Although our 2023-2024 five month long water quality testing season was reduced by high surf and a sewage spill into the Ventura River by a broken pipe line on February 22, 2024, that closed beaches for a week north and south of the Ventura Rivermouth, some of our sites showed overall improvements from last year: Weymouth Drain and the Ventura Rivermouth.
While our worst bacteria counts were found during our wet weather season at storm drain outlets, there were a limited number of days when the runoff at storm drains we sampled reached the ocean surf. Please be advised to stay at least 50 feet from all drains to the ocean and note any permanent warnings posted above drains. Also pay attention to the 72 hour rule that suggests avoiding surfing or swimming in the ocean after .2" of rain or more.
Click here for the full 2023-24 Blue Water Task Force Annual Report.
As Surfrider's Central California Regional Manager, Bill helps chapters tackle pollution issues that are affecting the marine environment. Before covering the area between Ventura and Santa Cruz, he worked with the San Diego Chapter for five years.