California's Efforts to Protect the Health of Beach Visitors

摘要

Coastal water quality has become one of the top environmental issues in California over the last decade. The public has especially become concerned about the safety of swimming at the beach. As sanitary survey research continues to demonstrate that human sewage is frequently present in polluted runoff, creek flows and even directly on the beach, public concern about beach water quality has increased dramatically. Also, media coverage of beach closures and sewage spills, and public awareness of beach water quality through various web sites and beach report cards has increased. In 2001, Governor Davis' $34 million Clean Beach Initiative was the first significant state expenditure on keeping California's beaches safe for swimming and surfing. The Governor has followed this up with a $46 million allocation in the 2003 budget. Implementation of this program has been a model success story with scientists, regulators, and local government working together to develop solutions to water quality problems at California's most polluted beaches.