tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65596409665811587772024-02-07T21:25:34.056-08:00Blue Water Task ForceChad Nelsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17020103336319370855noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-2401245243102891072011-04-27T11:39:00.001-07:002011-04-27T11:39:24.100-07:00Blue Water Task Force Has Moved!The Surfrider Foundation has consolidated all of our issue-based blogs into one Coastal Blog. Come check it out at <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog">www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 216px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNuPvwVxd7E/TbhhV4iqOTI/AAAAAAAAAVo/2M5QbpO_cig/s400/coastal-blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600333165218117938" border="0" /></a>Mark Rauscherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994197014362874603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-67840213298219660502011-03-25T09:26:00.000-07:002011-03-25T09:36:37.119-07:00More on Sewage Spill in NH<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izP0X0j7KsU/TYzEKE7USsI/AAAAAAAAAWU/-H1q9RFEdO0/s1600/sewagedisks_NH.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izP0X0j7KsU/TYzEKE7USsI/AAAAAAAAAWU/-H1q9RFEdO0/s320/sewagedisks_NH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588056915060214466" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Millions+of+disks%2C+tons+of+raw+sewage+spilled+from+Hooksett+plant&articleId=5b7e7320-5790-446f-bd61-7ffe7de8c6f7">Millions of disks, tons of raw sewage spilled from Hooksett plant</a><br /><br />By DAN O'BRIEN<br />Union Leader Correspondent<br />Wednesday, Mar. 16, 2011<br /><br />HOOKSETT – The number of small, plastic disks that escaped from the Hooksett Wastewater Treatment Plant is much higher than previously thought, according to local and state officials.<br /><br />Between 4 million and 8 million disks spilled out of an overflowing tank, along with about 300,000 gallons of raw sewage, and into the Merrimack River on March 6.<br /><br />It was originally thought the number of escaped disks was in the hundreds of thousands.<br /><br />Officials did not realize the severity of the problem until five days after the spill when disks were discovered along the Merrimack River shoreline between Hooksett and Newburyport, Mass., where some beaches were closed.<br /><br />The state Department of Environmental Services said the disks do not pose a health risk and the vast majority of disks did not test positive for harmful bacteria.<br /><br />The disks, officially known as Biolfilm Chip M Media, are not much larger than the size of a quarter. They were introduced to the plant last November in a ceremony that included Gov. John Lynch and touted as a new sewage treatment method that reduced the number of aeration tanks that needed to be built, saving the town $1 million.<br /><br />Hooksett is potentially facing a penalty of $25,000 per violation, per day, according to Assistant Attorney General Allen Brooks, chief of the Attorney General Office's Environmental Protection Bureau.<br /><br />State and local officials confirmed the Hooksett plant had not installed an alarm system on the sewage tanks that would have alerted workers to an overflow until the day after the spill.Investigators are still determining if a fine will be issued.<br /><br />"Everything they did will be considered," Brooks said.<br /><br />DES is trying to recruit volunteers to help clean up the disks along beaches in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-43261527515575209402011-03-17T09:50:00.000-07:002011-03-17T10:12:37.167-07:00Emergency Beach Clean-ups in NH to Remove Wastewater Treatment Disks<span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The New Hampshire Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is hosting emergency clean-ups at area beaches to remove a rash of washed up disks that are used to remove bacteria from wastewater. More info below. This incident is similar to a beach pollution issue that Surfrider Europe investigated during 2010. <a href="http://bluewatertaskforce.blogspot.com/2010/10/surfrider-europe-investigates-plastic.html">Surfrider Europe Investigates Plastic Debris on Atlantic Beaches.</a><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div class="noindex"><div class="bdySubTitle"><div class="noindex"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="bylineContainer"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="bylineText"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-boHnU3ZmPQw/TYI_px2QE_I/AAAAAAAAAWM/QOklpuvWaHI/s1600/NH_beachCleanup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-boHnU3ZmPQw/TYI_px2QE_I/AAAAAAAAAWM/QOklpuvWaHI/s400/NH_beachCleanup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585096474880906226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pLYvmbpi74/TYI_pgN6cSI/AAAAAAAAAWE/bEmNg2Waj74/s1600/NH_WWdisk.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pLYvmbpi74/TYI_pgN6cSI/AAAAAAAAAWE/bEmNg2Waj74/s400/NH_WWdisk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585096470148313378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Chris Shipley photos</span><br /></div><span class="by"><br /><a href="http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110316-NEWS-103160368"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Volunteers sought to remove contaminated disks from beaches</span></span></a><br /><br />By </span><span class="byline" style="color: rgb(152, 45, 1);">Chelsey Shuman</span></div> </div> <div class="bylineDate"><span>March 16, 2011 2:00 AM<br /><a href="http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110316-NEWS-103160368">Seacoast Online</a><span></span></span></div> </div> <p class="articleGraf">HAMPTON — The Blue Ocean Society and New Hampshire Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will host emergency beach cleanups at three locations in response to the accidental discharge of bacteria-laden disks that escaped from the Hooksett Wastewater Treatment Plant last week and washed up on area beaches.</p><p class="articleGraf">The cleanups were initially scheduled for today but have been rescheduled to Thursday, March 17, from noon to 5 p.m. Volunteers are asked to gather at the North Hampton State Beach parking lot at 295 Ocean Blvd., the parking lot in front of the Ashworth by the Sea Hotel in Hampton and the parking lot next to the Yankee Fisherman's Cooperative in Seabrook. Volunteers will be provided gloves and trash bags to help remove the disks. Officials from both organizations and the state Department of Environmental Services will be on hand to help.</p><p class="articleGraf">The disks were used at the Hooksett plant to help soak up and consume bacteria in wastewater. On Monday, crews from the Strafford County Department of Corrections removed thousands of disks, but officials say there are many more to be collected. The disks led officials to temporarily close Seabrook Beach.</p><p class="articleGraf">DES officials on Monday declared the disks tested negative for both E. coli and Enterococci. "We tested for these types of bacteria because they are what are typically involved in water contamination," James Martin, DES public information officer, said Tuesday.</p><p class="articleGraf">DES testing of the disks over the weekend came back positive for E. coli, but Martin said the tests showed a very low level of contamination. "What we found was equivalent to the level of bacteria you encounter on a doorknob every day," he said. "Because of this low number, it is important for people not to panic and understand everything is being done in our power to take care of this."</p> <p class="articleGraf">While the most recent tests came back negative, Martin is encouraging folks not to touch the disks with their bare hands. "Even if you use gloves, please be careful and wash your hands afterwards or use a disinfectant," he said.</p>For information, visit <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Surfrider-Foundation-New-Hampshire-Chapter/events/16928227/">www.meetup.com/Surfrider-Foundation-New-Hampshire-Chapter/events/16928227/</a><br /><br /> <div id="factBox"> <h2 class="bdyTitle">To help</h2> <p class="articleGraf">Volunteer beach cleanup </p><p class="articleGraf">Hosts: Department of Environmental Services and the Blue Ocean Society</p><p class="articleGraf">When: Noon-5 p.m. Thursday, March 17</p><p class="articleGraf">Where: North Hampton, Hampton, Seabrook beaches </p><p class="articleGraf">Details: Visit <a href="http://www.des.nh.gov/">www.des.nh.gov</a> or <a href="http://www.blueoceansociety.org/">www.blueoceansociety.org</a>.</p> </div><br /></div> </div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-54805801072819102922011-02-22T12:06:00.000-08:002011-02-22T12:47:24.485-08:00Monitoring Gulf Beaches for Oil and Dispersants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdvgTlh2PvA/TWQfwR_WvSI/AAAAAAAAAV0/Iogu4S8_dl4/s1600/ECsurfrider5"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xdvgTlh2PvA/TWQfwR_WvSI/AAAAAAAAAV0/Iogu4S8_dl4/s320/ECsurfrider5" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576617152914832674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxgucUmHcAk/TWQfwTxE6jI/AAAAAAAAAVs/56Lo1DGV2N4/s1600/EC_UVimage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxgucUmHcAk/TWQfwTxE6jI/AAAAAAAAAVs/56Lo1DGV2N4/s320/EC_UVimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576617153391815218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5twTMPwg2Q/TWQfwB6PHvI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Tk-qi34ur48/s1600/EC_UVSamplers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5twTMPwg2Q/TWQfwB6PHvI/AAAAAAAAAVk/Tk-qi34ur48/s320/EC_UVSamplers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576617148598394610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <div class="articleaggregate"><div class="articlepoll" id="articlepoll_wrapper"> </div> </div> <span style="font-size:100%;">The <a href="http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org/">Emerald Coast Chapter</a> of the Surfrider Foundation has been monitoring beach water along the panhandle of Florida since last summer. See their <a href="http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org/watertestingresults/">water testing info center</a> for more information.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />They have just started on a new venture with a researcher from the University of South Florida to start monitoring the beaches for evidence of oil contamination in the sand. </span>Read more below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.waltonsun.com/articles/dispersants-6326-testing-area.html"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Surfriders team up with researchers as DEP resumes testing for oil, dispersants</span></span></a><br /><h1 class="marginMidSide"><a style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);" href="http://www.waltonsun.com/articles/dispersants-6326-testing-area.html"><br /></a></h1><object id="flashObj" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="240" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=796263016001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waltonsun.com%2Farticles%2Fdispersants-6326-testing-area.html&playerID=23807861001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAADrgf0E~,bBiH_zPXeHiY-9P6u4WI88pL_YfDZBmI&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=796263016001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waltonsun.com%2Farticles%2Fdispersants-6326-testing-area.html&playerID=23807861001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAADrgf0E~,bBiH_zPXeHiY-9P6u4WI88pL_YfDZBmI&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" height="240" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /> <div class="subhead marginMidSide"> </div> <div id="v_player"> </div> <div class="byline marginMidSide"> <a href="mailto:jhobbs@waltonsun.com">Jennie Hobbs</a> </div> <div class="articlesummary newstext"><b>The Walton Sun<br /></b></div> <div class="newstext marginMidSide"> <p>Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation has joined with University of South Florida researcher Rip Kirby in its quest for answers on the conditions of area beaches.</p> <p>“Surfrider will be joining his team and assisting with his sampling effort,” chairman Michael Sturdivant said at the organization’s February chapter meeting, where he introduced the coastal geologist.</p> <p>The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world's waves and beaches.</p> <p>Following an announcement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in regards to its stepping up its water testing, the<b> </b>foundation plans to switch much of its testing energies to soil sampling.</p> <p>“Hopefully we will show the beaches are clean,” Sturdivant said.</p> <p>The testing is important for the protection of community health and trust, Sturdivant said.</p> <p>At the meeting, Kirby brought in the “latest and greatest” in fluorescent light technology to show how crude oil that has come into contact with dispersants will glow bright orange when illuminated.</p> <p>“If the isotopic signature fluoresces in orange and gold, it has Corexit,” Kirby said.</p> <p>Kirby predicts oil will be impacting the beaches in some form for the next three to five years.</p> <p>“With our warmer temperatures, we are hoping the bugs will break it down faster,” Kirby said. But his fear is “oil coming onto our beaches by an offshore wave event.”</p><span style="font-style: italic;">related article.....</span><br /><div class="bc3ArticleLineupFullVersion"><br /></div><div class="articlesummary newstext"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b>As tourism season approaches, DEP restarts testing:</b></span><br /><p>The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is once again testing Panhandle beaches.</p> <p>The last time FDEP conducted tests were Aug. 16.</p> <p>FDEP “is initiating weekly beach monitoring for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and DOSS (an ingredient in the dispersant corexit) in water samples in preparation for this year’s swim season," according to an e-mail from the DEP’s Dave Whiting, biology program administrator.</p> <p>The e-mail, which was provided to The Sun by the local Surfrider Foundation, said “our sampling is being used to help the Department of Health craft protective public health messages or notices.”</p> <p>It went on to say, “We will be collecting tarballs and sand (from both visibly clean and visibly stained) portions of beaches to determine how the weathering of the oil may have affected its composition, people’s ability to detect it on the beach and their potential for unacceptable exposure.”</p> <p>The department will also be performing targeted beach sand sampling in "areas of special concern."</p> <p>The DOH will be in charge of issuing any public health messages in relation to the testing.</p> <p>“We are hopeful that the public health message will remain the same,” Whiting continued. “Beachgoers should not recreate in areas with oil product too numerous to avoid. By avoiding visible oil, it is unlikely that you will be exposed to unsafe levels of petroleum."</p></div> <p> </p> <a><img src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d14/unsecured/media/987791169/987791169_796291231001_th-796280210001.jpg?pubId=987791169" class="bc3ArticleLineupThumbnail" alt="" style="width: 80px; float: left; clear: none;" border="0" width="80" /><span class="bc3Title"></span></a><br /><div class="bc3ArticleLineupFullVersion"><br /></div> </div> <input id="realstory" value="Surfriders team up with researchers as DEP resumes testing for oil, dispersants (VIDEO)" type="hidden">Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-55585090482463881412011-02-10T11:49:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:15:29.015-08:00Sewage Dumping on Long Island, NY<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Update: </span>The Central Long Island Chapter will be hosting another meeting on on March 1, 2011 with the Comissioner of Nassau County Public Works speaking on the sewage dumping in Reynold's Channel and answering questions from the public on what the County is doing to remedy this situation and fix the problems at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant.<div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cdk1h6yVw00/TWVAeo5lYrI/AAAAAAAAAV8/0TSEfFPfG-U/s400/CLI_Flyer_030111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576934608687424178" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The Central Long Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation hosted a capacity crowd on January 20, 2011 at the Long Beach Public Library. Most of the crowd had turned out to hear Scott Bochner, a local surfer and resident turned environmental activist, speak about his discovery of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant's illegal dumping of sewage sludge into the local waters of Reynold's Channel.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7iLSUOSupc/TVRU1bXs45I/AAAAAAAAAU8/B6gNebx3nhQ/s1600/Scott.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 297px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R7iLSUOSupc/TVRU1bXs45I/AAAAAAAAAU8/B6gNebx3nhQ/s400/Scott.