As most locals know, one of the worst times to go into the ocean is after a storm.
The rain washes oil, grease, pesticides, metals, and bacteria into San Diego coasts, creating urban runoff. Swimming through it can cause gastrointestinal sicknesses, and our region has had plenty of time between big rainfalls to build up pollutants.
So San Diego Coastkeeper, a water conservation and protection group, listed the top ten places their volunteers see the most urban runoff.
The organization says it listed the sites from the most visually compelling to the most basic, though in no scientific order:
1. Dairy Mart Road: The Tijuana River overruns a wastewater treatment plant, through the estuary and onto beaches in the winter, bringing binational polluted runoff, Coastkeeper says.
2. 3001 Harbor Drive bridge: The spot over looks Chollas Creek, which is filled with trash.
3. Dog Beach in Ocean Beach: The San Diego River brings pollution from as far away as Julian.
4. Tecolote Shore in Mission Beach: Tecolote Creek, which has a high bacteria count, drains into Mission Bay here, closing that section of Mission Bay for swimming even when it isn’t raining.
5. San Dieguito River Park Stormwater Treatment Lagoon: A pipe drops urban runoff from a nearby development into ponds, which sometimes contain stagnant water and algae. However, the ponds prevent the contaminated water from reaching the actual lagoon.
6. Cottonwood Creek at Moonlight State Beach: The favorite spot for swimming and surfing is also a prime location for urban runoff because the Cottonwood Creek feeds in pollutants.
7. Coast Boulevard Park: A cement pipe carries storm drain water straight into the ocean, causing a large algae plume.
8. Tourmaline Surf Park: A paved stormwater channel runs to the beach and into the surf zone.
9. 300 Forward Street in La Jolla: A storm drain that orginates in a neighborhood juts out into the ocean.
10. 2306 S. Coast Highway: An open channel feeds water from a parking lot and highway directly into the water.
Many coastal storm drains have permanent warning signs, advising swimmers to stay out of the water at least 72 hours after a rain storm.
Coastkeeper also listed the top ten ways to prevent urban runoff on its website.
