Coastal waters are inundated by a wave of land-based pollution. Pathogens (such as bacteria), toxic chemicals, nitrogen, and other contaminants that are dumped into coastal waters as a result of rampant development, agriculture and forestry practices, storm drains, malfunctioning septic systems, overburdened sewage treatment plants, and other sources. These sources pollute the nation’s beach waters and threatening the health of our coasts.
CWN’s coastal advocates work to protect coasts by working on the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (also known as the Coastal Runoff Program), on implementing the law in order to improve beach water quality and protect public health, and estuary related issues.
For more information on coastal issues:
Contact the Coastal Work Group Chair:
Catherine Hazlewood with the Ocean Conservancy at 202.429.5609 or chazlewood@oceanconservancy.org.
...coastal web links:
The Ocean Conservancy
Coast Alliance
Oceana
NRDC’s annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that closings due to bacterial contamination continue to rise nationwide. In 2005, the number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 –- more than ever recorded in the survey’s 16-year history. This edition of Testing the Waters also identifies the number of times each beach violated public health standards, finding that 200 designated swimming beaches violated these standards at least 25 percent of the time. The 2006 survey is based on information reported for 2005.
To access the full report, go to http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp