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572171915821114258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/12/16/bay-park-sewage-plant-dumping-waste-in-fishing-waters/">www.longislandpress.com</a><br /><br /></span></div>After Scott started noticing the brown, discolored water in the Bay close to his home he started posting <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vfVJSuC60&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL">videos</a> of the discharge on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vfVJSuC60&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL">YouTube</a>. He then got on the phone and began calling every elected official, local and state health and environmental agency, and members of the press to bring attention to this disgusting and flagrant pollution of the local water ways.<br /><br />With the help of an <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop_dumping_in_reynolds_channel/">online petition</a> and some <a href="http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-poop-creek,0,1587491.story">local media</a> attention, Scott and a group of other like-minded individuals dubbed the Sludge Stoppers, finally succeeded into shaming and embarassing the Nassau County Executive, who is ultimately responsible for this County-run facility, into finally beginning to take some corrective steps to fix what seems like a comedy of errors at the poorly run and neglected sewage treatment plant, something the hollow threats of fines from the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation were unable to accomplish.<br /><br />Scott, the Sludge Stoppers, and other concerned citizens are now keeping a close eye on the County and the plant to make sure the dumping stops and the County follows through on their promises to change the management, fix broken equipment and upgrade the facility and its operations. The energy that was created by Scott's presentation at the Surfrider meeting bred a new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_196641547029359">citizen task force</a> that will help monitor the plant's activities and push the County to take even more steps to protect the health of its local waterways and citizens, including faster water testing, timely and online posting of water quality data, and public notification of future sewage discharges to protect the people that fish, swim, and otherwise recreate in these waters.<br /><br />Scott's speech really illustrated the power of one passionate person armed with a video camera and access to the internet to bring on change in the face of long-standing government neglect and abuse.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSOOQWHrFps/TVRU1c7DZMI/AAAAAAAAAU0/RFpbfUGxt90/s1600/LBFishingPier.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSOOQWHrFps/TVRU1c7DZMI/AAAAAAAAAU0/RFpbfUGxt90/s400/LBFishingPier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572171916237825218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/12/16/bay-park-sewage-plant-dumping-waste-in-fishing-waters/">www.longislandpress.com</a></span><br /></div><br />For more media coverage of this issue check out:<br /><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/12/16/bay-park-sewage-plant-dumping-waste-in-fishing-waters/">Bay Park Sewage Plant Still Dumping Waste In Fishing Waters</a></span></h1><h1 style="font-weight: bold;" class="title"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://longbeach.patch.com/articles/ad-hoc-group-stop-dumping-sewage-in-the-bay">Ad Hoc Group: Stop Dumping Sewage in the Bay</a></span></h1><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/activists-want-bay-park-sewage-discharges-to-stop-1.2491085">Activists want Bay Park sewage discharges to stop</a></span></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-90314615503407435462011-02-07T12:48:00.000-08:002011-02-11T08:58:52.418-08:00Santa Monica High School Press Release & Data Displays<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TVBgrtIzEAI/AAAAAAAAAUk/V3rZbH45RYM/s400/WLA_bacteriatrays.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571059043024441346" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TVBgrz1b6NI/AAAAAAAAAUs/_VfciA-X30U/s1600/WLA_safe%2Bto%2Bsurf%2Bboard.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The December 2010 rains in California brought the expected stormwater runoff and pollution to area beaches. The students of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Santa Monica High School’s Teach and Test Oce</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">an Water Quality Monitoring Program recorded high bacteria levels in their beach water samples and did their best to get the word out. They put together the below press release as well as continued to post their results using the "Safe to Surf" water quality boards they have posted at nearly a dozen local surf shops and other businesses. These students are doing a great job at keeping people talking about beach water pollution issues and raising the visibility of their water testing program in the local community.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><!--EndFragment--><div><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TVBgrz1b6NI/AAAAAAAAAUs/_VfciA-X30U/s400/WLA_safe%2Bto%2Bsurf%2Bboard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571059044822280402" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 400px; " /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">December 23, 2010</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">L</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Swim at Your Own Risk!</span></span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By Zack Gold<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; tab-stops:0in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Co-president, Heal the Bay Surfrider Club<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Santa Monica High School</span></span></b><span style=" font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> 601 </span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pico</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Student Contact</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Zachary Gold </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Teacher Contact</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: Benjamin Kay </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family: Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Three hours ago, student members of Santa Monica High School’s Teach and Test Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program, sponsored by Surfrider Foundation, removed ocean samples from their classroom incubator to discover super high fecal bacteria levels at all three of their Santa Monica sites: </span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pico</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-</span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kenter</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and Santa Monica Pier </span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">storm</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> drains as well as Lifeguard Station 26. Students collected the samples 24 hours earlier on Wednesday to determine the level of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enterococcus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> bacteria, a bacteria found in human and mammal feces, and one used as an indicator of ocean health and human risk by Los Angeles County. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"></span>The mean values of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enterococcus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> bacteria for Lifeguard Station 26, </span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pico</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-</span><span style="color:#1A1A1A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kenter</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and Santa Monica Pier ocean sites were 1193, 1414, and 2240 colony forming units per 100 mL, respectively. The state’s acceptable levels for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enterococcus </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">colony forming units is 104. Thus, student data show the water quality is over 10 times worse than the state’s acceptable level, indicating very polluted water quality and an increased risk to beachgoers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Zack Gold, co-president of the Heal the Bay Surfrider Club and student leader of the Teach and Test program explained, “The water quality results for bacteria from this week’s sampling were absolutely appalling. We should never have fecal indicator bacteria levels 10 times higher than the state's acceptable level. We know for sure that the chances of getting sick increase greatly when it rains, yet I saw lots of surfers at Lifeguard Station 26 and at Pico Kenter storm drain in the disgusting water. The trend in our data is pretty clear – about 10 months of good water quality during the dry season followed by spikes of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enterococcus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in the wet season and with this heavy rain we definitely got a spike." </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Benjamin Kay, Marine Biology teacher at Santa Monica High School and club advisor said: “It’s a plastic-laden bacterial soup out there. I checked out the surf at Santa Monica Beach this morning, and plastics were strewn all over the sand near the water. My students’ research confirmed why health officials say to stay out of the surf for 3 days after a rain. I gambled and surfed some very enticing waves, and now have a minor earache. Coincidence?”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Teach and Test students inform over 10 local surf shops and other businesses about their results on a weekly basis. Stores then post the results using their “safe to surf?” water quality boards that the students helped make and distribute with Surfrider Foundation.</span></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-USfont-family:Arial;font-size:12.0pt;"><br /></span></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-43785357812171698322011-01-04T12:56:00.000-08:002011-01-04T13:13:00.550-08:00Rains bring sewage to beaches in CaliforniaHeavy rains in Southern California caused havoc at the end of 2010. Many cities saw their wastewater infrastructure become overwhelmed by the high volumes of water and fail, discharging raw sewage and polluted run-off at area beaches. Our own, Rick Wilson, speaks about the issue on Southern California Public Radio. Download audio <a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2010/12/28/storm-run-off-and-pollution/">here</a>.<br /><br />The Surfrider Foundation supported a House bill last year that would have provided an independent funding source to fix our nation's water infrastructure problems and help prevent beach pollution. Learn more at the <a href="http://knowyourh2o.blogspot.com/2010/03/water-protection-reinvestment-act-hr.html">Know Your H2O blog</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div id="breadcrumbs"> <a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2010/12/28/">« Episode: <em>Patt Morrison for December 28, 2010</em></a> </div> <h1 id="new-headline">When it rains in SoCal, is it a given that our beaches are awash in sewage?</h1> <div id="story-meta"> <span id="audio-options"> <span class="fullplayer"> <a href="http://media.scpr.org/audio/upload/2010/12/28/storm.mp3">MP3</a> </span> <a href="http://media.scpr.org/audio/upload/2010/12/28/storm.mp3" style="line-height: 15px;">Download</a> </span><br /> </div> <div id="story-sidebar"> <div class="story-sidebar-element"> <img class="new-lead-image" src="http://media.scpr.org/images/2010/12/28/pollution.jpg" /> <p class="new-image-credit">Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images</p> <p class="new-image-caption">A beach closed sign warns against contaminated water due to recent rain runoff, before the dedication ceremony for the iconic Malibu Surfrider Beach to become the first 'World Surfing Reserve', in Malibu in October 2010. </p> </div> </div> <div id="story-body"> <p>It happens so regularly during the winter months that it’s largely accepted as standard practice: when it rains, Southern California’s beaches are inundated with raw sewage and other toxic runoff from an inundated sewer system that cannot handle large volumes of water. After one of the wettest Decembers on record, beaches in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties have been closed to the public for weeks because of repeated sewage spills and, with more rain on the way before the new year, beaches won’t be suitable for people anytime soon. Are the sewage systems in the area so antiquated and the region in general so ill prepared for big storms, that raw sewage on our beaches is just an accepted part of doing business in Southern California? How bad is the problem and what kind of resources would it take to update our storm runoff capabilities?</p> <h2>Guest:</h2> <p><b>Rick Wilson</b>, coastal management coordinator for the Surfriders Foundation</p> </div><br /><ul class="story-sidebar-element" id="new-web-resources"><h3 style="margin-top: 0pt;">Web Resources</h3><li style="list-style-image: url("http://media.scpr.org/assets/images/link-icons/blank.png.png");"> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-storm-pollution-20101228,0,7147063.story">Overwhelmed sewer systems take toll on beaches</a> </li><li style="list-style-image: url("http://media.scpr.org/assets/images/link-icons/website.png.png");"> <a href="http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/fact-sheet/wastewater">American Society of Civil Engineers: Report Card for America's Infrastructure - Wastewater</a> </li></ul>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-67377211152540098882010-11-10T09:55:00.000-08:002010-12-08T12:35:37.414-08:00The BWTF: Where are we?<div style="text-align: center;"><b> BWTF Chapter Programs</b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115260794078930259244.000489b70d2050d419f12&ll=37.020098,-95.449219&spn=67.218143,149.0625&z=3"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TNr1gyQBjiI/AAAAAAAAAT0/SdozqoGiR_o/s400/BWTF_ChapterMap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538008635399048738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(click on map to view using <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115260794078930259244.000489b70d2050d419f12&ll=37.020098,-95.449219&spn=67.218143,149.0625&z=3">google maps</a>)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div>There are currently over 30 chapters in the US participating in the Blue Water Task Force. Surfrider volunteers are testing the water quality at beaches along the Atlantic, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico & Pacific Coasts, including the tropical waters of Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The Blue Water Task Force is able to measure bacteria levels at both marine and freshwater beaches and compare them to federal water quality standards established by the EPA to protect public health in recreational waters. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a lot of diversity amongst the Blue Water Task Force programs. Each chapter has been able to design and implement their water testing programs to best use their available resources and local needs. Some chapters collect water samples at their local beaches and run their own water testing labs. Some chapters partner with other coastal organizations such as universities, aquariums and watershed groups. Some chapters provide manpower to local beach monitoring programs by collecting water samples and delivering them to state or county run labs, and many chapters have water testing programs established in local schools. Check <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/whatwedo3c.asp">online</a> to see if a Surfrider chapter near you is posting water quality data from local beaches.</div><div><br /></div><div>Surfrider Europe also has a very robust <a href="http://www.surfrider.eu/en/environment-local-actions/laboratories.html">bathing waters initiative</a>. </div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-22993879828505255622010-11-04T09:31:00.000-07:002010-11-04T09:35:27.441-07:00Oceans 2030: Youth Outlook, A photo, video & artwork contest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TNLgb8IYonI/AAAAAAAAATs/y3mb7eE0ccM/s1600/youth-outlook-flyer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TNLgb8IYonI/AAAAAAAAATs/y3mb7eE0ccM/s400/youth-outlook-flyer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535733662594146930" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 13px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><table width="200" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" align="center" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); width: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><tbody style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><img width="300" height="113" alt="" src="http://communities.earthportal.org/files/139701_139800/139761/youth-outlook-crop.jpg" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; border-top-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); border-right-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); border-bottom-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); border-left-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); max-width: 580px !important; " /></td><td align="center" valign="middle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family:inherit;font-size:12px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:11px;color:initial;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:11px;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:large;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:18px;color:initial;"><a target="_blank" href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG8xUG1qZzhRQlVDOFEyU01yUzhPUVE6MQ" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana;font-size:18px;color:initial;">Complete Online Submission Here</span></a></span><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana;font-size:18px;color:initial;">.