Coastkeeper will need help
In Huntington Harbour and Anaheim Bay, a major study is being done by
local environmentalists that could give a key, in-depth look at the
levels of pollution in both bodies of water.
The study is being directed and funded by the Santa Ana Regional
Water Quality Control Board, with the help of Orange County
Coastkeeper, which is providing the state agency with boats and
manpower.
If all works according to plan, the testing will give the Santa
Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board data needed to decide how
high a priority cleanup and monitoring there should be. When that
happens, the volunteers from Orange County Coastkeeper, who have been
working diligently, will have earned a huge “thanks” from this
community.
Volunteers from this nonprofit environmental organization, led by
their seemingly tireless leader Garry Brown, have faithfully joined
scientists in a search of water and sediment samples, and answers to
what, and how much pollutants plague our harbor. The study began in
the summer of 2001 collecting dry season samples, but the wet season
portion of the study had to be put on hold until rains came.
With the rains here in full force this year, the sampling has
resumed and answers may be available in as soon as six months,
according the folks at the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control
Board. That will mean a plan of action can be drawn up. And it will
be time for residents to pitch in. It can no longer be left to the
Coastkeeper volunteers to care for our waters.
The results will hopefully determine what the major causes of
pollution in the harbor are, whether it be runoff from washing cars,
rinsing restaurant mats into the water or pollutants from the boats
in the harbor, and that is where the problem will need to be
attacked.
It won’t be long now, so let’s get ready to offer our thanks and
do our part.
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