Staff Members
Tom Ford
Baykeeper
+ Learn MoreCarlos Carreon
Beachkeeper Program Coordinator
+ Learn MoreBrian Meux
Kelp Project Coordinator
+ Learn MoreMark Abramson
Director of Watershed Program
+ Learn MoreTatiana Gaur
Staff Attorney
+ Learn MoreBeachkeeper Program
Initiated in 1995, the Beachkeeper Water Quality Monitoring Program mobilizes volunteers to participate in the hands-on monitoring, data collection, and water sampling needed to assess the damage caused by urban runoff. Beachkeeper volunteers are educated about the causes and ramifications of storm water pollution and are trained to visually monitor the health of a stretch of coastline or creek. Data collected each month by Beachkeeper volunteers includes physical appearance, the amount and type of debris around storm drains, flow levels, and various wildlife observations. Volunteers are also trained on the scientific techniques for taking water samples from these drains, which are then analyzed in Baykeeper’s lab or sent to a certified lab for metals analysis.
The goals of the Beachkeeper program are to increase awareness of the quality of our local waters, and recruit volunteers from the community to participate in the hands-on monitoring and high quality data collection. This data is then used by the Santa Monica Baykeeper, water regulatory agencies, and municipalities to identify and ultimately eliminate sources of pollution. Local beaches represent one of the last sources of inexpensive recreation for the residents of Los Angeles County, with over 50 million visitors a year, and this program serves to protect all who use this resource, as well as the marine ecosystem within the Bay.
Click on image to download Water Sampling Instructions.
Special Studies | Community Involvement
Water Quality Problem and Solutions
40% of America’s waters remain unsuitable for swimming or fishing. According to the EPA, polluted urban runoff is America’s largest source of water quality problems.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, non-point source pollution (or urban runoff) is the number one cause of water pollution in the United States. Water running through storm drains is not treated before flowing to the ocean. Urban runoff contains pollutants such as trash, bacteria, and heavy metals that are dangerous to humans and marine life.
In 2001, the Beachkeeper program produced a report (Beachkeeper Program Report) that showed that after it rained an average of 84.3 % of the storm drain samples analyzed exceeded total coliform standards. An average of 72.1% of the samples analyzed exceeded E .coli standards. Total Coliform and E.coli are indicator bacteria, revealing pollution levels. Elevated water pollution can lead to human health problems, contaminated seafood, beach closures, accumulating plastics, endangered wildlife, and degradation of ocean habitats
To stop pollution, we must first find the sources of pollution. The Beachkeeper Program is unique because they do not rely on city or county data already in existence. We strive to sample water in places where government agencies do not have the resources to investigate, thus filling in critical data gaps and providing a more realistic overview of the state of our waters.
In addition, we partner with companies striving to implement new technologies that will cut down pollutant loads flowing into our water. These technologies consist of catch basin inserts, which are installed in gutters and catch trash through filter systems, devices that use the flow of water to separate out solids from liquids, systems that aim at reducing the bacteria levels in runoff, etc. There are many pilot projects in Los Angeles, already testing these new technologies.
Beachkeeper Volunteer Corner
Being a Beachkeeper volunteer involves a strong commitment to the Baykeeper’s mission to the restore local waters. Each Beachkeeper volunteer completes an intensive training program that encompasses many interrelated duties. Without the dedication of the volunteers, the Beachkeeper program would not be where it is today.
The Beachkeeper program has always focused on finding and eliminating the sources of pollution to our bay. Beachkeeper volunteers become the authorities on their stretch of beach or creek and the information collected by them has had a direct impact on regulatory action for water quality improvement. The program and volunteers are recognized as the experts of the Santa Monica Bay beaches and drains. Numerous agencies and municipalities including Los Angeles County, Cal trans, and several cities including Malibu, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates are currently using our GPS information regarding storm drain locations in order to determine ownership of these drains.
How to become a Beachkeeper volunteer
To be a Beachkeeper, there are some requirements:
- You must be 18 years of age, or supervised by a guardian.
- You must be trained by Beachkeeper staff (2-3 hours in office, and if needed an additional 3 hours in the field).
