"For the first time, Chicken Ranch Beach at Channel B, on the west side of Tomales Bay near Inverness, received an F grade because of consistently high bacteria levels during summer and wet weather. Runoff from nearby drainage systems carries stormwater and shallow groundwater across the beach, posing health risks to visitors, the report said. The beach landed on the "beach bummer" list, ranking fourth among the 10 beaches with the worst water quality in the state."
""The latest report shows a clear link between our water quality and rainstorms," said Arti Kundu, manager of Marin County Environmental Health Services' water quality monitoring program. "The consistently good grades for summer dry months demonstrate that our coastal beaches remain safe and healthy for recreational use." "At the same time, the report's poor findings on Chicken Ranch Beach at Channel B highlighted the importance of addressing localized efforts to address runoff and stormwater impacts," Kundu said."
Heal the Bay graded California beaches based on fecal bacteria levels in its 35th annual Beach Report Card. Chicken Ranch Beach at Channel B on Tomales Bay received an F for consistently high bacteria during summer and wet weather. Runoff from nearby drainage and shallow groundwater carries stormwater across the beach, posing health risks to visitors. In spring and summer 2024, 25 of 29 Marin beaches earned A or B grades (86%), with a 100% dry-summer average. A $1.3 million wetland restoration near Channel B has begun to address contamination.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]