Guardian of the Bay

Baykeeper, the environmental group dedicated to reversing the environmental degradation of the past and promote new strategies and policies to protect the water quality of the San Francisco Bay, recently announced that 90 percent of Bay Area beaches received a clean bill of health for the summer. It attributes higher water quality to improvements to sewage systems funded by a series of clean-beach bonds that California voters have passed over the last decade. It goes on to mention that during the rainy season (winter) most beaches pose a serious health risk from raw sewage run-off. These health risks include intestinal problems, ear infections, skin rashes and respiratory ailments.

I'm not sure if this release is a pat on the back to voters, with hopes of future support on Baykeeper initiatives, but wouldn't it be fair to say that the rainy season washes away most of the pathogens so that by the summer the beaches should be safe for use?

Baykeeper is smart. This group of activists and lawyers sue companies around the bay regularly to promote better industrial practices while taking home a profit. I can't help to feel that the settlements they negotiate require only marginal levels of compliance for the big businesses/polluters. The good news is that anyone who is ambitious enough to decipher such laws as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, or Prop 65, can take these businesses to court and force them to comply- while making a nice chunk of change for themself.

Baykeeper does follow through on a noble initiative, but it does leave me wanting. There is still too much being dumped inconsequentially into the Bay and, as the Gulf is showing, too much at stake. Either way- the summer does offer the best time for foggy adventures and decent water quality in Nor Cal - so if you do plan to head to the beach make sure you hit those beaches which scored highest in our area according to SFGate.

The following Bay Area beaches received A's or B's, year-round, for water quality, according to Heal the Bay:

San Mateo County

-- Rockaway Beach

-- Montara State Beach

-- San Gregorio State Beach

-- Coyote Point

East Bay

-- Alameda Point

-- Most of Crown Beach

San Francisco

-- Aquatic Park

-- China Beach

-- Ocean Beach near Sloat

Marin

-- Every beach, including Stinson, Muir, Bolinas and Drake's

Sonoma

-- Every beach

And be sure to stay away from these Dumps.

These beaches received D's or F's for at least part of the year:

San Francisco

-- Baker Beach near Lobos Creek

San Mateo

-- Lakeshore Park

Contra Costa

-- Keller Beach, Richmond

I'm not sure how Linda Mar scores, but I'm sure I still have some poop in my eyes and ears from this winter, yaaa ummmmm...