- You must be willing to commit at least one year as a reliable Beachkeeper volunteer. You will be required to take monthly observations and to participate in at least two water sampling events a year.
If you are interested, please call Carlos Carreon 310-305-9645 ext. 3 or e-mail at
sandpiper@smbaykeeper.org for more information.
What will you do as a Beachkeeper volunteer?
- Learn about local wildlife and your local ocean ecosystem.
- Learn about water quality and perform tests to assess the quality of water coming out of storm drains
- Have the opportunity to educate others about local environmental issues
- Become an expert on your section of beach or creek.
- Play a vital role in cleaning up the Bay and preventing pollution from harming those who swim there including surfers, children, and marine life.
- Meet others who are concerned with the environment and are doing something to help.
SAMPLE THIS! (Volunteer Resources)
Target Bird Identification Card
Monthly Observation and Water Sampling Tips
Beachkeeper Volunteer Profile: Cal Porter
At 80 years old, Cal Porter is an avid surfer and retired lifeguard. Data from the drain he monitors singled it out as one of the "Dirty Dozen," featured in the Beachkeeper Snapshot of the Bay Report. As a result of his work, a BMP (bacteria reducing device) was installed by Paradise Cove. In addition, data from his drain was used in conjunction with data from over 500 storm drains to set bacteria and trash TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Loads), which are limits on how much pollution can be found in our waterways. Cal is also the recipient of our 2004 Beachkeeper Volunteer of the Year award. Out in the field with Cal, even our staff has a hard time keeping up with him!
Recent accomplishments
Beachkeeper program involved in study to track sources of fecal pollution affecting Santa Monica Bay
The Beachkeeper Program served on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for a project that assisted with the study titled Multitiered Approach Using Quantitative PCR To Track Sources of Fecal Pollution Affecting Santa Monica Bay, California. The results and manuscript for this study was recently accepted for publication in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, with Beachkeeper Program Director Angie Bera and Baykeeper as a co-author.
Beachkeeper program and TMDL work highlighted in nationally distributed Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual
Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual 2nd Edition has just been released and it features the Beachkeeper Program and how our water quality data has helped to develop TMDLs in the Los Angeles Region. Over the past five years, 5000 copies of the first edition of Clean Water Act Owner’s Manual have hit the streets. This information has helped countless citizens and organizations improve the implementation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act at the state level. River Network serves more than 600 organizations, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, directly through publications, training resources and support services.
2005 Wet weather snapshot sampling event
Wednesday, October 19th, 2005 marked our 15th Snapshot water sampling event. Beachkeeper volunteers (most of whom took some time off work to be there) and Baykeeper staff collected 91 samples from over 350 observed storm drains. Key findings from this Snapshot include:
- Approximately 82% of the samples exceeded the State Water Quality Standards for Total Coliform bacteria.
- Approximately 75% of the samples exceeded for E. coli. bacteria.
- Approximately 67% of the samples exceeded for Enterococci bacteria.
Some of the most continuously polluted discharges include major drains and outlets such as Escondido Creek, Marie Canyon, Rose Avenue in Santa Monica and the Rosecrans drain in Manhattan Beach which was 4000 times the state standard for Enterococcus bacteria.
Volunteers continue to be diversion watchdogs
On August 18, 2005 Baykeeper received a hotline call concerning a drain breach and polluted water flowing from the Herondo Avenue drain in the South Bay. Herondo drain has been diverted during the summer season since 2001. Beachkeeper Program immediately contacted Beachkeeper volunteers David Henesler and Dean Francois, who regularly monitor the area, to keep an eye on the drain. They reported that the flow was heavy an continued over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, we informed City of Hermosa Beach and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW) to let them know about the problem while we started our own investigation. The amount of flow that we were seeing would be atypical for summer months even if the drain were not diverted, so we knew there had to be a source causing this flow.