</span></span></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: italic; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><br /></strong><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family:inherit;font-size:12px;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:large;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana;font-size:18px;color:initial;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Submission Deadline: November 22, 2010</strong></span></span></span></em> </p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#3696a7;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Oceans 2030: Youth Outlook</strong></span> will provide a forum for youth to share their vision for our oceans over the next 20 years as part of the 11th National Conference: Our Changing Oceans organized by the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE).</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:1.1em;color:initial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill is a stark reminder of our influence on the ocean, and it value to society and our economy. Oil spills are only one threat. Overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and overarching all of these, climate change will result in profound changes to our oceans and coasts over the next 20 years. Engaging today’s youth in creating solutions is vital, and will shape their futures and the world they inherit.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Oceans 2030 is a multimedia - photo, video, and art - contest. Winning entries in each media will be showcased at the Waves of Change Oceans Expo at the Our Changing Oceans Conference and published online in the</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eoearth.org/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#0000ff;">Encyclopedia of Earth</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#3696a7;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Criteria:</span></span></strong><br /><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Photograph</strong> – digital photograph in high resolution in .jpg, .png or .gif file format<br /><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Video</strong> – short video (up to 5 minutes) uploaded via YouTube<br /><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Graphic Art</strong> – illustration or comic (up to 3 panels) in high resolution in .jpg, .png or .gif file format</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Each submission must also include 200-300 words (.doc or .pdf file formats) outlining your vision for our oceans in 2030 and why?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Contestants aged 15-24 are allowed <u>one</u> entry which must be your own original work. The content should express personal perspectives and identify key issues and solutions. Submissions will be evaluated on originality, creativity, and relevance to the theme.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:smaller;color:initial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Inform your project by perusing the new </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;color:initial;"><a href="http://www.trunity.net/oceanresource/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Ocean Learning E-Resources Website</span></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">. Each media category can include (but is not limited to) the following suggested topics: </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p><table align="center" width="100%" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); width: auto; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><tbody style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><td align="left" valign="top" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#3696a7;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Oceans and Climate</strong><br /></span>· Sea level rise<br />· Carbon storage<br />· Ocean acidification<br />· Health impacts<br />· Extreme weather</span></p></td><td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#3696a7;">Marine Ecosystems</span><br /></span></strong>· Marine biodiversity<br />· Wetlands<br />· Coral reefs<br />· Deep sea<br />· Polar regions<br /></span></p></td><td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "> <strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size:100%;color:#3696a7;">Oceans and the Economy<br /></span></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">· Fisheries<br />· Tourism<br />· Energy<br />· Pollution and waste<br />· Ecosystem services</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p><p align="left" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Learn more about these topics, and get ideas for contest, at <a href="http://www.trunity.net/oceanresource/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#0000ff;">Ocean Learning E-Resources</span></a> website.</span> </span></p><p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><br />Download a contest</span> <a href="http://communities.earthportal.org/files/136401_136500/136428/youth-outlook-flyer.pdf" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;color:#0000ff;">flyer</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"> or the contest</span> <a href="http://communities.earthportal.org/files/136401_136500/136429/contest-guidelines.pdf" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;color:#0000ff;">guidelines</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;">.</span></strong><b style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><br /></b></span></p><p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></p><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: center; font-family:inherit;font-size:1.5em;color:initial;"><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:20px;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:20px;color:initial;">Complete Online Submission Form </span></strong><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:20px;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:initial;"><a target="_blank" href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG8xUG1qZzhRQlVDOFEyU01yUzhPUVE6MQ" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(53, 97, 183); text-decoration: none; "><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:initial;">Here</span></a>.</span></strong><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;font-size:20px;color:initial;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline- font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:20px;color:initial;"> </span></strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;color:#ff0000;"><br />Submission Deadline: November 22, 201</span></h2></span></span></span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-11913824563446527192010-11-03T12:05:00.000-07:002010-11-08T11:13:38.576-08:00Combined Sewer Overflows Continue to Plague the Olympic Peninsula<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TNG0jLQXsgI/AAAAAAAAATk/GXE9179Jkyg/s1600/cso_sign_philly.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 172px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TNG0jLQXsgI/AAAAAAAAATk/GXE9179Jkyg/s400/cso_sign_philly.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535403933424923138" /></a><div>Combined Sewer Overflows continue to pollute our nation's rivers, bays & beaches. Recent heavy rains in Port Angeles, Washington caused sewage overflows to discharge into the harbor this week. This is an issue the Olympic Coast Chapter has been concerned about for years now. Unfortunately the State did not get it together to pass a new <a href="http://surfriderwashingtonpolicy.blogspot.com/2010/04/not-enougth-muscle-to-pass-clean-water.html">Clean Water bil</a>l this year that would have collected funds from the oil industry to help clean up stormwater pollution and fix ongoing problems such as these CSOs in Port Angeles. </div><div><br /></div><div>See the below press released issued by Clallam County.</div><div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"Due to heavy rains on Monday, the four combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls in Port Angeles discharged approximately 1.3 million gallons of a mixture of stormwater and raw sewage into Port Angeles Harbor. Two of the CSO outfalls are near Hollywood Beach. Clallam County Environmental Health Division recommends avoiding contact with waters in Port Angeles Harbor 48 hours following rainfall. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. The City of Port Angeles is currently designing a project to significantly reduce the frequency and volume of these discharges. Provided the City receives adequate funding, this project will be constructed beginning in July of 2011. For questions about the advisory, contact Clallam County Environmental Health at 417-2543. For more information about the Port Angeles combined sewer overflows, visit </span><a href="http://www.cityofpa.us/CSO.htm"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color:#144fae;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">www.cityofpa.us/CSO.htm</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> or call 417-4811."</span></p></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-75154214813759717422010-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:002010-10-27T08:18:28.281-07:00Beach Monitoring in CA Survives Budget Cuts for 1 More Year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 16px; "><div id="storycontent" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "><h1 class="headline" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-weight: normal; font-size: 24px; line-height: 28px; ">Nearly $1 million found for beach water tests in 2011</h1><h2 class="subhead" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); ">Funds still must be approved by state water officials.</h2><p class="byline" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 14px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">BY <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/staff/mike-lee/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(2, 53, 156); text-decoration: none; ">MIKE LEE</a></p><p class="date" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 14px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010 AT 1:48 P.M.</p><div class="storyleadphoto inline" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; width: 352px; float: right; clear: both; "><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2010/oct/13/243241/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(2, 53, 156); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2010/10/13/watertest_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d379f58af1c4" alt="Beach water quality testing in San Diego County and the rest of California is jeopardized by the lack of a long-term funding source." style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; " /></a><div class="photocaption" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-left: 16px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><p class="photocredit" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-align: right; font-size: 9px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; color: rgb(119, 119, 119); line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">JOHN GIBBINS</p><p class="meight" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">Beach water quality testing in San Diego County and the rest of California is jeopardized by the lack of a long-term funding source.</p></div></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">California’s signature clean-beach initiative — testing for bacteria at hundreds of sites statewide — was left out of the recently passed budget, but a state agency appears to have found nearly $1 million to keep the program afloat for another year.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">On Nov. 2, the State Water Resources Control Board is expected to approve spending $984,000 from voter-approved environmental funding initiatives to pay for the tests in 2011. The board approved a similar measure in 2008. The new move is likely to come with a directive that various parties involved in ocean monitoring better coordinate their efforts to reduce redundancy and the need for outside funding.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">Beyond that, the future of beach testing in California remains murky, as it has been since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated spending for the program during budget cuts in 2008.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">Ocean advocates welcomed the possible injection of grant money from Propositions 13 and 50 but said it’s not enough. The funds would come from projects that didn’t use their allotment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">“This does not represent a sustainable, long-term source of funding,” said Rick Wilson, coastal management coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation’s national office in San Clemente. “It is imperative that such a funding source be identified for the protection of beachgoers in the future.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">In 1997, Assembly Bill 411 mandated that all beaches with storm drains that discharge during dry weather and that are visited by more than 50,000 people a year be monitored at least weekly by local health officials from April 1 to Oct. 31. California later ordered the posting of warning signs at beaches that exceed state standards for bacterial indicators.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">The program is among the most comprehensive in the nation and is widely credited with prompting improvements at polluted beaches. If it disappears, conservationists such as Wilson fear contamination levels will creep back up to pre-1997 levels.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">For months, ecology groups, health officials, elected leaders and others have been trying to cobble together a steady stream of money to keep the tests running. Historically, San Diego County received about $300,000 for its peak-season testing at dozens of sites.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">“San Diego County is in some ways the most perilous situation because it gets the biggest amount from the state,” Wilson said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox has directed his staff to investigate financing sources, including a possible federal grant, but said this week that nothing is imminent.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">“I view this as a public safety issue and something that we ought to be doing for the public, especially in San Diego” where the economy relies on beach tourism, Cox said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">So why not use county money to pay for the program?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serifl; ">“We are dealing with the same issues everybody else is” with regard to budget cuts, Cox said.</p></div><p class="post_story_blurb" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-style: italic; ">Mike Lee: (619)293-2034; mike.lee@uniontrib.com. Follow on Twitter @sdenvi</p></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-29217942831314763052010-10-13T07:59:00.000-07:002010-10-13T08:04:32.732-07:00Surfrider Europe Investigates Plastic Debris on Atlantic Beaches<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font: normal normal normal 1.6em/normal Arial, sans-serif; clear: both; "><a href="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/6542" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Biofilters wash up on Atlantic beaches" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; ">Biofilters wash up on Atlantic beaches</a></h2><a href="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/6542" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: Biofilters wash up on Atlantic beaches" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "></a><p class="meta" style="margin-top: -17px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><span class="timr" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">October 12, 2010</span> | <span class="user" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 5px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">Words By: <a href="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php?cat=68" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(61, 179, 179); ">Howard</a></span></p><div class="entry" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><a href="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/6542" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(61, 179, 179); "><img src="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/biofilters.jpg" alt="" title="biofilters" width="275" height="195" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-6545" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; border-top-width: 8px; border-right-width: 8px; border-bottom-width: 8px; border-left-width: 8px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 100%; float: left; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-right-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); display: inline; " /></a>The beaches of the Atlantic are sprinkled with small plastic wheels: this new phenomenon sparked the suspicions of Surfrider Europe, who launched an investigation that is still underway. A brief interview with François Verdet, manager of Surfrider’s Chapter 64 and lead investigator into the mysterious bio-filters, provides an update on the situation. Elodie Melenec asks the questions.