The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.
Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.
The San Luis Obispo BWTF is a collaborative community effort between the San Luis Obispo chapter, the Cal Poly Surfrider Student Club, Avila Beach Central Coast Aquarium, and San Simeon Cove Coastal Discovery Center. We monitor water quality at ocean beaches and in other coastal waterways including estuaries, creeks and river mouths.
Our BWTF data augments the beach monitoring program conducted by the San Luis Obispo County beach monitoring program, and provides information for the public about local water quality conditions.
If you are interested in becoming a BWTF volunteer, please contact bwtf@slo.surfrider.org
Local Water Quality Resources