Morro Bay’s summer lifeguard season ended in October, according to the Harbor Director’s most recent report to the Harbor Advisory Board, and the young men and women watching out for folks on the beach had a busy summer.
According to Harbor Director Eric Endersby’s December department status report, the lifeguards had “1,224 contacts recorded with the public, gave 704 safety lectures, and had an estimated beach patron count of 108,258 people for the season.”
It should be noted that Morro Bay’s “City” beach extends from the Morro Rock Parking lot north to the mouth of Morro Creek. From there the State Parks Department’s Morro Strand State Beach starts and runs up to the City’s North Point Natural Area.
Beyond that is where the City’s newest acquisition the “Chevron Dog Beach,” starts and runs up to the southern end of Studio Drive in Cayucos.
Morro Bay’s lifeguards are posted on the City’s beach and lifeguards working for County Parks keep a watch on Cayucos Beach at the Cayucos Pier, otherwise there is a miles-long gap in lifeguard coverage on the North Coast’s longest beach.
Nevertheless, Endersby’s report said they didn’t lose anyone to drowning.
“They assisted 351 people in the water this summer,” he said, “and only had one true rescue — a testament to their preventive actions. We are so proud of our Beach Lifeguards and the job they do.”
The two portable watch towers that the City puts out on its beach every spring have been removed and stored, but the single blue tower installed at the base of Morro Crock remains. Endersby said they leave that one out even though there are no lifeguards on duty because it is useful as a lookout spot during ocean rescues by Morro Rock, where the majority of people surf.