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><span id="more-6542" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; "></span><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">SFE</strong>: How long has the Surfrider Foundation been aware of this form of pollution?</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">François Verdet</strong>: Living on the Basque Coast since July in 2007, I recall seeing these little pieces of plastic on the beaches since my arrival. But in November of 2009, the numbers spiked and the Surfrider Chapter of the Basque Coast took the decision to launch an investigation. Initially, it was challenging because nobody was interested in this type of pollution. We heard rumours that they were packing material for large cargo aboard freighters or even wastes from patrolling submarines! The answer arrived from Corsica. The local Surfrider Chapter, responding to an invitation from the city of Ajaccio for a presentation on a new waste water treatment plant, recognized the little plastic bio-filters on the cover of some printed documents. We could finally put a name and a purpose to the mystery objects that were populating Atlantic beaches in their thousands.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">SFE</strong>: Can you explain what the bio-filters are and how they wound up on the beaches?</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">F.V.</strong>: These bio-filters, or bio-carriers (médias filtrants or biomédias in French and biosoportes in Spanish) are actually substrate for micro-organisms used in waste water treatment plants and also in certain industries. It’s very simple: generally speaking, wastes are screened through progressively finer mesh to retain suspended particles. They are then treated chemically or with UV light and the final stage is a biological filtration to eliminate micro-residues. It’s in this final stage that bacteria are at work to break down the wastes. Researchers noticed that this process was more effective if they had some kind of support to attach to. This is why, starting in around 2000, more and more waste water treatment plants as well as industrial plants, were filling their biological ponds with millions the plastic wheels for the bacteria to attach to. Unfortunately, some of the ponds containing the bio-filters overflowed and the filters washed into nearby streams, and then into the ocean. For example, we found instances where this occurred in the Seine in Paris, the Oria River in the Basque Country, and the Minho River in Portugal. In each instance, hundreds of thousands, even millions of the bio-filters, were released into the environment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "></p><div id="attachment_6544" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; width: 610px; "><img src="http://www.driftsurfing.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/bio-filters1.jpg" alt="" title="Bio-filters" width="600" height="623" class="size-full wp-image-6544" style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; " /><p class="wp-caption-text" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 17px; font-size: 11px; text-align: right; ">Credit: Antenne 64 Surfrider</p></div><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">SFE</strong>: What specific demands and what goals are you targeting with this project?</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">F.V.</strong>: Our objective is obviously to get this new form of pollution to stop. It’s so paradoxical to pollute the environment while trying to clean it! Today, a half-dozen people at Surfrider are working on this via several angles:<br />1. Fieldwork to gather more information and eyewitness accounts for confirmed cases of bio-filter pollution to lodge formal complaints against the emitters.<br />2. Exposure and media campaigns to raise awareness and improve alert response and also inform responsible authorities and lobby for improved standards for waste water treatment plants. As well, work with the manufacturers and the consultants who recommend the product to clients with the goal to encourage them to improve the process. Overall, we are putting a lot of energy into this bio-filter project because it’s representative of the core principles of Surfrider: the campaign against water pollution. If the concept of providing bacteria with substrate to improve efficiency (we’re talking about a 30% gain in efficiency), the idea isn’t new. For some time now, some wastewater treatment plants have used volcanic rocks as bacterial substrate. It’s of little consequence to see this material escaping into streams and oceans. Unfortunately, for economic and production reasons, plastic has been favoured over natural rock – but the plastic isn’t biodegradable and will incrementally pollute the aquatic environment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">SFE</strong>: So how it going today? How is the project going?</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">F.V.</strong>: For the media, information and lobbying efforts, we have contacted all the relevant French departments and the elected representatives responsible for coastal management, like the Minister of the Environment, nature-based and aquatic sports organizations. The campaign is part of our Brussels program and we are working on awareness raising in Spain. The 45 Surfrider Chapters in Europe are on alert to react swiftly in case of a new pollution event. Case in point, the Chapter in Picarde has recently encountered this situation. In any case, we are pursuing our investigation into the situation of greatest concern; the coastal Atlantic from Cantabrie (Spain) to the Vendée (France). We have received more than 50 reports on this situation. Unfortunately, several clues lead us to believe that the releases are from one or two entities located on a waterway in northern Spain near the French border. Assuming we’re confident that we’ve identified the responsible parties and the dates of the events, we’re now trying to get information on the quantity of the spill. This could unfortunately reach the tens of millions of individual pieces of plastic!</p><p style="margin-top: 0.7em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 1.6em; ">Translation: <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; ">Dan McDonald</em></p></div></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-34519096650141186492010-10-06T08:58:00.000-07:002010-10-06T09:11:06.694-07:00Sewage Spill in Southern California<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sewage spills, leaks and overflows continue to pollute our beach water and are the 2nd major culprit behind swimming advisories and beach closures issued in this country <i>(stormwater runoff is the first</i>). </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">Another big sewage spill just occurred in Southern California on September 29, 2010.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;">Los Angeles County health officials closed a two-mile stretch of beach just south of Ballona Creek near Marina del Rey last week after raw sewage flowed into the ocean. The closures were ordered after a clog in a sewer main caused a manhole near Centinela Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard to overflow Wednesday, discharging an estimated 500,000 gallons of raw sewage into a storm drain that leads to Ballona Creek and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean. The spill ranks among the worst in the last two years along the Los Angeles County coastline.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TKyfIJI6JcI/AAAAAAAAATY/ps1Zh-oUAQo/s400/SewageSpillSign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524965805117810114" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:14px;"><div id="mod-article-header" class="mod-latarticlesarticleheader mod-articleheader" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><h1 style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 25px; line-height: 25px; font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/01/local/la-me-1001-sewage-spill-20101001">Major Marina del Rey sewage spill will keep beach closed for days</a> A blockage in a main sent about 500,000 gallons of raw sewage into a storm drain leading to Ballona Creek. The spill ranks among the worst in the last two years along the Los Angeles County coastline.</h1></div><div id="mod-article-byline" class="mod-latarticlesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 20px; font-family:inherit;font-size:12px;"><span class="pubdate" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 20px; font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;">October 01, 2010</span><span class="separator" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 20px; font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;">|</span><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 20px; font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;">By Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times</span></div><div id="mod-a-body-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">A major sewage spill that has closed a two-mile stretch of beach near Marina del Rey released about 500,000 gallons of raw sewage into a storm drain that runs to Ballona Creek and eventually spills into the ocean, authorities said.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">The spill ranks among the worst in the last two years along the Los Angeles County coastline. The beach will probably remain closed for three days.</p><div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">Residents reported a manhole overflowing with sewage near Centinela Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Ron Charles, spokesman for the Los Angeles Public Works Department.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">City crews dispatched to the scene determined the spill was caused by a blockage in a sewer main.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">"The entire backup amount entered an adjacent storm drain, which discharges to the Sepulveda Channel, and ultimately, the Ballona Creek," Charles said in a statement.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">Los Angeles and Culver City work crews diverted the flow of sewage, vacuumed up effluent streaming down a hillside and fixed the backup by about 5:30 p.m.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, called it a "major spill," but did not know how much of the sewage had reached the ocean.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">The two-mile stretch of beach south of Ballona Creek will remain closed to swimmers and surfers until at least 3 p.m. Saturday, he said.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">In January 2006, 2 million gallons of raw sewage spilled from a Manhattan Beach pumping plant after an apparent power failure. Officials launched a massive cleanup after hundreds of thousands of gallons flowed onto the sand and into the ocean.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">The last major spill happened in January in South Gate, when 210,000 gallons of sewage flowed through the L.A. River and emptied into Long Beach Harbor, county records show.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; ">County health officials said they are closely monitoring and testing ocean water near the outlet of Ballona Creek. Beaches will reopen when they pass health tests for two consecutive days.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><a href="mailto:tony.barboza@latimes.com" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; ">tony.barboza@latimes.com</a></p><div><br /></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "></p></div><div id="mod-ctr-in-bt" class="mod-adcpc" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "></div></div></div></span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-18294425742324234882010-10-05T09:12:00.000-07:002010-10-05T09:15:16.669-07:00Beach monitoring in CA suffers from budget cuts: Part 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><h2 class="articletitle sIFR-replaced" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1em; font-size: 35px; display: inline; visibility: hidden; letter-spacing: -7px; "><embed src="http://www.surfermag.com/sifr/dinbold.swf" quality="best" flashvars="txt=CALIFORNIA'S CONTAMINATED COASTLINE&textcolor=#B30901&w=501&h=30" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" sifr="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" class="sIFR-flash" width="501" height="30" style="visibility: visible !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 501px; height: 30px; "></embed><span class="sIFR-alternate" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "></span></h2><br /><span class="graysubhead" style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36) !important; text-decoration: none !important; font-weight: 300; line-height: 15px; font-size:13px;">State's Budget Cuts Put Surfers at Risk</span><br /><span class="byline" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: 800; line-height: 18px; font-size:11px;">By Chelsea Marcum<br /><span style="color:gray;">September 29, 2010</span></span><br /><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; "><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20" style="color: rgb(179, 9, 1); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://surfermag.com/photos/images/SURFERshare.jpg" width="125" height="16" alt="Bookmark and Share" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /></a></p><div class="article-image" style="float: right; display: inline; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; width: 400px; "><img width="400" alt="California’s pristine coastline is in imminent danger, due to the state's financial woes. Photo: Pu’u" src="http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/california-coastline.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /><div class="article-image-cap" style="text-align: left; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 500; width: 400px; ">California’s pristine coastline is in imminent danger, due to the state's financial woes. Photo: Pu’u</div></div><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">Beach quality testing in California has plummeted in recent years, increasing surfers' risk of unknowingly exposing themselves to contaminated water, according to a report by the <i>Los Angeles Times.</i> With no clear state funding for testing after this year, advocacy groups like Surfrider Foundation and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper are stepping up to fill the gap.</p><div id="article-ad-300" style="width: 300px; float: right; display: inline; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; padding-top: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); "><iframe src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/surfermag.primedia.com/features;sect=features;subs=onlineexclusives;subss=;page=californias_contaminated_coastline_surfrider_foundation_beach_water_testing;sz=300x250;tile=2;ord=3909652226?" width="300" height="250" border="0" frameborder="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">Surfrider Foundation began testing beaches in the early '90s, due to the lack of public information on water quality, but bowed out to county agencies in 1999, after a California law required official publicized beach monitoring throughout the state. California led the country in beach quality monitoring, paving the way for the Federal Beach Act, which established water-testing requirements around the nation.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">It's a decade later, and water testing in California has fallen to an all-time low since the policy change. In 2008, the state cut the project's $1 million budget, leaving health agencies scrambling to continue testing with emergency bond funds, which are expected to run out by the end of the year. By law, counties are not required to continue the beach monitoring without proper funding, prompting Surfrider to conduct its own testing.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">"Some of the counties will basically take the winter off," says Surfrider's Coastal Management Coordinator, Rick Wilson. The counties are prioritizing and assume there will be fewer beach-goers during the colder months, he says. Many Surfrider chapters are using volunteers to raise funds for lab equipment, collect samples, and publicize test results on the web.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">"We're not a state certified lab, so we're not necessarily saying to close the beach because of our results," says Wilson. "But it's good general information to know whether the bacteria counts are high or low."