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.