McNears Beach water to be watched
By Mark Prado
Marin Independent Journal
Friday, July 7, 2006
Popular McNears Beach will get a state grant to help local officials continue to watch water quality.The state budget approved last month includes $100,000 for four cities to monitor beaches for bacteria in waters. In addition to San Rafael, beaches in San Francisco, Alameda and San Mateo will get money.
McNears qualified for funding because it has more than 50,000 visitors annually and is located near a pipe that takes storm water from land into the bay. The pipe potentially affects water quality.
The county already monitors McNears weekly, but the new money will ensure the program continues.
"We underfunded and this money will help make up the difference," said Robert Turner, who coordinates testing program for the county.
The beach is tested each week for problems from April through October. So far this year, the beach has been free of any bacteria problems. Last year, there were several days in which warnings were posted about water quality at the beach.
Human sewage and urban runoff can contribute bacteria to beach waters, a health risk to people who have water contact, especially children and the elderly, officials said.
The water quality testing provides information about the worst public health dangers to people who swim and play in the bay's waters.
The environmental organization Save the Bay pushed to include the beach in the state-funded effort.
"This funding will help officials post signs to tell people to stay out of the water when there are dangerous conditions," said David Lewis, executive director of Save the Bay.
"The monitoring can also identify chronic problems."
Contact Mark Prado via e-mail at mprado@marinij.com