DATE:
May 24, 2023
04
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
APPROVE AND RATIFY FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 REVENUE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR BEACH AND BAY WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM (DISTRICTS: 1, 3, & 5)
Body
OVERVIEW
State law (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 765, Sections 115875 - 115915) provides a program for beach water quality testing and public notification when test results indicate an increased risk of illness during water contact. The law establishes criteria to identify the beach locations and frequency of monitoring for water quality and the process for providing information to the public on beach water quality conditions and closing beaches for sewage impacts. The criteria identifies beaches: 1) with storm drains that discharge to the beach during dry weather and 2) that are visited by more than 50,000 people per year. Beaches that meet these criteria are mandated to be monitored at least weekly from April 1 through October 31, the "dry weather" period when beaches are most accessed for recreation, by the local health officer or director of environmental health during a fiscal year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for local agencies to cover the costs associated with the performance of these duties. The appropriated funds are distributed through State revenue agreements. The revenue agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for Fiscal Year 2022-23 is the subject of this Board letter.
Since 1999, the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has annually entered into a revenue agreement with the State to receive funds to implement the State-mandated dry weather Beach and Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program (Program). This Program collects samples and tests ocean water, conducts public education and outreach, posts signs warning of contaminated water at public beaches when samples exceed State health standards, and closes beaches impacted by sewag...
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