Water Quality
Our waterfront needs to be a safe and healthy place to live, work, and play. Water contamination in the harbor jeopardizes public health and the commercial fishing industry. Fast-tracking the cleanup effort is good for business and good for the environment.
We were impressed with your knowledge on a range of issues and your obvious passion for serving the public. Your extensive environmental record and many years of service to the community show us you are the kind of candidate we can be proud to endorse. - The Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter
On August 18, 2011, boat owner Tracy Pearson wrote to the Harbor District manager:
I noticed a large cloud of brown smelly sewage water drifting by my boat on the outgoing tide. I called the harbor phone and left a message but got no response...My neighbor, Fran Young owner of the M/V Brother Buzz, told me he saw raw sewage being pumped into the harbor.
Capistrano Beach at Pillar Point Harbor is contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria, including E. coli and Enterococcus. It is posted as a potential health hazard, and Heal the Bay often ranks it among the top ten most polluted beaches in California. The San Mateo County Resource Conservation District has been conducting a study to identify specific sources.
Families with young children come to Harbor beaches because of the sheltering breakwater. Members of the local Mother's Club avoid Capistrano beach, but visitors often miss the small warning signs. Again and again, children are spotted playing in the water with parents completely unaware of the contamination.
The Harbor District can do better. The EPA recommends using biodegradable dye tablets in vessel septic holding tanks to ensure that federal laws are enforced. The fluorescent dye would enable the Harbor Patrol to detect illegal discharges of untreated sewage. Another solution might include requiring all boat owners to visit the pump out station once a week.
Cleaning up the harbor is good for business. Pillar Point Harbor is a local source for fresh sustainably caught seafood. This healthy product should not be compromised. The success of the commercial fishing fleet depends on a clean harbor. A well-formulated plan to restore acceptable water quality is long overdue.
