Beaches too dirty to be the best

Russ Hill

I am dismayed at the quotation attributed to our mayor, Toni Iseman,

in the Aug. 8 edition of the Coastline Pilot.

She is quoted as saying “It has always been clear to us that we

have the best beaches. “ Perhaps she chose to disregard the reports

from the California State Water Resources Control Board, summarized

at www.swrcb.ca.gov (San Diego, Region 9), indicating that Laguna

Beach has one of the highest ratios of sewage spills per lineal mile

in the state. In fact, the entire coastal tidal zone from San Diego

to Santa Barbara, including the feeding creeks and rivers, are

federal Impaired Water Bodies.

Of concern to all ocean visitors and Laguna Beach residents whose

children surf and play in the ocean, in particular, is that the

Environmental Protection Agency has noted the presence of carcinogens

and pathogenic bacteria. Creeks and tributaries feed our coast with

pathogenic bacteria and viruses, PCBs and various neurotoxins common

to herbicides and pesticides. Because of these long term influences,

our tide pools and marine habitats are practically barren compared to

when I moved here only 25 years ago. Many experts feel that the coast

is already beyond restoration.

Finally, I am concerned that the Travel Network and especially

Parenting Magazine would market toxic beaches to the entire country

and world. Although enticing unknowing guests into our oceans is

financially beneficial to our local economy, it seems that we are

promoting an attractive nuisance of incomprehensible magnitude.

Iseman says that our beaches are the best place for

people-watching. I agree that people watching on the boardwalk is one

of the few safe activities left at the beach.

As a psychologist, Iseman knows well that the first step to

recovery is recognition of the problem. When will we admit we have a

problem? By the time we hit “rock bottom” it will be too late.

* RUSS HILL is a Laguna Beach resident.