The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer-run water quality monitoring program that provides critical information to help protect public health at local beaches. The goal of the Blue Water Task Force is to fill in monitoring gaps and quickly communicate with the public where it’s safe to get in the water.
The Surfrider SLO BWTF has established a sampling schedule to complement the beach monitoring program conducted by the SLO County Environmental Health Department. The County tests on Mondays, while the chapter collects samples later in the week, so there are fresh test results on Fridays to inform safe recreation over the weekend.
In 2024, SLO BWTF tested 306 samples from 20 sites. At eleven sites, over 50% of the samples exceeded state standards. Sites with consistently high bacteria levels, including San Luis Obispo Creek sites, Marre Weir, and Pismo Beach Estuary, are all located in creeks or estuaries.
Click here for the full 2024 Annual Report and click here for current and historical SLO BWTF water quality testing results.
As Central California's Regional Manager, Bill help chapters tackle pollution issues that are affecting the marine environment. After years of volunteering with Surfrider, he applied for a job with the San Diego Chapter, where he worked for over five years. Now, he is stoked to be helping Surfrider chapters between Ventura and Santa Cruz fulfill the organization's mission.