Going to the beach isn’t a bummer in San Mateo: Marina Lagoon not polluted, safe for swimming

“We’re definitely thrilled to be off the Beach Bummer list this year,” said Sarah Scheidt, regulatory compliance manager with San Mateo’s Public Works Department. “It’s been kind of a personal and professional goal to improve the water quality and get off that list and we’ve taken some pretty extensive measures to get there.”

Efforts include spending $250,000 a year on a specialist to manage nuisance algae and plant growth, hiring someone to clean up pesky goose droppings, repairing storm and sewer drains, hosting a community clean-up program and conducting more public outreach, Scheidt said.

Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card was released Thursday and highlights the state’s most polluted, bacteria-ridden locales with a spot near Pillar Point Harbor making the list this year and in 2014.

San Mateo’s Marina Lagoon was not only bumped off the list on which it’s been the three years prior, county health officials who conduct weekly water-quality tests have for several months in a row declared it safe to swim.

It hasn’t always been that way. Over the last year, 82 percent of San Mateo County beaches scored an A grade, but the Pillar Point and Aquatic Park at Marina Lagoon sites — two semi-enclosed bodies of water — received far lower scores, according to the report. Both sites received a year-round F during wet-weather periods.

Some of the county’s best scoring and cleanest spots include Sharp Park and Rockaway beaches, along with Montara, Dunes, Francis and Bean Hollow state beaches. San Mateo’s Coyote Point scored the highest of the Bayfront beaches tested in the county, according to Heal the Bay.

San Mateo County had a high number of sewage spills the last year, with six beaches having to be closed and a total of nearly 425,307 gallons of sewage spilled, according to Heal the Bay.

The nonprofit compiles data from the county’s health system and bases grades on concentrations of E. coli and enterococcus — bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses that could range from minor infections to fatalities.

County health officials post warning signs deterring people from swimming when the water quality is poor. The county tests local bays, beaches and creeks for these indicator bacteria, which signal the possible presence of disease-causing organisms originating from animal and human waste, according to county Environmental Health Director Heather Forshey.

Forshey urged swimmers to avoid coastal waters during or immediately after heavy rains as well as within 300 feet of any flowing storm drain.

“There are many beautiful beaches and bays in San Mateo County. We recommend people choose a beach that does not have an active posting,” Forshey wrote in an email, adding people should use their judgment if an area appears polluted while always rinsing off after swimming.

Cowell Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was marked as the state’s most polluted site for the third year in a row. But the vast majority of state beaches scored exceedingly well this year, one of the rare silver linings of the drought as less runoff has improved water quality, according to Heal the Bay.

Scheidt noted the San Mateo’s lagoon collects runoff from a large portion of the city and while officials are striving to repair storm drain leaks and engaging in a multi-million dollar Clean Water Program; she urged the community to stay involved.

“One thing we’ve done is implement this ‘Team up to Cleanup,’ a program where we partner with different departments throughout the city and even different residential groups to do litter and trash cleanup around the city and in our waterways. We’ve also had several events at Marina Lagoon,” Scheidt said.

The city has also begun firmer enforcement for ensuring only stormwater enters the system, with a focus on commercial businesses — such as ensuring restaurants aren’t dumping grease down the drain, she said.

As much of the pollution originates from upstream and is caused by human activities, Scheidt urged everyone to be conscientious and do their part to keep their local beaches clean and safe for summer.

“I would encourage people to not litter, keep anything out of the storm drain other than rain water, pick up your pet waste and come out and help us do cleanup events. Also report when they see problems so we can deal with them, we really love community support in improving overall water quality,” Scheidt said. “And enjoy the summer!”

Visit smchealth.org/beaches for up-to-date information on which San Mateo County beaches are clean. Visit healthebay.org/beach-report-card to review Heal the Bay’s annual report card.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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