We discovered that every couple of years, for maintenance purposes,The Water Replenishment District (WRD) of Southern California’s de-salination plant in the Torrance flush water from their well. The water they flush was supposed to flow to the Dominguez Channel, but the valve redirecting all flows may not have been switched back at the beginning of the summer season. This caused the excess flow to disrupt the diversion at Herondo Avenue. Because of our Beachkeeper volunteers efforts and observations, the illegal discharge is no longer flowing from the drain. In addition, LA County DPW has informed us that WRD and City of Torrance are working to improve the coordination efforts to ensure that the system is properly adjusted for future discharges.
Special Studies
Ballona Creek Water Quality Improvement Project
Since January 2002, we have been making great strides with the City of Culver City on the Ballona Creek Water Quality Improvement Project. For this project, the Baykeeper is subcontracted by the City of Culver City to monitor a large storm drain where a Best Management Practice (BMP) device has been installed to reduce pollutants. For 3 years, we collected data on a weekly basis about specific pollutants that flow from this drain before the installation of the device, to help determine how effective the device will be in reducing the major contaminants such as trash and bacteria.
The device is known as a Continuous Deflective Separation (CDS) system and it separates and captures solids from liquids, reducing some of the pollutant loading from this drain. Once the installation of the system is complete Baykeeper will continue to monitor for another year and we then plan on analyzing the data and producing a detailed report.
The device was installed November 2004, and is the first device of its kind to be installed near Ballona Creek. We were also able to work with other agencies such as Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) to monitor for additional parameters on the site. Our second phase for this project will soon be underway. We plan on putting up educational signage near the device for the community to learn about their watershed, what they can do to protect their waterways, and how this device helps to improve water quality in the creek.
Paradise Cove/Ramirez Creek Project
The Beachkeeper Program has helped to plan, implement, and monitor a Best Management Plan (BMP) device that cleans up polluted water and helps meet TMDL pollution limits, in the city of Malibu. Ramirez Creek runs through a portion of the Malibu Creek Watershed and empties out in front of the Paradise Cove property in Malibu. For years, Beachkeeper volunteers have monitored this creek and it has consistently shown bacteria levels that significantly exceed state health standards. Many families visit this beach throughout the year and children consistently play in and nearby this creek.
The owners of the property and local restaurant worked with the Beachkeeper Program over several months to find a solution to the problem. After thorough research, monitoring throughout the property and an investigation, a bacteria reducing device was installed on the property. This Clear Creek Systems Inc. device uses a UV system to kill bacteria as the water flows through the system. Beachkeeper staff and volunteers monitor the creek and the effectiveness of the system on a weekly basis and have seen a dramatic drop in bacteria levels. There are signs up about the device and the weekly results are posted so beachgoers are aware of the bacteria levels for that week. We hope that this project serves as an example for many of the upcoming BMPs in the Los Angeles region.
We continue to monitor the site on a weekly basis and our ongoing efforts over the past few years has lead to attention from the City of Malibu and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. They are interested in seeking out more funding to increase the capacity of the existing device and build upon Baykeeper’s efforts. This is great news for the water quality in Paradise Cove. The plan is to improve the device so that it can handle not only dry weather flows, but also certain levels of winter weather flows. Baykeeper will be a part of this effort and plans to continue to monitor when the new and improved device is installed.
Community Involvement
Since August 2001, Baykeeper has been an active stakeholder in the Ballona Creek Watershed Task Force (BCWTF). This task force was formed to develop a watershed management plan that will help improve water quality and restore habitat in the Ballona Creek Watershed. The Beachkeeper Program Director, Angie Bera, serves as the monitoring subcommittee chair and spearheaded many monitoring efforts on the creek and the collection of water quality monitoring information from all stakeholders involved. The Beachkeeper program had an integral role in the development of the community based monitoring chapter in the management plan. Baykeeper has been meeting with the BCWTF monitoring subcommittee to start to create a database to house all of the projects, studies, data collection efforts, etc. that have taken place on Ballona Creek. The first phase of this database is to create a library type form that will house all the general information of what was mentioned above in an easily searchable format.
Additional Water Quality Resources
SCCWRP
For Southern California water quality studies and technical reports
Santa Monica Bay Restoration
For a detailed look at the Bay’s history, geography, habitat, and challenges
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
For Los Angeles region water quality regulations
River Network
For information regarding the Clean Water Act and how to get more involved