Latest news with #SurfriderFoundation
Time Out
a day ago
- Health
- Time Out
This U.S. beach is the top "bacteria hot spot" in the country
Summer is almost here, and throngs of sun-seekers will soon be heading to sandy beaches for some R&R. But before you pack your towel and sunscreen, take note: some of the country's most stunning beaches are hiding a dirty secret—literally. According to the Surfrider Foundation's 2024 Clean Water Report, beachgoers may be swimming in water contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. The report ranks the most bacteria-laden beaches, and the biggest offender is Kahalu'u Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, where a jaw-dropping 92-percent of water samples failed to meet health standards. Right behind it is Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing in Poipu, Hawaii, with a 90-percent failure rate. And it's not just Hawaii. The report lists top bacteria hot spots all across the U.S.—from the East and West Coasts to Puerto Rico. These aren't remote, forgotten beaches. They're community hubs, tourist magnets and vital ecosystems. The foundation points to a nasty brew of stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, agricultural waste and failing infrastructure as the primary culprits for bacterial buildup. Nearly 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff hit U.S. waterways each year. Add in 900 billion gallons of untreated sewage from aging systems, and it's a health hazard in the making. These beaches may look pristine, but the detected bacteria can cause rashes, stomach bugs, skin infections or worse. Raw sewage also feeds harmful algal blooms, kills fish and devastates coral reefs. Climate change only fuels the mess with rising seas and more intense storms overwhelming fragile systems. In 2024, Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force processed over 10,000 samples from 604 sites, with a shocking 80% showing high bacteria levels. Volunteers test water and trace pollutants, but they can't fix the root problems alone. That's why Surfrider is calling on Congress to stop slashing EPA funding and instead invest in clean water and resilient infrastructure. Clean, swimmable beaches shouldn't be a luxury—they should be a given. U.S. beaches with the highest levels of bacteria Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing, Kauai, HI Kahalu'u, Kahalu'u, O'ahu, HI Imperial Beach - San Diego, CA San Luis Creek Mouth- Avila Beach, CA Linda Mar Beach - Pacifica, CA South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock - Tacoma, WA Playa Crashboat - Aguadilla, PR Park View Kayak Launch - Miami Beach, FL Ballard Park - Melbourne, FL Windmill Beach - Sag Harbor, NY
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
One of the most polluted waterways in the US is in WA. Here's where
Washington is home to one of the most bacteria-ridden beaches in the country, according to the Surfrider Foundation. The nonprofit organization recently released its 2024 Clean Water Report to 'build awareness of issues that affect water quality and your health at the beach.' The report, published on May 20, pinpoints 10 beaches across the United States and Puerto Rico where high bacteria levels consistently exceed state health standards and could put public health at risk. The Surfrider Foundation tested more than 600 sites across the nation, with 80% of samples yielding 'at least one high bacteria result that exceeded state health standards,' according to the report. One urban waterway in Tacoma landed on Surfrider's list of 2024 Beach Bacteria Hot Spots: Thea Foss. It had a 64% rate of unhealthy levels of bacteria detected. The location also made the hot-spot list last year. Across the state, testing took place 41 times in the Northwest Straits, 94 times in the South Sound and 46 times in Olympia. 'The ultimate goal is to use (Surfrider Foundation's) Blue Water Task Force data to find and fix the sources of pollution and prioritize local efforts to restore clean water locally,' the nonprofit notes in a statement about the report. According to the Clean Water Report, Surfrider Foundation chapters measured high bacteria levels in 2024 at multiple sampling sites across the United States. At these bacteria hot spots, the foundation consistently measured levels of high bacteria that exceeded state health standards for recreational waters, the report said. 'That means more than one in every three samples collected fail to meet safe swimming standards at this popular spot for children to play, paddle and splash around in the water,' the Surfrider Foundation report notes. Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force provides interactive data of testing sites in Washington. Testing locations, with updates through May 2025, include: Olympia - Squaxin Park Steilacoom - Sunnyside Beach University Place - Titlow Beach Tacoma - Thea Foss Floating Dock Tacoma - Jack Hyde Park Tacoma - Lee Davis Dive Steps Point Defiance - Owen Beach Gig Harbor - Jerisich Dock Dash Point - Dash Point State Park Farther north, the Northwest Straits Blue Water Task Force tests waterways in the Bellingham and Whatcom County region. In the last year, three locations there have tested positive for 'high' rates of bacteria that exceed Washington state health safety standards. Those locations include: Fairhaven - Padden Creek Mouth 1 Bellingham - Locust Beach 2 Bellingham - Locust Beach 3 No locations in eastern Washington were tested. If you don't see your beach on the list, you can check Washington's beach status tool through the Department of Ecology for information on specific beaches that are monitored by the state. According to the Surfrider Foundation, these were the 10 most polluted beaches in the United States and Puerto Rico, based on the percentage of samples that tested high for bacteria in 2024: Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York: 43% of samples Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida: 52% Park View Kayak Launch in Miami Beach, Florida: 90% Playa Crashboat in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico: 23% South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock in Tacoma, Washington: 64% Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica: 71% San Luis Creek Mouth in Avila Beach: 38% Imperial Beach in San Diego: 82% Kahalu'u in Oahu, Hawai'i: 92% Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing in Kauai, Hawai'i: 90% A total of 60 Blue Water Task Force labs processed 10,120 water samples collected from 604 distinct sampling sites in 2024, the Surfrider Foundation said. Of those sampling sites, 483 yielded at least one high bacteria result that exceeded state health standards. 'This shows the importance of regular water quality monitoring at the beach to protect public health and safe recreation,' the Surfrider Foundation report notes.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Eight Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Lowcountry
CHARLESTON, S.C. – (WCBD) – Eight restaurants in Charleston have been recognized as Ocean Friendly Restaurants by the Surfrider Foundation for following sustainable practices aimed at protecting the ocean and reducing plastic waste. 'The goal of the Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program is to build a community of eco-conscious restaurants and patrons that support a healthy lifestyle for all people and for the planet,' said CJ O'Brien Weddle, Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program manager. According to the Surfrider Foundation, to be considered an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, establishments must incorporate the following criteria: Using only reusable foodware for on-site dining Providing straws only upon request No use of Styrofoam No use of plastic bags for takeout orders Must follow proper recycling practices Restaurants must also implement three optional efforts, such as offering vegetarian and vegan food options regularly, using energy-efficient appliances, serving seafood that is 'Best Choice' or 'Good Alternative' as defined by Seafood Watch, or serving no seafood, and making composting efforts for food waste. Here are the full lists of requirements and optional efforts restaurants must follow to be a part of the program. Local restaurants speak out to make waves of change. Eight businesses around the Lowcountry have been recognized by the Surfrider Foundation as Ocean Friendly Restaurants. Some restaurants expressed why the program is important to them. 'Being proactive means protecting what we love – and for us, that's the ocean,' said Cyn Harlow, owner of Sun Dazed Cafe. 'Being an Ocean Friendly Restaurant means more than just good food; it's a commitment to sustainability, conservation, and ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and bounty of our seas,' said Daniel Dalton, the area executive chef for Little Palm. 'For a guest to know we are an earth-friendly restaurant helps them understand right away that we are a business that works to reduce our impact and are conscious of our environment, creating a sense of trust and awareness,' said Greer Gilchrist, co-owner of The Harbinger and Harken Cafe & Bakeries. 'Our mission, mantra, and method is to protect, preserve, AND RESTORE the ecosystems from which healthy, sustainable food comes. And to steer consumers away from species that are overfished. For example, we don't serve tuna because it is grossly over-fished AND full of heavy metals and micro-plastics,' said Kevin Joseph, chef and founder of the Raw Lab and Empire Oyster. Here is a list of all the Ocean Friendly Restaurants in the Charleston area. Why did the Surfrider Foundation create the program? Although the problems of plastic pollution may be complex, the solution behind the program is simple: stop plastic at the source. According to the Surfrider Foundation, the extraction, production, consumption, and disposal of plastic can cause serious environmental and humanitarian consequences. 'By choosing to dine at Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants, customers can make a difference and help protect the ocean and coasts for all people,' said CJ O'Brien Weddle, Surfrider's Ocean Friendly programs manager. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Southern California Beach Has the Highest Bacteria Rates in the State—and It's One of the Dirtiest in the U.S.
