SOUNDING OFF: Vote to reduce Aliso Creek pollution

Urban runoff at Aliso Beach is now running between 2 to 8 million gallons per day (up from 1 to 5 million 10 years ago), according to county monitoring reports.

In 1976, surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found tidewater goby (a fish found in California’s coastal wetlands) at the beach wetlands pond, indicating a zero flow to the beach. The urban runoff ocean plume is pushed by currents into Treasure Island Cove, only 400 yards up coast in front of the Montage Resort, to expose unsuspecting visitors to possible gastrointestinal and respiratory illness, skin infections and even eye infections that can lead to blindness if not treated properly.

An outbreak of urban runoff-induced diseases could ruin the economic viability of this major coastal resort.

Daily flows at Aliso Beach feed a permanent near-shore algae bloom afflicting hundreds of seals, sea lions, dolphins, elephant seals, pelicans and other sea life with brain damage from domoic acid poisoning.

Neither the county, Surfrider or Coastkeeper test water quality outside of the surf zone. Just visit the Laguna Beach Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Canyon to witness the face of ocean pollution on dozens of rescued blind, sick and dying sea mammals.

This is an election season, and Surfrider members and others need to suit up and speak out for immediate solutions to inland urban runoff at Aliso Beach as an example of the need for prompt solutions up and down the coast.

Urban runoff in this watershed comes from imported water (later recycled as “reclaimed water”) sold by Moulton Niguel Water District to Surfrider members and others living primarily in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel.

Capturing and diverting 300 days of dry-weather flows for beneficial reuse can remove up to 1 billion gallons of polluted water from the ocean at Aliso Beach alone each year. If even a portion of this “new water” is sold as recycled water, it can generate $2 million to $4 million in revenues annually.

Water-filtration technology is now compact and mobile. Communities in Encinitas, Dana Point and elsewhere are capturing and cleaning urban runoff. Learned helplessness and apathy are the only obstacles to stopping the flow of urban runoff to the ocean. It takes courage and action to make a difference. Do we have what it takes to initiate prompt action?

We all need to ask city, county, state and federal candidates what are they going to do, when are they going to do it and how will they be held accountable should they fail to implement immediate, timely interventions.

We’ve got 60 days before the elections to make a difference … let’s get hot!