitoring. But Los Angeles and Long Beach waters are among the worst, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed funds for water-quality programs.

Los Angeles Times – 9/26/08

By Tami Abdollah, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

California beaches received high marks for water quality for a second consecutive year, according to a report released today by an environmental group.

At the same time, public health officials and environmentalists learned that nearly $1 million in state funding for water-quality monitoring programs was cut this week in a line-item veto by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"It would have been a good news story," said Heal the Bay President Mark Gold, whose organization released the annual report. "Here we have arguably the most successful water-quality monitoring program in the entire state of California, and Gov. Schwarzenegger, with his blue pencil, decided to eliminate funding."

H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for the state Finance Department, said the cuts were among many the governor was forced to make to balance the budget and ensure that there was enough money in reserve to fight fires during a particularly dry fire season.

"This was one of literally dozens of very difficult but necessary decisions the governor had to make," Palmer said today. He said the water-monitoring program would be evaluated next year to determine if funding could be restored.

Of the state's 514 beaches, 91% received A or B grades, which mean excellent or very good water quality, according to the California Summer Beach Report Card.

The Santa Monica-based group reported water quality grades from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Environmentalists attributed the higher marks primarily to a second consecutive year of drought, which reduced urban runoff into waterways. Runoff is the biggest source of ocean pollution.

Los Angeles County beaches received the lowest marks in the state, with nearly one in five beaches receiving F grades. Malibu's famed Surfrider received a D. Long Beach had the most polluted beaches, according to the report. Nearly half its 25 monitored beaches received C to F.

"Nowhere else has over two miles of beaches that are polluted in a row," Gold said. "That's what makes Long Beach unusual."

The city recently completed a study that showed the Los Angeles River is the main source of fecal bacteria in the city's waters.

Excluding Los Angeles County, nearly 97% of the state's 405 beaches received A or B grades, with only six locations receiving failing marks.

San Diego County, which has had to close its beaches eight times this summer because of sewage spills near the Tijuana River, received the highest marks in the state with 100% A or B grades. The state fully funds San Diego County's monitoring program.

A decade ago, the state Legislature approved nearly $1 million annually for beach water-quality monitoring programs. The money has been used to supplement or fully fund local monitoring programs. Los Angeles County receives about $75,000 a year from the state, Gold said.

Recently voters approved about $35 million to help clean up the state's most polluted beaches, as determined through monitoring programs.

The Beach Report Card is based on water samples analyzed for bacteria, which indicate the sources of pollution. A higher grade means there is a lower risk of illness to ocean users.

More than 100 million people visit Southern California beaches each year. Coastal tourism brings more than $2 billion a year to Los Angeles County, Gold said.#

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-beaches26-2008sep26,0,880866.story?track=rss