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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COASTAL BEACH
Located in southern Orange County,
and owned by the County of Orange, Dana Point Harbor is
approximately half way between Los Angeles and San Diego.
It is bordered by the cities of Dana Point, Laguna Niguel
and Laguna Beach to the north, San Juan Capistrano to the
east, and San Clemente to the south.
The Harbor houses 2,500 yachts
within its two marinas, inside a one-and-a-half mile jetty.
Complete harbor facilities include: over 50 specialty shops
and restaurants; guest slips; a fuel dock; shipyard; launch
ramp; boat rentals; yacht sales; community class instruction
for all ages; fishing; windsurfing; jet skiing; kayaking;
boat charters; two yacht clubs; sailing association; the Ocean
Education Center; picnicking and a baby beach for young swimmers.
Map of the area is attached.
PUBLIC HEALTH OR WATER QUALITY
PROBLEM
Number of postings and closures
during the year 2000:
From 1-2000 to 6-9-2000 and
from 10-12-00 to 12-31-00, Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor
was posted continuously for violation of the Ocean Water
Contact Sports Standard.
Population use impact:
939,238 people visited Dana
Point Harbor during 2000. Specific attendance counts at
Baby Beach were not taken. However, Baby Beach is an extremely
popular area for families to recreate. It is widely used
by families with young children and kids just learning to
swim.
In Dana Point Harbor, the Orange
County Health Care Agency conducts weekly bacterial water
quality monitoring year round at ten locations in order
to determine compliance with the bathing water quality standards.
The local regional wastewater treatment agency performs
weekly water quality monitoring of beaches adjacent to the
harbor on a year round basis.
The water samples are tested
for total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Enterococci, which
are "indicator" bacteria. These bacteria indicate
the possible presence of disease producing bacteria but
do not generally cause illness themselves. There are two
groups of standards, the single sample instantaneous standard
and the 30-day log mean standard based on five weekly samples.
A violation of any one of these standards requires posting
of the affected beach by the local health officer. Baby
Beach was posted in the year 2000 for the following types
and quantities of bacteria:
6-16-00: Fecal Coliform >
400
6-22-00: Enterococcus > 104
7-4-00: Log Mean Exceedance for Enterococcus
7-6-00: Enterococcus > 104
7-19-00: Fecal Coliform > 400
8-16-00: Fecal Coliform > 400
8-23-00: Enterococcus > 400
8-30-00: Fecal Coliform > 400 and Enterococcus > 400
9-14-00: Fecal Coliform > 400 and Enterococcus > 400
9-20-00: Fecal Coliform > 400 and Enterococcus > 400
Presentation of Studies and Supporting
Data:
Water quality throughout Dana
Point Harbor is generally good, meeting all applicable bathing
water standards, with the exception of areas where large concentrations
of shorebirds roost, directly adjacent to storm drains and
after rainstorms.
Storm drains are not connected
to the sanitary sewer system and convey rainwater to the ocean
during storm events. During dry weather periods the story
drains contain urban runoff from excessive landscape irrigation,
the hosing off of driveways, car-washing, etc. The elevated
bacterial concentrations at Baby Beach may result from the
urban runoff from storm drains that discharge near the beach.
Plugs are installed during the dry summer months in the storm
drains to prevent the runoff from reaching Baby Beach. The
plugs are removed during the winter season and the rainwater
drains flow into Dana Point Harbor.
In July of 1996, Baby Beach was
closed to public body contact by order of the Orange County
Health Officer. Since that time, County staff has performed
many investigations into sources of the excessively high total
and fecal coliforms. These investigations include:
Dye testing all restroom facilities
in the west end of the harbor including moored vessels;
Extensive total and fecal coliform testing at surface, mid-depth
and bottom elevations in the water column throughout the
harbor;
Bacteriological testing of the sediments on and near Swim
Beach;
Bacteriological testing of groundwater seeps on Swim Beach;
Bacteriological testing of storm drain discharges;
Sanitary survey of local restaurant facilities;
Video investigations of all sewer lines and storm drains
in the vicinity of Swim Beach;
Closure of public restrooms for extended periods;
Blockage of storm drain outlets for extended periods;
Reduction and/or elimination of landscape irrigation for
extended periods;
Increased cleanup of animal excrement in the area;
Discouragement of pigeon nesting spots;
Location, excavation and testing of a 1950's era septic
tank system;
Drilling of 15 testing wells to detect and test groundwater
migration;
Drafting a revision to the anti-littering ordinance to include
food products.
Based on these studies, several
potential sources of the bacteriological problem and several
potential best management practices (BMPs) were identified
and are being implemented including:
Net the underside of the pier
to eliminate the pigeon roosts;
Discourage pigeon feeding;
Reduce irrigation of local landscaping;
Block storm drains during non storm periods and periodic
removal of accumulated water by vacuum trucks;
Dredge poor quality sand, silt, clay material off the beach
and replace it with clean sand;
Increase parking lot and street cleaning;
Extract and dispose of poor quality ground water;
Educate watershed residents regarding all aspects of good
water quality stewardship;
And increase animal excrement control and cleanup.
PROJECT INFORMATION
PROJECT LOCATION
34551 Puerto Place, Dana Point Harbor 92629
PROJECT GOAL
The goal of the project is to
eliminate Baby Beach postings and closures. Multiple alternative
methods have been evaluated for dealing with the existing
problem to accomplish this goal as described above in the
presentation of studies and supporting data.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT
The problem at Baby Beach will be tackled from multiple fronts:
- Permanent diversion or treatment
of the storm drains affecting Baby Beach including L00P01
outlet to the East Basin: Estimated cost $450,000. South
Coast Water District has allowed temporary diversion to
the sanitary sewer and has agreed to partner in a long-term
solution.
- Alternative Bacterial Reduction Strategies:
Estimated cost: $300,000
1) Implement a research
level program with expert scientific assistance that
emphasizes source tracking. Following identification
of the source of pollutants, develop a management plan
to control and/or eliminate the source. Include wildlife
and habitat management in the plan. Develop an education
program regarding water quality at Baby Beach with emphasis
on watershed source control; habitat and wildlife management;
and reduction of swimmer shedding potential.
2) Evaluate and/or develop
alternatives to impervious surfaces adjacent to Baby
Beach. Evaluate the effectiveness of state-of-the-art
pervious materials to replace impervious surfaces impacting
the water quality at Baby Beach.
3) Evaluate tidal circulation
in Dana Point Harbor to determine the distribution and
dispersion of bacteria, within the Harbor.
4) Coordinate diversion
implementation with the Headlands Reserve plan for sand
filter of urban runoff from the Headlands project.
5) Design and implement
a project that adapts a vacuum catch basin cleaning
or "Vactor" truck or similar hazardous waste
cleaning device to remove bird fecal matter and other
waste products from beach, pier, sidewalks, parking
lots and other roosting areas.
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