Scott Hadly, Santa Barbara News-Press
“Humans waste is the largest single source for the stew of fecal bacteria flowing down Rincon Creek and into the ocean, according to a recent DNA study of water samples taken from the area.
Paid for by the environmental group Heal the Ocean and the county’s Environmental Health Services, the study showed that much of the bacteria - which has made the popular surf spot also one of the most polluted beaches in the county - is coming from human sources. . .”
Melinda Burns, Santa Barbara News-Press
“Researchers have discovered the hepatitis A virus in water samples from South Coast beaches, a creek and the city’s sewage treatment plant, raising questions about the potential risk to the public’s health.
For the present, however, that threat appears not to have materialized into an actual source for widespread disease.
Heal the Ocean, a citizens group, collected the samples at six local beaches and one creek in October and sent them to a University of Southern California laboratory for analysis. The lab found the hepatitis A virus in samples taken in the surf zone at Leadbetter Beach and the east end of Goleta Beach, Las Palmas Creek in Hope Ranch, and the treated wastewater at the city’s El Estero plant. . .”
Hillary Hauser, Santa Barbara News-Press
“Exactly one year ago my guest commentary, “Another day at the beach?” was published in the News-Press Sunday Perspective section, and from the community there came an immediate outcry of pain that was nothing less than chilling.
Radio announcers read the commentary over the air, there was a demonstration at the county building, with 200 people showing up with signs and placards that said things like “Ocean or Outhouse?” and my telephone rang off the hook, with sad and angry people wanting to know they could do.”