We plan, design, build, and maintain modern infrastructure that uplifts all communities of Los Angeles County.
Gary Hildebrand Assistant Deputy Director/
Division Engineer
Terri Grant Assistant Division Engineer
Hector J. Bordas Assistant Division Engineer
Scott Schales Assistant Division Engineer
Study Frequently Asked Questions
Who is conducting the study?
The office of County of Los Angeles Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, the Southern
California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), Heal the Bay, the City of Malibu, and the County
of Los Angeles Departments of Public Works and Public Health.
When will the study begin?
The study will begin March 27, 2007, and end in the fall of 2008.
Where does the bacteria come from?
High bacteria levels can stem from any combination of sources, including household pets,
horses, septic systems, wildlife, and shorebirds. The study is being conducted to determine the bacteria source(s)
and develop ways to prevent bacteria from reaching our local beaches.
What will happen during the study?
The study will be conducted in several phases. During the first 10-week period, researcher
will collect water samples from 27 beaches, stream, and creek locations in the North Santa Monica Bay. These water
samples will be sent to an independent laboratory for testing. In later phases, researchers will determine whether
bacteria found are from anthropogenic (human-related) sources or from native wildlife. The presence of common household
by-products, like optical brighteners (added to almost all laundry soaps and detergents) and caffeine, would be consistent
with a human impact on water quality.
By Phase III, bacteria "hot spots" (locations with high bacteria readings) will be recognized and additional upstream
and downstream testing may be needed to track the source.
A creek on my neighbor's property was selected for testing, but mine was not. Why is that?
Water sampling location were selected because of their strategic location within the watershed
and because of their ability to yield more useful information. Approximately half the water sampling locations open to
the public. The rest of the samples will be taken from privately-owned properties with creeks that flow downstream
into Escondido Beach and Paradise Cove. In each of these cases, property owner have granted the County access to their
grounds for water sample collection.
What are the health risks of coming into contact with beach water with high bacteria levels?
When it rains, storm drains, creeks, and rivers carry stormwater run-off from urban and wilderness
areas to the ocean. This run-off and the area where run-off enters the ocean may contain high levels of bacteria. These
locations should be avoided until at least 72 hours after the rainfall, as elevated bacteria levels in the ocean water
can cause some individuals to become ill.