Rincon Pollution Study OKd

Ventura County officials agreed Tuesday to try to identify the source of pollution that has turned one of the world’s legendary surfing beaches into one of California’s most contaminated stretches of coastline.

In a unanimous vote, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors agreed to join Santa Barbara County in a comprehensive $25,000 study of water quality conditions in the 9,300-acre Rincon Creek drainage. Although cleanup is still far off, the action unites the two counties to identify pollution sources.

Surfers and environmentalists have long sought an in-depth survey of the creek and its tributaries that empty into the ocean at Rincon Point near the boundary between the two counties. Harmful bacteria have led to beach closures at Rincon, prompting protests from surfers and body boarders and worrying health officials.

“It’s a great partnership effort,” said Kathy Long, the Ventura County supervisor whose district includes part of Rincon. “We’re certainly interested in identifying the bacteriological sources at Rincon so we can keep our beaches open more than closed.”

Ventura County agreed to provide $5,670 for a consultant, the same amount paid by Santa Barbara County. In addition, both counties are providing staff, technical and laboratory support. Carpinteria and Surfrider Foundation USA are also contributing to the study, which begins today with sampling of creek water.

Investigators are beginning immediately to measure contamination under low-flow conditions before storms arrive. The investigation will take about one year and serve as the foundation for strategies to solve the problem.

Rincon Point is one of the world’s premier surf spots, glorified in surfing music and revered by enthusiasts of the sport the world over. Yet this year, the beach has been closed on all but four days because of bacteria.

Concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria, an indicator of human waste and viral agents, frequently exceed federal standards. Such violations are considered more likely when new, more stringent standards take effect April 1.

The exact origin of the pollution is a mystery. While many sources are suspected, ranging from faulty septic tanks to agricultural runoff to wild animal waste, none have been conclusively identified, necessitating the joint study that the supervisors approved Tuesday.

Rincon Point is but one of many polluted beaches in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Santa Barbara County officials have detected unsafe bacteria levels at many of their beaches throughout the year.

In Ventura County, tests by the Surfrider Foundation have shown unsafe pollution at south jetty and Gonzales Road near Oxnard and Solimar north of Ventura since Aug. 30.

The vote Tuesday is the latest in a series of actions by Ventura County officials to respond to ocean pollution problems.

In September, supervisors voted to begin routine monitoring and posting of pollution conditions at Ventura County beaches. The program, which will begin Nov. 1, is significant because previously, Ventura County was the only one in Southern California that did not regularly test water quality along its coast.