With winter wetness finally seeming to arrive in the Estero Bay area, the County is advising everyone to stay clear of ocean waters during and immediately after rainstorms, as the blessings of rain carry a small curse.
SLO County’s Public Health Department issued an advisory on Feb. 4, warning the public “to avoid ocean water contact during, and at least 3-days following, significant rainstorms — such as the recent storm.”
That Feb. 4 storm saw high winds and heavy rains fall through much of the day, with the Morro Bay Fire Department recording 0.54-inches of rain in a 24-hour period. According to the KSBY TV weather page, Los Osos got 1.64” of rain; and Cambria 1.45” during that same storm, with more rain forecast for later in the week.
Ordinarily once the rains come, they wash down the streets and gutters, collecting into storm drains, and carrying oils, brake dust and other pollutants that naturally fall off vehicles traveling down the street.
They also carry any animals’ parts or waste products (poo) that might be lingering on the pavement, sidewalks and gutters.
Urban rain runoff can be dirty stuff, and it’s the first “big flush” of heavy rain through the storm drains that are of most concern.
Also, the grassy ranch and farmlands east of Morro Bay can have pesticides and herbicides in it, and cow pies strewn across them, which can wash down drainage swales into creeks and eventually the ocean, so-called “non-point source pollutants.”
“Rainstorm runoff,” the County news release said, “is known to transport high levels of disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa from the watershed and urban areas to the ocean. Such organisms carried into the ocean can cause skin, respiratory, and intestinal problems.
“Young children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to these waterborne pathogens.”
One might also caution surfers to stay clear of the waves, tempting as they may be, until the ocean has had a chance to cleanse itself.
“Surfers, swimmers and others are advised to avoid contact with ocean water during this period,” the County advised, “especially in areas close to creeks, rivers, storm drains and other runoff outlets that empty into the ocean.”
If readers want to see the latest testing results on ocean water quality at local beaches, the County has a website, see: www.SurfSafeSLO.org or call the Ocean Water Monitoring Program Telephone Hotline at (805) 788-3411.
