Beach Water Quality Report, March 23

Water quality at most beaches in San Diego County is safe for recreational use.  Rainfall amounts from last evening were less than 0.2"; so most beaches should not be impacted by runoff flows.  However, signs warning of contaminated water are posted at the following locations. 

Closures:  These beaches are closed to water contact due to sewage spills that may impact recreational waters.  

Border Field State Park, Tijuana Slough Nat’l Wildlife Refuge and Imperial Beach
Station:  The ocean shoreline from the U.S. / Mexico border to the north end of Imperial Beach
Status Since: January 30.    March 23 for IB.
Reason:  Sewage contaminated runoff from the Tijuana Estuary.  River flow rate entering the estuary is 1.0 cubic meters/ sec.  (23 million gallons/ day)

       
Advisories:  Water contact should be avoided at the following beaches due to bacterial levels that exceed health standards:

Oceanside
Station:  San Luis Rey River outlet/ south jetty to 300’ S.
Status Since: March 13 
Reason:  Bacterial levels exceed health standards
Bacteria indicator      Total coli      Fecal Coli/ 
E. coli Entero  Fecal/ Total ratio     
SSM     N       N       N       N      
Geomean N       N       Y       NA     

La Jolla
Station:  Children’s Pool
Status Since: Sept 1997        
Reason:  On-going contamination by harbor seals

Coronado
Station:  North Beach, 200” N & S of the storm drain outlet
Status Since: March 21 
Reason:  Flushing of storm drain outlet, urban runoff flow to ocean

SSM –most recent sample exceeds single sample max
BOLD – Exceeds by 1 magnitude.  [Y >104 entero, Y >1040]
30 day Geomean standard – uses data from 5 or more samples

For beaches next to storm drains, rivers, and lagoon outlets:
During dry weather avoid contact with runoff and recreational waters within at least 75 feet from where runoff enters ocean or bay waters. An epidemiological study has correlated urban runoff to an increased risk of illness among ocean users near these outlets.

Call the DEH Beach & Bay Water Quality hotline at 619-338-2073 for updated information, or log onto the DEH web site at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/lwq/beachbay.  To see a map of monitoring stations and locations under warning for water contact, log on to www.earth911.org and select ‘Beach Water Quality’.   

Re-opened:   Field measurements indicate these waters are now safe for recreational use.  Signs have been removed at the following locations: 

Encinitas, Moonlight Beach
Station:  Cottonwood Creek outlet. Status Since: March 23

For more information log in www.earth911.org
or call DEH beach water quality phone HOTLINE number: (619) 338-2073