Reef Check CA_Craig
Guest
A very important hearing at the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board will take place on Sept 14 to determine if bateria limits will be included in stormwater permits. Show the Board that the diving community supports clean water by sending a letter through the link below.
http://www.healthebay.org/actionalerts/2006_08_09_bacteriaTMDLhearing/default.asp
High levels of bacteria pollution persist at many Santa Monica Bay beaches even though limits were adopted three years ago.
Tell the Water Board to protect public health by incorporating bacteria pollution limits into the L.A. County Storm Water Permit at their September 14th hearing.
In 2003, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted bacteria pollution limits for Santa Monica Bay beaches during dry weather. These limits are known formally as the Santa Monica Bay Beaches Dry-Weather Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load, or Bacteria TMDL for short.
Cities and other dischargers were given three yearsuntil July 15, 2006to meet the Bacteria TMDL pollution limits making all of Santa Monica Bay beaches safe for beachgoers in the dry season. Unfortunately, the compliance deadline has come and gone and many of Santa Monica Bays beaches still have elevated bacteria levels above the TMDL limits! Epidemiological studies demonstrate that swimming in ocean waters with high amounts of bacteria can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and other illnesses.
But heres the catch: in order for the Bacteria TMDL pollution limits to be easily enforceable, the L.A. Water Board needs to incorporate them into the actual language of the L.A. County Storm Water Permit. This action was originally scheduled for the Board's July 13th hearing, but was postponed until September 14th.
http://www.healthebay.org/actionalerts/2006_08_09_bacteriaTMDLhearing/default.asp
High levels of bacteria pollution persist at many Santa Monica Bay beaches even though limits were adopted three years ago.
Tell the Water Board to protect public health by incorporating bacteria pollution limits into the L.A. County Storm Water Permit at their September 14th hearing.
In 2003, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted bacteria pollution limits for Santa Monica Bay beaches during dry weather. These limits are known formally as the Santa Monica Bay Beaches Dry-Weather Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load, or Bacteria TMDL for short.
Cities and other dischargers were given three yearsuntil July 15, 2006to meet the Bacteria TMDL pollution limits making all of Santa Monica Bay beaches safe for beachgoers in the dry season. Unfortunately, the compliance deadline has come and gone and many of Santa Monica Bays beaches still have elevated bacteria levels above the TMDL limits! Epidemiological studies demonstrate that swimming in ocean waters with high amounts of bacteria can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and other illnesses.
But heres the catch: in order for the Bacteria TMDL pollution limits to be easily enforceable, the L.A. Water Board needs to incorporate them into the actual language of the L.A. County Storm Water Permit. This action was originally scheduled for the Board's July 13th hearing, but was postponed until September 14th.
