MENDOCINO Co., 10/20/23 — Mendocino County Public Health has issued a warning to the public to avoid making contact with the water at Caspar Beach, “for 50 yards on either side of the drainage entering the ocean.” The warning comes after the results of regular water quality sampling results taken this week, showing that the beach does not meet state standards for enterococcus bacteria.
The full announcement from the county is included below:
The Environmental Health Division of Mendocino County Public Health received bacteriological ocean water quality sampling results for the week of October 17, 2023, that indicate that the ocean water quality at Caspar Beach does not meet State standards. The enterococcus bacteria levels in the sample taken on 10-17-2023 has exceeded acceptable levels.
Warning signs have been posted at Caspar Beach warning the public to avoid contact with ocean water due to an increased risk to human health. Contact with ocean water should be avoided for 50 yards on either side of the drainage entering the ocean. Caspar Beach is located just south of Jughandle and north of the lighthouse via Point Cabrillo Drive directly off of Hwy 1.
Caspar Beach will remain posted with the warning signs until water quality meets minimum standards specified by the State of California regulations. Environmental Health Division staff determine this safety standard based on bacteriological findings in their weekly water sampling.
Advisory from Mendocino County Public Health, October 19, 2023.
It sure would be more helpful and interesting if this article included information on the enterococcus bacteria and potential risks to health it poses as well as possible sources of said bacteria, and wether they checked water upstream and how far.
My husband and I live in Caspar and were walking on the beach about 3 weeks ago. We headed across the beach and then East up the creek and there was a huge, rotting sea lion in the water decomposing. Perhaps this is a source of the bacteria? We also would like to know the findings.