Beach Closure and Microbial Contamination

The goal of the Beach Closure Action Plan is to eliminate beach closures by reducing microbial contamination in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary waters.

Background- Coliform bacteria are used as indicator organisms, and while they may not cause disease in humans, their presence tells us that water may be contaminated with organisms that do cause health impacts ranging from fever, flu-like symptoms, ear infection, respiratory illness, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis, and hepatitis. Not only can humans be affected, but research into the cause of an alarming rise in mortality among the threatened southern sea otter population, shows that infectious agents have been implicated in nearly forty percent of these deaths. Preliminary data suggest that many of these deaths are caused by protozoal parasites and bacteria that are spread by fecal contamination of near shore marine waters by terrestrial animals or humans.

The local economies are also affected by beach closures. A significant aquaculture and kelp harvesting industry within the MBNMS is highly dependent upon unpolluted water, and beach closures cost local economies tourist dollars and jobs, and represent a loss to those who had planned beach visits.

Sources of contaminated water include runoff from urban, suburban and rural areas, an aging sewer infrastructure system pressed to meet increasing demands, contaminated flows from creeks and rivers and unidentified sources. Contributing factors that generate these sources include illicit storm drain connections, improper disposal of materials which clog pipes and cause overflows, cracked or damaged pipes, overflow of sewer systems during storm events, septic system leaching, nonpoint pollutant loading exposed to storm runoff, and various domestic and wildlife sources.

Beginning in 1999, Assembly Bill 411 required local health officers to conduct weekly bacterial testing between April 1 and October 31 of waters adjacent to public beaches that have more than 50,000 visitors annually and are near storm drains that flow in the summer. This increased monitoring is responsible for a pronounced jump in the number of beach closures and postings between 1998 and 1999. Since this initial jump, Sanctuary beaches continue to suffer from closures or postings annually.

Summary of Strategies:

• Use Geographic Information System (GIS) to map monitoring locations, septic and storm drain maps, heavily used beaches and sensitive habitats
  
  
• Expand pathogen and contamination research to explore other indicators, have access to more real conditions, and be able to identify the source of the pathogens.
  
  
• Increase the monitoring network so that more beaches are monitored more frequently and additional upstream monitoring is conducted for source tracking.
  
  
• Enhance the notification system in an effort to increase public access to water quality information before they depart for the beach.
  
  
• Work with local jurisdictions to enhance the repair and replacement of sewer infrastructure to reduce leaking pipes and clogs.
  
  
• Enhance public outreach of contamination sources and the solutions.
  
  
• Increase and coordinate enforcement efforts as well as improve the emergency response to spills 24 hours a day.