Ocean-focused environmental nonprofit the Surfrider Foundation recently released its annual Clean Water Report. It found that Imperial Beach, near San Diego, had the highest bacteria rate in California. A large part of the problem stems from an overflow of sewage from a treatment plant in long coastline might be known for its beautiful and dramatic beaches, but one of them is a bacteria hot spot—and a threat to public health. The nonprofit environmental organization, the Surfrider Foundation, recently released its annual Clean Water Report. For its report, the foundation collected 10,120 water samples from 604 sampling sites across the country. After analyzing all the samples, it found that Imperial Beach in San Diego County, California, was the dirtiest beach in the state—and one of the most contaminated in the U.S.—with a bacteria rate of 82 percent. However, this is a known problem to the city, and the high bacteria rate is largely due to an overflow of sewage pollution from the Tijuana River. The beach is currently closed. 'The failures in Tijuana's sewage treatment, conveyance, and pump station network have been responsible for the decades of transboundary sewage flows coming through the Tijuana River, which have significantly worsened since 2017,' the City of Imperial Beach said in a February statement on its website. 'The beach is closed because sewage flows in the Tijuana River are exceptionally high.' Imperial Beach is actively trying to address the issue, but the problem spans across the border into Mexico, and despite its best efforts, the high levels of pollution and unpleasant smells from the pollution continue on the beach. 'The City of Imperial Beach is engaged in continuous advocacy at every level of government, including requests to fund immediate solutions and petitions for declarations of emergency from the Governor of California and President of the United States,' the Imperial Beach said in its February statement. 'Unfortunately, all requests for a declaration of emergency have been denied.' A declaration of emergency would make it easier for Imperial Beach to access emergency funding and work on infrastructure projects that could ease the flow of pollution from Mexico into the San Diego area. The city encourages residents to file official complaints about the odor and air quality problems—the formal reports serve as an official record of the scope of the problem at Imperial Beach. 'Everyone deserves to enjoy a fun day at the beach without worrying about getting sick from exposure to pollution,' the SurfRider organization said in its Clean Water Report. Other hotspots that made the list this year include places like Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York; Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida; and Kahaluu on Oahu in Hawaii. Using the information they've gathered the Surfrider Foundation works to protect clean water for all by advocating at the local, state, and federal levels. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
This Southern California Beach Has the Highest Bacteria Rates in the State—and It's One of the Dirtiest in the U.S.
California's long coastline might be known for its beautiful and dramatic beaches, but one of them is a bacteria hot spot—and a threat to public health. The nonprofit environmental organization, the Surfrider Foundation, recently released its annual Clean Water Report. For its report, the foundation collected 10,120 water samples from 604 sampling sites across the country. After analyzing all the samples, it found that Imperial Beach in San Diego County, California, was the dirtiest beach in the state—and one of the most contaminated in the U.S.—with a bacteria rate of 82 percent. However, this is a known problem to the city, and the high bacteria rate is largely due to an overflow of sewage pollution from the Tijuana River. The beach is currently closed. 'The failures in Tijuana's sewage treatment, conveyance, and pump station network have been responsible for the decades of transboundary sewage flows coming through the Tijuana River, which have significantly worsened since 2017,' the City of Imperial Beach said in a February statement on its website. 'The beach is closed because sewage flows in the Tijuana River are exceptionally high.' Imperial Beach is actively trying to address the issue, but the problem spans across the border into Mexico, and despite its best efforts, the high levels of pollution and unpleasant smells from the pollution continue on the beach. 'The City of Imperial Beach is engaged in continuous advocacy at every level of government, including requests to fund immediate solutions and petitions for declarations of emergency from the Governor of California and President of the United States,' the Imperial Beach said in its February statement. 'Unfortunately, all requests for a declaration of emergency have been denied.' A declaration of emergency would make it easier for Imperial Beach to access emergency funding and work on infrastructure projects that could ease the flow of pollution from Mexico into the San Diego area. The city encourages residents to file official complaints about the odor and air quality problems—the formal reports serve as an official record of the scope of the problem at Imperial Beach. 'Everyone deserves to enjoy a fun day at the beach without worrying about getting sick from exposure to pollution,' the SurfRider organization said in its Clean Water Report. Other hotspots that made the list this year include places like Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York; Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida; and Kahaluu on Oahu in Hawaii. Using the information they've gathered the Surfrider Foundation works to protect clean water for all by advocating at the local, state, and federal levels.
