Revived beach checkups eyed

Coastal water monitoring could get state funding fix

Mike Lee
San Diego Union Tribune
10/31/2008

Beaches in San Diego and the rest of California are likely to once again get regular pollution checkups, thanks to a plan for reviving a coastal water monitoring program slashed last month.

On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board will consider a temporary fix by spending up to $1.97 million from a 2000 ballot measure designed partly to improve beach water quality. The money would fund the statewide program for two years.

If the financing is approved, health officials in San Diego County expect to receive $302,000 for the 2008-09 fiscal year – enough to restore their water-testing program to where it was before the budget cut.

“With any luck, we will be back in business,” said Mark McPherson, chief of water quality for the county's Department of Environmental Health.

As part of the effort to balance California's budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September cut $984,000 for coastal water monitoring.

That forced San Diego County to stop conducting regular testing at 55 beach sites or assessing data collected by wastewater agencies at 41 more spots. Counties typically do the work and are repaid by the state.

Pollution tests along the coast routinely highlight areas with dangerous bacteria levels from urban runoff, sewage spills or other sources. That's why groups such as the Surfrider Foundation pressed state officials to restart what is called the most comprehensive beach pollution monitoring program in the country.

“It's really critical for beachgoers to be aware if they may get ill from being in the water,” said Bill Hickman, coordinator for Surfrider's San Diego chapter.

This week, officials from San Diego County, National City, Imperial Beach, San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado and others lobbied the state water board to approve the proposed funding plan. The water board's staff already supports the financial patch.

“Absent that funding, we would lose a very, very valuable tool in monitoring and also pushing for improved water quality at the beaches,” said William L. Rukeyser, a spokesman for the state water board...

...Read full article at the San Diego Union Tribune.

Mike Lee: (619) 542-4570; mike.lee@uniontrib.com