Monday, October 10, 2011

Funding for Beach Water Monitoring Program to Continue

Governor Signs Bill Providing Funding For Popular Program

SAN DIEGO – Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will provide funding for a program to monitor the water quality at local beaches, Supervisor Greg Cox announced today.

“This is great news for all San Diegans who love to swim, surf and play at our beaches and bays,” said Cox, who represents several coastal cities in the region. “With this action, we will have a sustainable source of funding for a program that protects public health and maintains our beachgoing way of life.”

Money for the program was eliminated by the state three years ago and Cox led a regional effort involving coastal cities and environmental groups to secure temporary funding from various sources. The County Board of Supervisors approved temporary stopgap funding for the program in their August budget, but the long-term future of the program remained at risk because of the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis.

The program’s future should be more secure following the Governor’s signing of State Senate bill 482, which was authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe. The bill takes two important actions: one is to transfer the responsibility for funding the program from the State Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board and the second action sets aside up to $1.8 million for the beach monitoring program.

“I commend Senator Kehoe for her work on this critical bill,” said Cox. “Surfers and swimmers have come to rely on our beach water monitoring program, and so has San Diego’s thriving tourism industry.”        

The program has been operated since 1999 by the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Approximately 85 samples are taken and analyzed from beaches and bays along San Diego’s coastline. DEH issues alerts and advisories to warn the public and the media about water quality. The alerts and advisories provide warnings about elevated bacteria levels, sewage spills, or urban runoff.  The program has been operated since 1999 by the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Approximately 85 samples are taken and analyzed from beaches and bays along San Diegoes alerts and advisories to warn the public and the media about water quality. The alerts and advisories provide warnings about elevated bacteria levels, sewage spills, or urban runoff.