</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">Water with high levels of bacteria, sourced from sewage systems, leaking septic tanks or animal waste, makes surfers vulnerable to illness, rashes and infections. And after the 2008 winter budget cuts, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper took over monitoring several county beaches, posting the contamination levels from spots like Rincon and El Capitan State Beach.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">It's common for locals to complain of such ailments after surfing certain spots, says Ben Pitterle, the Watershed Group's Program Director. But coupled with the best swells of the season, even the worst contamination reports can be ignored. Pitterle admits that deciding whether or not to jump in questionable water leads to an unfair give and take, in which good surf usually wins. "If the surf's not that good and it's dirty, I'll stay out," he says. "I think most surfers know what they're getting into-if the surf's good enough, they're probably going to go for it anyways."</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">Paul Jenkin, Environmental Coordinator for Ventura County's Surfrider Chapter, suffers from frequent ear infections and once had mononucleosis, allegedly caused by poor water quality. The Ventura Surfrider chapter partners with Pitterle's group to test the often-neglected fresh water streams feeding to the central coastline. He believes more people should report illness after surfing dirty water, even when the correlation is difficult to confirm. "I think a lot of surfers think, 'Oh yeah bummer I got sick,' and just kind of move on with things. But if nobody reports then nobody knows. We need to demonstrate that there really is a health risk," he says.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">Surfers shouldn't ignore useful albeit bothersome guidelines, like showering post-session and staying out of the water for 72 hours after rainfall. When deciding whether to go to beaches that are near heavy development, creek mouths, or storm drains, Wilson suggests choosing spots with the most natural surroundings. "Where [polluted] water tends to collect, then spill out to the ocean, is typically worse than a spot half a mile away," says Wilson.</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; ">California coast residents testing the neglected beaches are hoping for county programs to resume this winter. "We're definitely discouraged that the funding for this kind of important testing is being cut," says Pitterle. "We hope as things turn around, and as the economy improves, it will again become a priority."</p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.6; "><a href="http://www.surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/californias_contaminated_coastline_surfrider_foundation_beach_water_testing/">http://www.surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/californias_contaminated_coastline_surfrider_foundation_beac</a>h_water_testing/</p></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-81214107533093495422010-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:002010-09-03T10:28:41.271-07:00Beach monitoring in CA suffers from budget cuts<div style="text-align: left;">The downturn in the economy these past couple years has been affecting beach monitoring programs around the country. The below article from the <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/30/local/la-me-0830-beach-testing-20100830">LA Times</a>, documents the problem in California.</div><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/30/local/la-me-0830-beach-testing-20100830">Health testing way down at California beaches</a></span></span><div><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>The monitoring is at its lowest level since becoming law more than a decade ago, putting swimmers, surfers and divers at greater risk of exposure to contaminated water, a Times investigation shows.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">August 30, 2010|By Tony Barboza, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/30/local/la-me-0830-beach-testing-20100830">Los Angeles Times</a></span><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TIEt59zh7GI/AAAAAAAAATA/WR4DO_ZSRY4/s320/LA.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512737892744686690" /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times</span><br /><br />Health testing of California's beaches has slumped to its lowest level since ocean monitoring became law more than a decade ago, putting swimmers, surfers and divers at greater risk of exposure to contaminated water, a Times investigation has found.<br /><br />Beaches from San Diego to the Bay Area are being tested less often and in fewer locations; some are going untested for months at a time. Statewide, the number of annual tests for bacteria has dropped by nearly half since 2005, according to a Times analysis of state records.<br /><br />Beach closures and advisories have also fallen dramatically — in part because there's less pollution, but also because health officials aren't detecting the dirty water that remains.<br /><br />At calm, sheltered Baby Beach in Dana Point, which attracts parents with young children but also traps contaminated runoff, health officials did not test for five months earlier this year.<br /><br />In Long Beach, home to some of the most polluted ocean water in the state, 40% of beach sites are no longer being tested, city officials said. State records show that testing at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro is down 80% and 65% in Santa Monica. At San Onofre State Beach at the northern edge of San Diego County, water at the legendary Trestles surf break was tested only four times last year, down from nearly 70 times in 2005.<br /><br />The culprit is a familiar one: state and county budget cuts. In 2008, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the $1 million the state had provided each year to test hundreds of beaches for bacteria. Since then, emergency bond funds and stimulus dollars have been tapped to keep the testing program afloat, but the money is expected to evaporate by year's end.<br /><br />Overall, water quality at the region's beaches is almost certainly better than it was in the past, experts say. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent to divert and treat runoff and wastewater before it washes into the ocean. Drought conditions have also reduced the amount of runoff reaching the ocean.<br /><br />Nonetheless, clean-water advocates say the cutbacks have put people at risk. Those who swim in contaminated water are exposed to gastrointestinal viruses and to pathogens that can cause skin rashes and ear, eye and staph infections. Swimmers are most likely to get sick in poor-circulating water near river mouths and sewer outfalls, especially after rain.<br /><br />"Water quality absolutely has gotten better during the summer months," said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay. "But the reality is that less frequent monitoring means there's a much greater chance of someone swimming or surfing in polluted water unknowingly."<br /><br />Tourism officials have also expressed concern. They say the cost to monitor beaches is inconsequential compared with the estimated $12 billion in tourist-related revenue California beach towns generate each year.<br /><br />"California's coastline is one of our biggest assets as a travel destination," said Kathryn Burnside, a spokeswoman for the California Travel and Tourism Commission. "What makes sense from a health perspective certainly makes sense for the tourism industry."<br /><br />Health and wastewater agencies responsible for beach testing defend the scaled-back monitoring as adequate. Some officials said the amount of testing has been underreported, while others acknowledged severe cutbacks.<br /><br />Schwarzenegger's office said the state has continued funding beach water monitoring at a 90% level despite budget difficulties.<br /><br />"It is not immediately clear why the number of tests taken by counties have declined this much," spokeswoman Rachel Arrezola said in a written statement. She said the Department of Public Health and the State Water Board are investigating the reason for the declines while they search for a permanent funding source for future testing.<br /><br />Los Angeles County health officials said their own testing has remained constant and disputed the state's records for the county's coastline.<br /><br />"We continue to do the tests weekly, and we're not doing less sampling because we don't have money," said Alfonso Medina, director of the county's Environmental Protection Bureau. However, other agencies that test some of the county's beaches may have cut back.<br /><br />Public health officials say they are unable to gauge if reduced testing has caused more swimmers to get sick. Cases are rarely reported because they mimic ailments such as food poisoning or stomach flu.<br /><br />The number of beaches in California closed by health officials has fallen 74% since 2005, The Times found. Postings, which alert swimmers to contaminated water, dropped 44%. State and local officials do not know how much of that decline is attributable to cleaner water and how much to less testing. Many beachgoers, however, assume that the lack of signs means the water is clean.<br /><br />"If there isn't a sign posted, I kind of assume it's safe," said Susan Thomas, who takes her 16-month-old daughter, MaKenzie, to the beach every other weekend. "We're obviously taking a risk going into the water anywhere along this coast, but when she swims, she goes under."<br /><br />The beach where Thomas spoke, Baby Beach in Dana Point, was busy on a balmy afternoon earlier this month. Dozens of children and their parents splashed in a shallow, roped-off swimming area as a lifeguard watched from a tower nearby.<br /><br />Historically, the beach has been one of the region's dirtiest, sliding by with C's and D's on Heal the Bay's annual beach report card. And yet health monitoring at Baby Beach and 38 other beaches in Orange County — including Little Corona in Newport Beach and Main Beach in Laguna — shut down for five months during the winter for lack of funds.<br /><br />California's pioneering 1999 law requires health officials to test at least once a week during the long summer beach season. If a beach fails, lifeguards post signs alerting swimmers to the risk. Congress used the law as its national model, and many Southern California beaches expanded to year-round, almost daily testing earlier this decade.<br /><br />But the California law has a loophole: Testing isn't required if the program is not fully funded. Without money from Sacramento, health agencies can cut testing or choose not to report results without violating the law, something state officials suspect is contributing to the declining numbers.<br /><br />In Ventura County, the loss of state funds meant that monitoring of its 42-mile coastline was halted for eight months in November 2008.<br /><br />"Once the money went away, there was no mandate to sample, so we suspended sampling," said program coordinator Richard Hauge.<br /><br />In some coastal areas, nonprofits are taking up the slack as government agencies cut back.<br /><br />When Santa Barbara County reduced funding for year-round beach testing two years ago, the nonprofit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper raised money to pay interns to collect the water samples at 16 beaches through the winter, when the bigger waves draw more surfers.<br /><br />Other places, such as Orange County, are collaborating more with sanitation districts, which are required to test ocean water as part of their license to discharge wastewater from sewage treatment plants.<br /><br />And in San Diego County, which had to drop its monitoring program for half a year last winter, health officials have begun more frequent testing at pollution-prone coastlines, such as Torrey Pines State Beach.<br /><br />Even with those assists, however, there is less information available for surfers and swimmers like Barry Gardner, a ninth-grade health teacher from Yorba Linda who takes half a dozen surf camping trips a year.<br /><br />He's wary of spending too much time in dirty ocean water and avoids a section of Doheny State Beach known as "Dead Bird Cove" because of its supposed toxicity. But for the most part, he prefers to push his luck.<br /><br />"If the surf is good, I'm going to go in the water," he said. "But if you don't know what's in it, it's tough."<br /><br /><i>tony.barboza@latimes.com<br /><br />Times staff writer Doug Smith and data analyst Sandra Poindexter contributed to this report.</i></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-22035886544088257642010-08-09T09:22:00.000-07:002010-08-09T09:30:05.985-07:00Lessons from a week in the Gulf. Water quality is unknown.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TGAs1BCYzwI/AAAAAAAAASw/NxU2hIpXffU/s1600/Gulf_BeachSign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TGAs1BCYzwI/AAAAAAAAASw/NxU2hIpXffU/s400/Gulf_BeachSign.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503448033969884930" /></a><br /><div>Check out Jim Moriarity's latest <a href="http://oceanswavesbeaches.surfrider.org/lessons-from-a-week-in-the-gulf-water-quality-is-unknown">posting</a> on his oceans, waves & beaches blog. He talks about his recent trip to the Gulf, concerns over water quality there, and the Emerald Coast Chapter's efforts to begin testing their beach water for dispersants and oil.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://oceanswavesbeaches.surfrider.org/lessons-from-a-week-in-the-gulf-water-quality-is-unknown">Lessons from a week in the Gulf. Water quality is unknown.</a></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-28218876297313265322010-08-03T11:42:00.000-07:002010-08-03T12:31:23.873-07:00NRDC Testing the Waters 2010 featuring Hawaii<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TFht73XQGjI/AAAAAAAAASg/o5zEzDpyh9Q/s1600/tttw10.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 167px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TFht73XQGjI/AAAAAAAAASg/o5zEzDpyh9Q/s320/tttw10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501267820074244658" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has just released their annual</span><a href="http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Testing the Waters </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">report. Every year, NRDC presents all of the beach monitoring and closure data that each coastal state submits to the EPA Beach program. The 2010 report includes data from the previous year, 2009, and highlights the importance of </span><a href="http://knowyourh2o.blogspot.com/2010/07/green-infrastructure-for-clean-water.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">green infrastructure</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> as a natural solution to managing and preventing storm water runoff. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This year the report also provides coverage of current events at beaches in the Gulf. Tens of millions of gallons of oil have gushed into Gulf waters from the Deepwater Horizon well, and at the time of this writing, oil has washed up on beaches in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi. NRDC is tracking </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:blue;"><u><a href="http://www.nrdc.org/energy/gulfspill/beaches.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">oil spill-related beach closings, advisories, and notices at Gulf beaches</span></a></u></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This online report is a great source of information on local beach monitoring programs. You can click on your state summary and find every beach that is tested arranged by county. It also lists who is doing the testing, what closures or advisories were issued the previous year, and how those management decisions are made. While some chapters have expressed frustration that this report can make a misleading impression that beach water quality in localized areas is better than it actually is, this is usually due to the way the states report their monitoring and closure data. The NRDC report does a good job on reporting on the data that is available but doesn't necessarily account for beach and other popular recreational areas that the state does not test.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">With this aside, it is still a great resource, and many of our chapters have participated in the release of the Testing the Waters report and have used the opportunity to get some of their own local concerns and issues into the press. Check out the below press release from Hawaii posted on</span><a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/environmental-news/surfrider--nrdcs-annual-testing-the-waters-report--hawaii-ranking_45959/#"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Surfline.