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Ocean Water Quality Monitoring

Sonoma County has approximately 64 miles of coastal beaches. In order to protect the health of the public, weekly samples are collected and tested between April 1 and October 31 by the Department of Health Services to monitor bacterial levels.

Ocean water samples are collected at beaches that are visited by 50,000 people per year and are adjacent to storm drains, creek or rivers. Seven beaches in Sonoma County meet this criteria.

Weekly Ocean Water Quality Test Results

Ocean Beaches - Sampling 2013
	Gualala Regional Park Beach			Black Point Regional Park Beach			Stillwater Regional Park Beach			Goat Rock State Beach			Salmon Creek State Beach			Campbell Cove State Beach			Doran Regional Park Beach
Date Collected	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT	TC	EC	ENT
January 7, 2013							63	10	<10							31	10	<10
January 22, 2013							20	10	<10							31	31	<10
February 4, 2013							20	<10	<10							41	10	<10
February 19, 2013							<10	<10	<10							31	10	<10
March 4, 2013							<10	<10	<10							<10	<10	<10
March 18, 2013							<10	<10	<10							10	10	<10
April 1, 2013	<10	<10	<10	10	10	<10	41	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10
April 8, 2013	10	<10	10	<10	<10	20	<10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	41	<10	10	41	41	122	<10	<10	41
April 10, 2013																<10	<10	<10
April 22, 2013	20	<10	31	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	84	84	<10
April 29, 2013	<10	<10	<10	10	10	<10	10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10
May 6, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	907	132	399	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10
May 8, 2013							30	<10	<10
May 13, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	31	<10	<10
May 20, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	31
May 28, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10
June 3, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	<10	10	<10	52	52	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10
June 10, 2013	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	<10	20	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	<10	<10	<10	10	<10	30	<10	<10	<10

Color Key

Colored results in above table signify the following:

GREEN: Beach is open. Health risk is low for water contact. Bacterial levels are within State standards (pdf).

YELLOW: Beach is open. There is an increased health risk for water contact. Bacterial levels have exceeded State standards (pdf). Swimming/wading is not advised.

RED: Beach is closed. There is a significant health risk for water contact. Bacterial levels have exceeded State standards (pdf) and/or there is a known sewage release/spill. Avoid any contact with water until further notice.