Blue Water Task Force is a blanket term
for our water tests, beach clean-ups and storm drain stenciling
programs, all directly related to clean water. BWTF is Surfrider's
most visible and successful program to date. It provides citizens
with the opportunity for hands-on involvement with environmental
problem solving efforts. The data is used to bring polluters
into compliance, develop programs that can influence national
legislation and enforcement, and develop solutions to pollution
problems.
Goals of the Program
The BWTF is a national program that is implemented at the
chapter level. Nationally, the BWTF was established with the
following objectives:
| 1 |
To provide concerned citizens with the opportunity
for hands-on involvement with an environmental problem
solving effort. |
| 2 |
To gather coastal water samples on a regular basis to
determine pollution patterns in the near shore environment. |
| 3 |
To raise public awareness regarding the extent and severity
of coastal water pollution. |
| 4 |
To use the data collected to bring polluters into compliance. |
| 5 |
To develop a model program that could influence national
legislation and enforcement of water quality monitoring. |
From its humble beginnings in the garage of a chapter member
in 1991, to our current "high-tech" lab in our office
at 2222 East Cliff Drive, we have come a long way and learned
a lot about coastal water quality monitoring, from operations
to technology. The program has become the backbone of our
educational and community involvement programs. It is a catalyst
for achieving
real changes in local coastal water problems, such as one
of our first challeges as a chapter: the diversion of polluted
lagoon water to the City of Santa Cruz's wastewater treatment
plant, preventing polluted seasonal run-off from collecting
in dirty pools on Cowell Beach.
Test methods and equipment have changed greatly over the
years, and, yes, costs of testing are rising, too. But, we
still believe in what we do to protect the public interest.
We endeavor to get the most current results to the public
by sampling and processing water samples on Sunday nights,
and scoring and distributing the results to the public on
Monday nights in order to make the Tuesday afternoon deadline
for the weekly papers.
Test Results
The Santa Cruz Chapter's results
are published on this website, plus in two local newspapers
with help from a local business (O'Neill Surf Shops) that
underwrites the results with advertising. We also fax or e-mail
results to local government officials and the County, and
can distribute them to surf shops and other businesses for
posting when requested.
PLEASE NOTE: We are currently writing and
will soon post an updated manual,or guidebook,on Implementing
a Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program. This is a public
service for those who may want to implement a valid water
testing program and we hope it will save time and effort.
It will soon be posted on this website.
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