</span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/environmental-news/surfrider--nrdcs-annual-testing-the-waters-report--hawaii-ranking_45959/#"><br /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/environmental-news/surfrider--nrdcs-annual-testing-the-waters-report--hawaii-ranking_45959/#">Surfrider & NRDC's Annual "Testing The Waters" Report & Hawaii Ranking</a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">July 28, 2010</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">PRESS RELEASE</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Pollution continues to contaminate the water at America's beaches, causing 2,352 closing and advisory days in Hawaii last year and 18,682 nationwide. Meanwhile, as of July 27, the oil disaster had already led to 2,239 days of beach closing, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region this year, according to the 20th annual beachwater quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Due to state budget cuts this year, the Department of Health's Clean Water Branch lost 4 of its 5 water quality monitors on Oahu this year," says Stuart Coleman, Surfrider's Hawaii Coordinator. "This is a big liability for Hawaii because we are so dependent on tourism, and we need to make sure our waters are monitored and protected from waterborne diseases. Pollution from sewage spills, injection wells and stormwater runoff can cause all kinds of illnesses. For instance, Maui has some of the highest rates of staph infection and MRSA in the country."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The good news is that Surfrider chapters across Hawaii host monthly beach cleanups and work with the Clean Water Branch to do <a href="http://surfriderkauai.ning.com/notes/Notes_Home">water quality testing</a> across the state. "But there is still a lot of work to do to educate people and policy makers about ways to keep our oceans clean and conserve water, while reducing sewage spills and stormwater runoff," Coleman continues. For more information, check out Surfrider's website <a href="http://www.knowyourh2o.org/">www.KnowYourH2O.org</a> and their free online video called "Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water," as well as their new <a href="http://www.beachapedia.org/Main_Page">www.Beachapedia.org</a> website.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">In its 20th year, NRDC's annual report - Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches - analyzes government data on beachwater testing results from 2009 at more than 3,000 beaches nationwide, and provides a 5-star rating chart for 200 of the nation's most popular beaches. The report confirms that last year, our nation's beachwater continued to suffer from serious contamination - including human and animal waste - and a concerted effort to control future pollution is required. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"From stomach-turning pathogens to dangerous oil slicks - America's beaches continue to suffer from pollution that can make people sick, harm marine life and destroy coastal economies," said NRDC Water Program Director David Beckman. "And as the disaster of unprecedented scale continues in the Gulf, we must clean up the mess, stop it from happening again, and make sure the communities bearing the brunt are not forgotten." </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">This year the report also includes a special section dedicated to oil-related beach closures, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region this summer. For the full report, go to www.nrdc.org/beaches.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">HAWAII & NATIONAL FINDINGS</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">NRDC's report issued 5-star ratings for 200 of the most popular U.S. beaches, based on indicators of beachwater quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. Beaches at Oahu's Hanauma Bay and Royal Hawaiian-Moana and Maui's Wailea Beach Park received a 4-star rating (out of 5). But beaches at Oahu's Kuliouou and Ke'ehi Lagoon and Kauai's Hanalei Beach Park rated only 2 stars.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">This year's report found that 7 percent of beachwater samples nationwide in 2009 violated health standards, showing no improvement from the previous two years. In Hawaii, the percentage of health standard exceedances increased to 4% percent in 2009 from 2% percent in 2008. Hawaii ranks 5th in the nation for its beachwater quality testing. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Under the federal BEACH Act, states regularly test their beachwater for bacteria found in human and animal waste. These bacteria indicate the presence of pathogens. When beach managers determine that water contamination exceeds health standards - or in some cases when a state suspects levels would exceed standards, such as after heavy rain - they notify the public through beach closures or advisories. While the report found an overall 8 percent decrease in closing and advisory days at beaches nationwide from 2008, the change does not necessarily signal permanent improvement in beachwater quality. Rather, the overall decrease likely reflects decreased funding for water contamination monitoring in Southern California, as well as dry conditions in Hawaii and the four U.S. territories. In fact, many regions of the country actually saw sharp increases - including most of the East Coast and the entire Gulf Coast. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">In Hawaii, Testing the Waters shows that the number of closing and advisory days decreased from 2008 to 2009. Most of the closing and advisory days were caused by stormwater runoff; so Hawaii saw a decrease in closing and advisory days because of a decrease in the amount of rain.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">In 2009, stormwater runoff was the primary known source of pollution at beaches nationwide, consistent with past years. The report indicates polluted runoff continues to be a serious problem that has not been addressed. By using a wealth of available, smart water solutions on land - collectively called "green infrastructure" - we can naturally control and treat stormwater pollution, as well as prevent sewage overflows, to keep waste from reaching the beach. Green infrastructure refers to a variety of practices - such as green roofs, permeable pavement, roadside plantings and rain barrels - that stop rainwater where it falls and either store it for later use or allow it to soak back into the ground.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Relying on dry weather to keep our beachwater clean is not a long-term public health protection strategy - when the rains return, so will the pollution," said Beckman. "Green infrastructure techniques on land can make a real difference in the water - and they're often the cheapest and most effective way to improve beachwater quality. From green roofs to permeable pavement and roadside plantings, there's a whole host of ways to not only prevent runoff pollution and sewage overflows from the start - but to beautify neighborhoods, boost economies and support American jobs at the same time."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Beachwater pollution nationwide causes a range of waterborne illnesses in swimmers including stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems. In fact, Maui has the highest rates of staph infection and MRSA in the country. For senior citizens, small children and people with weak immune systems, the results can be fatal. The incidence of infections has been steadily growing over the past several decades, and with coastal populations growing we can expect this upward trend to continue until the pollution sources are addressed.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">"Sewage and runoff pollution in our beachwater is preventable," said Jon Devine, senior NRDC water attorney. "With investment in cost-effective, smarter water practices that are available today, communities can tackle the most common sources of pollution lurking in the waves." </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">OIL SPILL IMPACT ON GULF BEACHES:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">As oil washes ashore, closures, advisories, and notices have been issued at many Gulf beaches - nearly 10 times as many closing and advisory days as were issued at these beaches for any reason by this time last year. So far this year, there have been a total of 2,239 beach closing, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region as a result of the oil disaster. Analysis of only those Gulf beaches that are regularly tested for water quality reveals a total of 1,972 days of closings, advisories, and notices related to the oil spill, compared to 237 closing and advisory days at those beaches this time last year for any reason. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Although Hawaii was not affected by the oil spill in the Gulf, our state is still 90% dependent on imported oil and vulnerable to spills like the Exxon Valdez incident. "In fact, in 1977, an oil tanker named the Hawaiian Patriot reported a crack in her hull, and approximately 18,000 tons of oil leaked into the sea 300 miles away from Hawaii, before the ship blew up and sank," Coleman says. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">NRDC is maintaining a frequently updated map of current oil spill beach closures, advisories, and notices, which can be accessed here: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/gulfspill/beaches.asp.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has caused tremendous damage not only to the environment and communities of the region, but also their economies. This includes the lucrative tourism and recreation industries in Gulf states, which generated a combined $26.5 billion in 2004 alone. Likewise, if a spill were to happen off of Hawaii, tourism and our economy would be devastated.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">A disaster like this should never happen again. Measures should be taken to help mitigate the damage from this spill and avoid future spills, including permanently stopping the leak, suspending all new offshore drilling activity until we find out what happened, and moving to clean energy sources that can't spill or run out. Additionally, BP must be forced pay for the cleanup and costs in full - including fully compensating coastal communities for the damage to their economies.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">TESTING THE WATERS, 20th EDITION - A LOOK BACK:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Since NRDC released its first Testing the Waters report, there have been significant improvements in beachwater testing and reporting. Due in large part to NRDC advocacy, nearly 3,000 coastal beaches, representing beaches in all 30 coastal states, are now monitoring at least weekly, if not more. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Twenty years ago, water quality monitoring records were not necessarily kept, even for states that conducted monitoring. Today, detailed information about beachwater quality is in most cases available online. States are also now applying more consistent water quality standards to beach closure and advisory decisions, and they are tying beach status more clearly to bacteria levels - a shift that provides better protection of public health. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">SOLUTIONS:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">There are several things the government and citizens can do to create healthier summers at the beach:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* Boosting green infrastructure in coastal communities can prevent stormwater runoff and sewage overflows from the start. These solutions not only clean up waterways, they literally green communities, cool and cleanse the air, reduce asthma and heat-related illnesses, save on heating and cooling energy costs, and generate landscaping and construction jobs. A bill recently introduced in Congress, the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (H.R. 4202/S. 3561), aims to make green infrastructure and low impact development techniques a national priority.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* Simple steps in your everyday life can also make a difference in reducing beachwater pollution. This includes conserving water, redirecting drainage pipes toward gardens or vegetation, maintaining septic systems, and properly disposing of animal waste, litter, toxic household products, and used motor oil.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* Better testing and identification of contamination sources can help protect public health and address the causes. The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act (H.R. 2093/S. 878), pending in Congress would enable better identification of pollution sources - which are often not investigated and therefore unknown - so they can be addressed. The bill would also require EPA to adopt faster testing methods to enable officials to issue prompter closings and advisories in the event of contamination. This would allow people to find out if it's safe to swim before they get in, not after - as is often the case today with slower testing methods.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* By cutting global warming pollution we can help avoid greater beachwater pollution in the future. The U.S. House of Representatives has already approved, and we now look to the Senate to pass, climate and clean energy legislation that would do just that, as well as help us transition to clean energy, and create millions of jobs at the same time. Since global warming is expected to increase pathogens in the water and stormwater runoff - as a result of increased floods and storms - passing legislation to minimize these impacts can help avoid beach pollution. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">FOR MORE INFORMATION:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* For the full report, go to: http://www.nrdc.org/beaches. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* For a regularly updated map of Gulf beach closures due to oil, go to: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/gulfspill/beaches.asp.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* For tips for a safe trip to the beach this summer, go to: http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/gttw.asp. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* For info about ways to get involved, go to: http://www.surfrider.org/ or www.surfrider.org/oahu.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">* For Broadcast-quality footage of solutions for cleaner beachwater, go here: http://vimeo.com/album/262783.* </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.3 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Livingston, MT, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">The Surfrider Foundation is an environmental non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research and education (CARE). Founded in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has over 50,000 members and more than 80 chapters across the country. Surfrider has four chapters in Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Kona) that hold monthly beach cleanups and meetings. Our members work to preserve clean water and beach access and promote responsible shoreline development and a reduction of single-use plastics and marine debris. For more info, go to www.surfrider.org/oahu.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p></span></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-33187939285248585652010-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:002010-07-23T08:45:21.990-07:00Working Towards Solutions in Cannon Beach, Oregon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#151515;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><tbody><tr valign="TOP"><td align="RIGHT"><span style="text-decoration: none; font-family:HELVETICA, SANS SERIF;font-size:85%;color:#9b2d21;"> </span></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2"><table align="RIGHT" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" border="0"><tbody><tr valign="TOP"><td valign="top"><br /></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td><table width="350" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3"><tbody><tr valign="TOP"><td align="left" width="350"><img src="http://www.dailyastorian.info/SiteImages/Article/71996a.jpg" width="350" /></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="350" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:ARIAL, SANS SERIF;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><b><i>ALEX PAJUNAS — The Daily Astorian</i><br />Beachgoers wade or float back and forth across Ecola Creek in Cannon Beach. This year 11 Clatsop and Tillamook County beaches are being monitored for enterococcus, bacteria present in animal and human waste. More photos on the Web at www.dailyastorian.com</b></span></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td align="left" width="350"><img src="http://www.dailyastorian.info/image/cleardot.gif" width="350" height="10" /></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td align="left" width="350"><img src="http://www.dailyastorian.info/SiteImages/Article/71996b.jpg" width="350" /></td></tr><tr valign="TOP"><td width="350" align="LEFT"><span style="font-family:ARIAL, SANS SERIF;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><b><i>ALEX PAJUNAS — The Daily Astorian</i><br />Bathing seagulls freshen up near the beach in the waters of Ecola Creek Wednesday. Mark See, the Cannon Beach public works director, says DNA tests by the city indicate gulls are the main polluters of streams running over the beach.