RICHARD NAVA
Staff Writer
High bacteria counts at Malibu beaches have earned L.A. County a reputation for having some of the dirtiest beaches in the country. The surf’s been up, but so has the pollution. In fact, the 2006-2007 Heal the Bay Report Card named to the county seven of the 10 dirtiest California beaches, and two of those were in Malibu.
However, the 2007-2008 report card is in, and Malibu has earned some extra credit. Heal the Bay graded each beach in the county with an A, including the Malibu beaches; some even got an A+. While several received high marks, Paradise Cove and Zuma represented Malibu beaches that failed.
“I am extremely pleased with the latest results of the 2007 HTB Report Card,” City Manager Jim Thorsen said. “We feel that the City of Malibu has been an instrumental leader on several fronts to help curb ocean pollution.”
Thorsen also said the City of Malibu is currently working on a number of projects to continue the success of the ocean water clean-up. Along with a number of storm water treatment facilities in place, the city has also done extensive bacteria testing to identify possible sources of beach pollution.
Dr. Karen Martin, Pepperdine professor of biology, said the reason for the low bacteria levels is a result of the lack of rainfall this year.
“The rainfall carries bacteria from the catch basins and takes it into the ocean causing the bacteria levels to rise,” Martin said. “Once we’ve had a good deal of rainfall, the public will be warned about the ocean bacteria levels and should wait at least three days for the levels to settle back.”
Martin also explained how the leaks in septic systems could add to the bacteria levels in the water.
Thorsen said the city has dedicated many resources to this cause and that it will continue to help.
“The City Council continues to support all water quality efforts to clean our oceans,” Thorsen said. “They have committed millions of dollars to this cause and will continue to support the education and public awareness to make our earth a little better than when we got here.”
Members of the City Council are also pleased by news of the cleaner beaches, but said that they plan on showing no signs of stopping.
“I think the Heal the Bay report card is great news for Malibu, but we must remain vigilant and continue to be good stewards of the land and ocean,” said Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Conley Ulich. Ulich added that the city is committed to making Malibu an “environmental oasis.”
As the beaches in L.A. County have a made a remarkable turn around from past evaluations, the rest of California stands to gain from the cleaner waters, including the always booming economic funds brought in by tourism. Yet, the greatest gain remains for those who have made the shore their home.
“It’s so nice just to be able to go down to the beach and not have to worry about getting sick,” Thomas Biglow said. He has been a Malibu resident for almost six years and said in that time he could not remember a year when Malibu beaches were considered the cleanest.
“We Malibuites take pride in our city, and it’s great to hear that we’re all helping to make it better,” Biglow said.
10-04-2007
