Beaches too dirty to be the best
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Russ Hill
I am dismayed at the quotation attributed to our mayor, Toni Iseman,
in the Aug. 8 edition of the Coastline Pilot.
She is quoted as saying “It has always been clear to us that we
have the best beaches. “ Perhaps she chose to disregard the reports
from the California State Water Resources Control Board, summarized
at www.swrcb.ca.gov (San Diego, Region 9), indicating that Laguna
Beach has one of the highest ratios of sewage spills per lineal mile
in the state. In fact, the entire coastal tidal zone from San Diego
to Santa Barbara, including the feeding creeks and rivers, are
federal Impaired Water Bodies.
Of concern to all ocean visitors and Laguna Beach residents whose
children surf and play in the ocean, in particular, is that the
Environmental Protection Agency has noted the presence of carcinogens
and pathogenic bacteria. Creeks and tributaries feed our coast with
pathogenic bacteria and viruses, PCBs and various neurotoxins common
to herbicides and pesticides. Because of these long term influences,
our tide pools and marine habitats are practically barren compared to
when I moved here only 25 years ago. Many experts feel that the coast
is already beyond restoration.
Finally, I am concerned that the Travel Network and especially
Parenting Magazine would market toxic beaches to the entire country
and world. Although enticing unknowing guests into our oceans is
financially beneficial to our local economy, it seems that we are
promoting an attractive nuisance of incomprehensible magnitude.
Iseman says that our beaches are the best place for
people-watching. I agree that people watching on the boardwalk is one
of the few safe activities left at the beach.
As a psychologist, Iseman knows well that the first step to
recovery is recognition of the problem. When will we admit we have a
problem? By the time we hit “rock bottom” it will be too late.
* RUSS HILL is a Laguna Beach resident.
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