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-decoration: none; font-family:TAHOMA;font-size:180%;color:#45618E;"><b><a href="http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=71996">Water monitoring comes ashore</a></b></span><br /><span style="font-family:ARIAL, SANS SERIF;font-size:100%;color:#55652f;"><i>Summer means it’s time to begin tracking beaches for contamination</i></span><br /><br /><a href="mailto:nmccarthy@dailyastorian.com"><span style="font-family:TAHOMA;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><b><i>By NANCY MCCARTHY</i></b></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:TAHOMA;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><b><i><a href="http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=71996">The Daily Astorian</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:TIMES NEW ROMAN, TIMES, SERIF;font-size:100%;color:#000000;">CANNON BEACH - Two health advisories issued for beaches in or near Cannon Beach this summer signal that the beach-monitoring season is under way.<br /><br />This year, 25 of the state's 94 beaches are being monitored weekly, every two weeks or monthly for enterococcus, bacteria that is present in animal and human waste. It also indicates the presence of other bacteria.<br /><br />Bacteria can enter the ocean, creeks, rivers and outflows from a variety of sources, including stormwater runoff, animal and seabird waste, failing septic systems, spills from sewage treatment plants or discharges from boats.<br /><br />Of the 25 beaches slated for routine monitoring, 11 are in Clatsop and Tillamook counties.<br /><br />While most of the beaches usually don't show high enough counts of bacteria to rate an advisory, the Ecola Court outflow pipe in midtown Cannon Beach garnered 12 advisories after 26 tests last year.<br /><br />This year, so far, the percentage of good tests over bad is better: It failed only once - during April - in nine tests.<br /><br />"Over the past few months, we've seen water quality at Ecola Court outfall improve," said Charlie Plybon, Oregon Field Manager for Surfrider Foundation. The foundation monitors water quality on beaches and has been critical of Cannon Beach's efforts to address the outfall area. Recently, however, the city and the foundation began working together to develop solutions.<br /><br />But, Plybon added, "The area is still of concern until we can demonstrate this 'improved' water quality over time, and beachgoers are safe from advisories." Advisories are issued when more than 158 organisms of bacteria per 100 milliliters of water are found in the samples. The bacteria can cause gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses.<br /><br />State health officials warn people to avoid wading in creeks that have advisories and to stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean.<br /><br />On April 5, the monitor for the state's testing system found 579 organisms at the outfall site. Two subsequent tests - on April 19 and May 3 - indicated the presence of organisms was significantly reduced, and state officials lifted the advisory.<br /><br />The Hug Point advisory, issued June 29, was the first in nearly three years, when an advisory was posted for the south end of the cove on July 30, 2007. The advisory was lifted a week later.<br /><br />Tolovana State Park hadn't been tested since Oct. 29, 2007, and at that time no organisms were detected. This year, however, an advisory was issued June 2 and lifted on June 9. A subsequent test on June 14 could not detect bacteria.<br /><br />"Tolovana Park has been a relatively clean area over the years and it fell off the radar of the state's monitoring program for this reason," Plybon said.<br /><br />The state took a sample from the area following a request from Surfrider, he said.<br /><br />"In all honesty, that doesn't really tell us much other than we need to test more," Plybon added.<br /><br />The federal Environmental Protection Agency has required 35 coastal and Great Lakes states and territories to monitor beaches since 2000. But because the $230,000 EPA grant isn't enough to cover all of Oregon's 94 recreational beaches, monitoring is done on the top 25 that have a high use, a history of pollution or are near potential pollution sources, said Jennifer Ketterman, Oregon beach program coordinator.<br /><br />The state has learned that each beach has its own character and personality, Ketterman said. "What we find on the South Coast is different than what we find on the North Coast," she said.<br /><br />Where the monitor collects the water sample depends on the size of the beach and whether one particular area has a history of a high bacteria count, Ketterman said. The Ecola Court outfall, for instance, has a history of higher-than-normal bacteria counts, so samples are taken at the pipe as water flows out and in the stream as it empties into the ocean. Monitors are particularly concerned about pipes that flow on the beach "because people are getting more water contact," she said.<br /><br />Although the state receives funds to test the water, it doesn't have the money to investigate the source of bacteria when the tests fail.<br /><br />"There are a variety of sources near the shore or inland," Ketterman said. "They could come from animals, seabirds, diapers, agricultural products, sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, boat disposals. It's a pretty complex process."<br /><br />The problem is even more complex, she added, because the presence of bacteria can fluctuate wildly. "You can collect data one minute and it will be different the next minute," Ketterman said. That has been a frustration experienced by Mark See, Cannon Beach public works director. Because it takes time to get a test result the city isn't notified until the next day that a problem exists, he said. "We're getting a warning today about the tests yesterday.... We need real-time testing for a real-time warning." Cannon Beach is tested every Monday during the summer. If the test fails, more samples are taken on Wednesday and confirmed on Thursday. The public is notified on Friday.<br /><br />"There's a real flaw in the testing program," See said.<br /><br />Eventually, he said, "real-time" testing will be available so city officials and the public will know instantly that bacterium is in the water.<br /><br />Recent DNA tests performed by the city indicate gulls are the main polluters to the streams on the beach, See said. He intends to send samples to an Oregon State University lab to confirm the source whenever Cannon Beach tests high. This will rule out other sources, such as a misconnected sewer line or illegal dumping.<br /><br />See also hopes that, eventually, the city and Surfrider can take over testing Cannon Beach's water from the state so money will be freed up to test other coastal sites.<br /><br />"My vision is that we want the Department of Human Services to do lots of testing for everyone if we agree to do our own testing," See said. The city's testing would be checked against Surfrider's tests for accuracy.<br /><br />But, while the city can continue to monitor the water and take steps to remedy some pollution source, the public needs to get involved, too, See said.<br /><br />The city's public works committee is drafting educational pamphlets, which will be distributed to local hotels and businesses. The pamphlets will discuss why water is tested, the risks of contacting untreated water and other facts involving water tests.<br /><br />"When you do a lot of test sites in one place like Cannon Beach and one pops up bad and an advisory is issued, it sounds like there's an advisory for all of Cannon Beach," See said. "It affects business. The chamber of commerce has gotten involved, so we have a balance of all concerned parties."<br /><br />The public works committee may also ask the City Council to prohibit people from feeding birds and other wild animals. The animals become used to the feeding and stay close to public areas, See said. Instead, they should be discouraged from roosting on roofs.<br /><br />"You always see gulls on the roof tops and parking lots of the Surfsand, the Wayfarer and the American Legion building," he said. When they leave their waste on the roofs or asphalt and a summer rain occurs, "there's just enough rain to put a slurry of seagull poop into the drainage system."<br /><br />Those buildings are also close to the stream that runs from the Ecola Court outfall, across the beach and to the ocean.<br /><br />Other solutions may be found as well. Roof drains may be disconnected from the city's drainage system and put into "drainage swales" where the water is filtered through natural vegetation before being directed into the city's drainage pipes, See said. But drainage swales take up space, which is scarce in developed areas near the beach.<br /><br />But See will experiment with another "pre-treatment" method when the restrooms on Second and Spruce streets are reconstructed later this year. He plans to build a "rain garden" that, much like the drainage swale, will act to filter out pollution from the building's roof before it goes into the city's system.<br /><br />Although the contamination can be reduced, it will never be eliminated, See said.<br /><br />"The truth is, there's fresh water everywhere. And there's still some chance that bacteria will get into that fresh water."</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-74720936279158555952010-07-14T11:34:00.000-07:002010-07-14T11:49:30.127-07:00Surfrider Testing Florida Beaches for Chemical Dispersants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TD4GVyR3RrI/AAAAAAAAASQ/0hkrVu6eijc/s1600/FL_watertesting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TD4GVyR3RrI/AAAAAAAAASQ/0hkrVu6eijc/s400/FL_watertesting.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493835566782301874" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 17px; "><div style="text-align: center;">Tony D'eramo, Emerald Coast Surfrider board member and marine biologist </div><div style="text-align: center;">takes water samples on July 10. Photo courtesy Michael Sturdivant</div></span><div><br /></div><div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;">As a component of the <a href="http://oilonthebeach.blogspot.com/">Not the Answer</a> Campaign, The Emerald Coast Chapter of Surfrider Foundation has begun its "on the ground" efforts to test their local Gulf beach waters in Florida for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;">oil and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;">dispersants </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;">being used to 'clean up the oil'</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;">. They have adapted the Blue Water Taskforce Program to specifically address the oil spill disaster. They are starting to test for dispersants because no other agency or organization in Florida is testing for these chemicals. It is thanks to the diligence of the Emerald Coast Chapter that the agencies have at least stepped up their testing for oil at some beaches, but this data is not being shared with the public. </span></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;">The lack of information being shared with the public is a major health risk to both residents and tourists as tar balls wash up on these shores daily. On Sunday there was a sheen in the waters as far east as Miramar Beach (Walton County) and multiple reports of health concerns, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, skin and eye irritations due to people entering the water.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">The Suncoast Chapter (St. Pete/Sarasota) and other FL chapters will likely be following suite if the underwater plumes sync with the loop current and make their way east.</span></div></div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div><div style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">To learn more go to the Chapter's <a href="http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org/2010/07/water-tests/">website</a> or check out the <a href="http://www.waltonoutdoors.com/emerald-coast-surfrider-takes-the-helm-on-local-gulf-dos-water-testing/">story</a> that ran in their local paper. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-53529460100103811462010-07-08T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-08T09:14:34.240-07:00Ocean Friendly Gardens in Los Angeles<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:14px;"><h1 class="entry-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: 100; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></h1><div class="entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><div class="entry-body" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; "><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01348538949e970c-pi" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; display: inline; "><img alt="Oceanfriendly" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c630a53ef01348538949e970c " src="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01348538949e970c-500wi" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-right: 10px !important; " /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"></span></p><h1 class="entry-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: 100; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Promoting and installing</span><a href="http://www.surfrider.org/ofg.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ocean Friendly Gardens</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> in your community is a great way to make a positive impact on water quality in your watershed and at your beach. This program dove tails nicely with beach water testing programs. Check out the local media being generated by the </span><a href="http://surfriderwlam.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">West LA/Malibu Chapter's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ocean Friendly Gardens program or the new </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://oceanfriendlygardens.blogspot.com/">OFG Blog.</a></span></h1><h1 class="entry-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: 100; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br /></h1><div><br /></div><h1 class="entry-header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/07/surfrider-garden-class-ocean-friendly.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Surfrider workshop to show gardeners how to reduce pollution flowing to ocean</span></a></h1><div class="time" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">July 7, 2010 | </span><span style="color: rgb(139, 4, 18); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7:44</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(139, 4, 18); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">am</span></span></div><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; ">I stopped putting manure on my lawn after reading L.A. at Home columnist Emily Green's <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/02/ocean-friendly-gardens-douglas-kent-surfrider.html" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; ">review of Douglas Kent's book "Ocean Friendly Gardens."</a> Wrote Green: "This book strives to keep the things that we may apply to our yards where they belong and out of the ocean. Above all, it strives to protect the wild environment that drew so many of us to California in the first place."</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; ">You can learn more about preventing garden pollution from reaching the ocean at the <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; ">Surfrider Foundation's</a> hands-on workshop on Sunday. Presented as part of Surfrider's <a href="http://www.oceanfriendlygardens.org/" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; ">Ocean Friendly Gardens program</a>, the class will cover site evaluation and the principles of CPR -- conservation, permeability and retention, all methods that will help prevent urban runoff.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; "><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0133f213713b970b-pi" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; float: right; "><img alt="GAP workday 813 Venezia 112" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341c630a53ef0133f213713b970b " src="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef0133f213713b970b-320wi" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a>The class also comes with a wonderful perk: Participants have the option of using the Surfrider Garden Assistance Program at a later date. This means that once you have developed a plan, Surfrider volunteers will help to tear out your yard and replant it in just one day. The catch? You have to be willing to help someone else with a garden face-lift in return.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; ">"Attendees have to provide a plan, materials, plants and food, and we show up with volunteers," says Celeste Howe, chairwoman of the Surfrider Foundation West L.A./Malibu Chapter's Ocean Friendly Gardens program.<span style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"> </span>Howe says that the sidewalk strip shown at right took about six hours to transform. They started around 9 or 10 a.m., and by 4 p.m. they had taken out turf, installed plants, added layers of compost and mulch, and applied compost tea.</p>The <a href="http://www.greengardensgroup.com/" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; ">Green Gardens Group</a> will lead the Sunday class, which will include a tour of a Westchester yard. The class runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost: $25. Registration:<a href="mailto:oceanfriendlygardens@surfriderwlam.org" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(34, 98, 204); text-decoration: none; ">oceanfriendlygardens@surfriderwlam.org</a> or (310) 694-8351. <p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; ">-- Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left; "><em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; ">Photo credits, from top: Angie Johnson; Celeste Howe </em></p></div></div></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-73464659464910799392010-07-02T12:17:00.000-07:002010-07-02T12:28:25.063-07:00New Rapid Methods in OC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TC49W22SC1I/AAAAAAAAASI/FfeuNFtsi_E/s1600/WQkiosk_OCRegister.