Summer’s officially arrived in San Mateo County! The start of the beach season also brings the 2019 Heal The Bay Beach Report Card. This report tells us which California beaches make the water quality grade. If you plan on hitting the beaches this summer, read on to understand which beaches to watch out for and how you can help make a difference in improving our local beaches and their water quality.
The Good
The good news is that since the 2018 report, San Mateo reduced the number of beaches on the “Beach Bummer” list by 50%, going from four down to two. A significant improvement in just one year.
The Bad
The bad news? San Mateo County still has two beaches of the top 10 Bummer list for all of California beaches. Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica is once again the #3 worst beach and received an “F” grade. Linda Mar Beach is impacted by runoff during dry weather, which flows untreated into the Pacific Ocean through San Pedro Creek. The second beach to make the list with a “D” grade is Parkside Aquatic Park in the city of San Mateo. Making the “Beach Bummer” list in 2014, Aquatic Park is surrounded on all sides by residential housing, making it heavily impacted by runoff. The City of San Mateo has a goose control program in place to reduce the impact that goose excrement has on water quality. Aquatic Park is also one of five San Francisco Bay beaches with a bacteria total maximum daily load (TMDL) in place. The TMDL is a regulatory term, describing a plan for restoring impaired waters by identifying a maximum amount of a pollutant a body of water can receive while meeting water quality standards. In the case of Aquatic Park, the pollutant is bacteria.
And The Ugly
Where things get a bit ugly is that beachgoers who come in contact with polluted waters have a much higher risk of contracting illnesses like ear infections, skin rashes, and the stomach flu, to name a few. Though there are multiple pathways for pollutants to reach our creeks, the Bay, and the ocean, stormwater runoff can be a significant contributor to poor water quality by flushing contaminants and bacteria from our streets into urban waterways. Runoff doesn’t always mean water from rainstorms, either. During the rain-free months, runoff can include water from garden hoses, irrigation systems, and any water that finds its way into a storm drain. As it flows, stormwater runoff collects and transports animal waste, litter, pesticides, fertilizers, automotive fluids, and other potential pollutants into our waterways. Pollution in runoff can make water bodies in San Mateo County unsafe for fishing, swimming, and other recreational activities.
How You Can Help
“Protecting our water resources is everyone’s responsibility. Each resident of San Mateo County can show pride in their local beaches by doing their part in preventing stormwater pollution,” said Matthew Fabry, Manager of the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.
Organizations, such as Pacific Beach Coalition are leading the way in cleaning up trash and litter. These groups coordinate and host monthly beach cleanups. Can’t make it to a beach clean up? You can still make a difference and help improve water quality at our beaches with simple action at home such as:
- Picking up after your pet (dog, cat, goose, or otherwise)
- Reducing pesticide usage or replacing your pesticide with a non-toxic alternative
- Taking your car to the car wash instead of washing it at home
- Cleaning up litter from the streets
- Maintaining your vehicle so it doesn’t leak auto fluids onto the streets
