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Blue Water Task Force water sample with Marina Park written on it

BLUE WATER TASK FORCE

Our BWTF program is focused on supplementing the testing that the County of Ventura conducts as a part of its Ocean Water Quality Testing Program.

Please note that our season runs November through March. We do not test water quality April through October because the County of Ventura resumes testing at 40 beaches. 

Water Quality Information & Resources

Local Water Quality Resources

  • CLICK HERE for the latest water quality testing results from the County of Ventura Ocean Water Quality Testing Program
  • CLICK HERE for information on the City of Ventura beaches monitored by Ventura County Environmental Health Division’s Ocean Water Quality Program
  • CLICK HERE for a form if you've experienced illness from swimming at one of our local beaches
  • CLICK HERE for guidelines on CA Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs).  The CA HABs portal is the central resource for HABs in the state of California. HABs can pose a health risk to people and animals, harm aquatic ecosystems, and limit the use of drinking and recreational water bodies due to the toxins, odors, and scums or mats they can produce. We need your help citing freshwater algae blooms in our county!
Jen Holding Sample BWTF
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Water quality testing provided by Surfrider's {{info.name}} Chapter

Latest Results

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About the Program

The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.

Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.

Foothill Technology High School student documenting water sample attributes
Map view of at 9 test locations including Mondos, Emmawood State Beach, C Street, Weymouth, Marina Park, Leo Robbins, Harbor Cove, Hollywood Beach at La Crescenta, and Oxnard Beach at Outrigger Way

Ventura County Water Quality

The Ventura BWTF program is focused on supplementing the County of Ventura's testing as a part of its Ocean Water Quality Testing Program.  Currently, the county-led program tests less samples in the winter than in the summer; our program aims to fill the gap and serve as the first response to local water quality threats in our community.  Specifically, we are focused on taking samples from 10 popular surf spots that are not tested by the County during winter months.  While there may be fewer beachgoers overall in the winter months, there are more surfers in the water due to winter storm swells that are being exposed to pollution brought to the beach by stormwater and urban runoff.

Learn More

View the 2022/23 Blue Water Task Force Annual Report here and find info about new DNA source tracking here.

Everyone deserves access to clean water to surf, swim and play in. Support our efforts by contacting BWTF@Ventura.Surfrider.org.

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This program is made possible through generous funding in memory of Chuck Vinson and Patagonia USA.

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