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TC49W22SC1I/AAAAAAAAASI/FfeuNFtsi_E/s400/WQkiosk_OCRegister.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489392458700819282" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>Water Quality Kiosk on display at Orange County Beaches, photo: OCRegister</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">There has been some recent media attention paid to a new, rapid<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>water testing and notification system that is being implemented at beaches in Orange County, CA this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-beach-testing-20100619,0,6214475.story">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-beach-testing-20100619,0,6214475.story</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_15336061">http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_15336061</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"><a href="http://www.ocregister.com/news/county-255495-water-orange.html">http://www.ocregister.com/news/county-255495-water-orange.html</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">We've had some questions regarding how Surfrider chapters and activists might be able to get this new system employed at their own local beaches, as it gets water quality information to the public much faster than at most beaches in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This new beach monitoring system is part of a demonstration project run by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). Surfrider has been a stakeholder and regular participant in meetings of the Beach Water Quality Workgroup of SCCWRP</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;"> via Rick Wilson, for about 10 years. Part of the emphasis at <a href="http://www.sccwrp.org/ResearchAreas/BeachWaterQuality.aspx">SCCWRP</a> for the last several years has been to encourage development, implementation and approval of test methods that are both faster and more accurate predictors of health problems than the current methods.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Should we start seeing these new systems pop up at other beaches soon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not yet. Orange County and SCCWRP are way ahead of most of the nation in developing these rapid methods. Not only do these methods require a lot of capital do get a lab set up ( we are talking 50k plus), they also require a much higher degree of training on very specific genetic lab methods, that at this point,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>are not practical for volunteers or even many staff at the state and local health and enviro agencies that conduct beach monitoring programs.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Is this the way of the future? Most likely, but we aren't there yet. EPA has not approved these methods for use yet. EPA does not currently allow federal BEACH Act grant monies to be spent using these new methods. These federal dollars are in some locations are the sole or major source of funding for beach monitoring programs, so we are not at the point where we should be demanding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our local authorities to be implementing these new technologies. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">What can Surfrider activists do????</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Plug into the <a href="http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=320">action alert</a> directed to the Senate to pass the latest version of the Beach Bill, which amongst other things, requires the EPA to approve new rapid testing methods.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">There is a previous <a href="http://bluewatertaskforce.blogspot.com/2010/04/re-authorizing-beach-act.html">post</a> on this blog </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">that describes the history of the<a href="http://bluewatertaskforce.blogspot.com/2010/04/re-authorizing-beach-act.html"> beach bill</a>, what the new bill is proposing (including rapid methods) and its current status in Congress. This brief post, gives enough good info on this bill for a chapter to dive into this campaign. Quality and timely information on the status of our beach water is relevant everywhere. It is core to what we do. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Meanwhile, while Congress takes its time to reauthorize the BEACH Act, the EPA has been working on revising their water quality standards and approved testing methods as a result of a lawsuit NRDC filed a few years back. Revised water quality criteria and methods are due in the fall of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will post on EPA's progress towards this end soon.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;tab-stops:.5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;">Contact Mara Dias, <a href="mailto:mdias@surfrider.org">mdias@surfrider.org</a> to discuss your chapter getting more involved with the Beach Act campaign or improving local beach monitoring programs.</span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-21362831747855481962010-06-30T12:21:00.000-07:002010-06-30T12:43:35.829-07:00Schools Out!<div style="text-align: left;">As school lets out for the summer, many of the BWTF water testing programs that are based in high schools also take a break. Both the West LA/Malibu and the South Bay Chapters recently held year-end events to celebrate another successful year of beach water testing. These events serve as a means to reward the students' participation, raise awareness in the community of their program and local water quality issues, and provide a venue for the students to present their water quality data. The West LA/Malibu BWTF program includes students at Santa Monica High School. The South Bay Chapter reaches students at El Segundo, Mira Costa, Redondo Union, South and Westchester High Schools through the SEA Lab at Redondo Beach. Congratulations to all the students!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCueFC_AU6I/AAAAAAAAASA/7b6Kzj-hajc/s400/SFSB_Teach_and_Test_2010_Graduation.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488654380418749346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCueEnA2gmI/AAAAAAAAAR4/WiP7Lt1P928/s400/SantaMonica_T%26TGraduation.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488654372910301794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> </div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-72544884346901919992010-06-22T12:14:00.000-07:002010-06-30T11:52:16.859-07:00Source Tracking Guide Just Released!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCEMwvgs4kI/AAAAAAAAARw/72_rtJUARLE/s1600/STGuide.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCEMwvgs4kI/AAAAAAAAARw/72_rtJUARLE/s320/STGuide.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485679852640854594" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The <a href="http://www.mainehealthybeaches.org/">Maine Healthy Beaches Program</a> has just released the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/extension/municipal-guide-to-clean-water"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Municipal Guide to Clean Water: Conducting Sanitary Surveys to Improve Coastal Water Quality</span></a></span></span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This resource is focused on finding, fixing and preventing sources of fecal bacteria contamination in low density, coastal watersheds. Elements of this guide will also be useful for freshwater beaches and urban watersheds.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While this guide was design with local government and agency staff in mind, most covered topics will also be relevant for volunteer groups.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just beware that some areas – such as directions on how to inspect private residences- are not appropriate for volunteers.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In addition to covering how to identify bacteria hot spots and track sources in a watershed, this guide also includes excellent overviews of many water testing issues including: indicator bacteria, sources of pollution, source tracking methods, waste disposal systems, stormwater issues, solutions and best management practices.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Whether you are looking to investigate a local water pollution issue yourself or want to learn more about what you should be asking your local authorities to do, this <a href="http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/files/Keri%20Lindberg/MSG-E-10-01_SanitarySurvey_030810.pdf">guide</a> is a great resource!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or use it as an educational tool for students or new volunteers. It has great photos of many of the steps involved in water testing. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pictured above is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; ">Sarah Mosley, <a href="http://www.mainehealthybeaches.org/">Maine Healthy Beaches</a> Water Quality Testing trainer, and Northern New England Chapter member. Sarah, along with Keri Lindberg, are responsible for training all the volunteers that collect samples for the Maine Healthy Beaches program, including a team of NNE Chapter volunteers. More info on NNE Chapter's water testing program is available on their <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/nne/index.php?page=67">website.</a> </span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-25175462719442359092010-06-17T13:08:00.000-07:002010-06-18T11:15:54.086-07:00Leaking Septic Systems Implicated in Bellingham, WA<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TBu1ottUgSI/AAAAAAAAARQ/dGGxZ0VsmYg/s400/WA_LarrabeePark2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484176682322788642" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Northwest Straits Chapter's BWTF tests between 5-8 sites throughout the year. During the summer of 2009, they discovered a spike in fecal coliforms in a water sample collected from Larrabee State Park (pictured above & below). The chapter alerted the local authorities to the suspected pollution.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Washington State Department of Ecology’s BEACH Program and Whatcom County Department of Health, responded to the chapter’s concern by performing a source tracking study, which led to the discovery of a failing septic system in the nearby neighborhood. Since then, the septic system has been repaired and bacteria levels at Larrabee State Park have returned to normal.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Meanwhile, the Chapter’s efforts towards sharing their data and forming good relationships with their local environmental and health agencies, may bear even more fruit as another source of pollution is tracked down.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Department of Ecology is tracing the source of another event of high bacterial pollution after being alerted by the Chapter that their Nooksack River Delta sites have been testing high as well.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Although not confirmed as of yet, another leaking septic system is suspected.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Thanks to the Chapter volunteers for continuously testing the sites around Bellingham, sometimes covering 30+ miles by bicycle to do so in a "green" manner.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Thanks also goes out to Post Point for sharing their laboratory space with the Chapter. Read more about the Chapter's BWTF program </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.surfrider.org/nws/index.php/projects/blue-water-task-force/">here.</a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TBu1pfe8PBI/AAAAAAAAARY/n86M7v93-jE/s1600/WA_LarabeePark.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TBu1pfe8PBI/AAAAAAAAARY/n86M7v93-jE/s400/WA_LarabeePark.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484176695684250642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6559640966581158777.post-50077171539600957882010-06-12T10:03:00.000-07:002010-06-24T10:29:20.278-07:00A new BWTF program begins tackling pollution in Seattle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCDvPOUGgOI/AAAAAAAAARg/INcz4d-h3YM/s1600/WA_Seattle_GGStream.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TCDvPOUGgOI/AAAAAAAAARg/INcz4d-h3YM/s400/WA_Seattle_GGStream.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485647390956749026" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica, serif;">The Seattle Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation recently relaunched their BWTF program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Dr. J. Scott Meschke, PhD, MS, JD, Assistant Professor in the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences is assisting the chapter with their water testing program. Dr. Meschke has provided the Blue Water Task Force with the use of lab space and training in lab procedures. Chapter volunteers are collecting and running their own water samples, as well as collecting sand samples from the intertidal zone for <a href="http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/march10/findings-mrsa.html">research</a> on the retention of MRSA and other pathogens in the environment that Dr. Meschke’s and Dr. Marilyn Roberts are undertaking. The Chapter started sampling freshwater sites at the end of 2009 and have added some marine beaches to their sampling program this spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are now currently monitoring <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=Myrtle+Edwards+Park&hnear=Myrtle+Edwards+Park,+Seattle,+WA&msa=0&msid=114884955885027425024.00047a4fdc410f5184860&ll=47.551506,-122.308731&spn=0.422654,0.835648&t=h&z=11">nine sites</a>, including beaches, streams, and marinas. Their most recent water quality data are posted <a href="http://www.surfrider.org/seattle/programs/bwtf_results.php">online.</a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">For the past 3 months, one of their sampling sites, a fresh water stream that runs through Golden Gardens Park, has been testing extremely high for bacteria, well above state standards. This is very concerning as this site is a very popular stream for children to play in. The chapter contacted the King County's Department of Health to alert them to the problem. They sent their results as well as a picture of kids playing in the stream less than 48 hours after the most recent high result. The Department of Health took the Chapter’s concerns seriously and will begin notifying the public of the danger that this polluted water can pose to bathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The chapter is working with the City to develop streamside signage that will educate the public about the pollution and hopefully deter families from playing in the stream. The Chapter has also received great coverage on this issue by local news reporters. Check out these links.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><a href="http://www.nwcn.com/news/environment/How-clear-are-urban-creeks--Health-officials-say-not-very-96685454.html">NWCN.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><a href="http://www.kirotv.com/news/23988914/detail.html">KIROTV.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/422142_goldengardens21.html">SeattlePI.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><a href="http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2010/06/22/news/possible-dangerous-levels-fecal-coliform-golden-g">Ballard News-Tribune</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;">Public notification is just the first step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The chapter is now pursuing funding options to do a source identification study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Possible pollution sources to the Golden Gardens Park include a dog park directly upstream or one of the other streams that feed into this stream from Seattle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Congratulations to the Seattle Chapter for forming good partnerships with both the University of Washington to get their water testing program off the ground and running and with the King County Department of Health to raise public awareness and look for solutions for their local water quality problems. Thanks also goes out to all the volunteers that donate their time and expertise to collect samples and help out in the lab.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TBPXTg0-3LI/AAAAAAAAARA/P8EIg629EPQ/s1600/Seattle_kidsstream_April_2010.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGT7jqBxDGo/TBPXTg0-3LI/AAAAAAAAARA/P8EIg629EPQ/s400/Seattle_kidsstream_April_2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481961901669670066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center; "> Stream at Golden Gardens Park, Washington</div></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <!--EndFragment-->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0