Try to imagine California without beaches. Can you do it?

California's beaches are suffering, according to Heal the Bay's recently released 11th annual Beach Report Card.

The report card describes beach water quality, using A-to-F grades, by analyzing data collected by the various state and local organizations responsible for monitoring beach waters. Grades are given for dry (generally April to November) and wet weather (December to April, with the heaviest rainfall in January and February). The report card states that 73% of beaches received an "A" during dry weather, and 63% failed in wet weather.

Grades are determined by the number of times beach-water samples exceed limits for indicator organisms - bacteria that are not usually harmful, but are also present when disease-causing, or pathogenic, bacteria are present. Indicator organisms are used in lieu of measuring pathogens because they are more abundant and easier to measure. These same organisms are also used to monitor drinking water supplies, including bottled water and water-vending machines, and wastewater treatment plants. When concentrations of indicator organisms were high in summer 1999, Huntington Beach was closed.

State regulatory and monitoring agencies are trying to identify specific reasons for poor beach-water quality. Sewage spills, illegal discharges and runoff from areas hosting animals such as horses and dairy farms are well-known sources. Other sources include sea birds, boats that illegally dump their toilets and storm drains. In 1999, the state passed a new law (AB 411), which requires local agencies to more aggressively monitor, post or close beaches that fail to meet health standards. A second bill (AB 538) specifies ways that local governments must address the problem.

Part of the problem with our current monitoring system is the inability to determine sources of contaminants. Indicator organisms are also associated with fecal material from mammals and sea birds, and they are sometimes found in soils. The health risk related to fecal material from birds is not as well-known as the risk from human wastes. At present, regulators have no choice but to assume that animal fecal wastes pose the same risks. Various researchers, including UCLA faculty, are looking for better indicator organisms. Molecular biology techniques are being developed to differentiate the sources of indicator organisms (ie., animals or humans) as well as to speed up the analysis.

We believe many, if not most, of the pollutants transported to our beaches arrive with storm water. Heal the Bay and regulatory agencies recommend that the public not swim within 100 yards of storm drains or at any location within three days of a large rainfall. This is good advice.

There are many things that individuals can do. The storm drain in front of your house or office leads directly to the beach, with no treatment plant in between. Runoff from your yard or litter from a careless act eventually winds up on one of our beaches. Take care to avoid storm water pollution and respect animal leash laws. We need to protect our beaches.