Coastkeeper identifies polluters, collects evidence, and litigates where necessary to enforce compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act and state laws that govern individual and corporate behavior relative to clean water and the reduction of water pollution.
In late 2004, OC Coastkeeper recieved citizen complaints of polluted runoff from nearby nurseries. To address these public concerns, Coastkeeper designed and conducted an investigatoin of nursery runoff and its effect on surface water quality in Orange County. Two large and three small nurseries were examined as a representative sample of Orange County nurseries.
Coastkeeper photo-documented the sample sites and the runoff path from each nursery to the nearby storm drains. To analyze the samples, Coastkeeper ran water quality tests at our in-house lab, and sent samples to be tested at a state-certified lab. After collecting and analyzing data, Coastkeeper concluded that the nursery runoff was polluted to a level that could negatively effect Orange County's surface water quality.
To deal with this problem, Coastkeeper works with OC nurseries to reduce their runoff pollution. In partnership with the UC Cooperative Extension and Southern California Edison, Coastkeeper developed a program to raise awareness of nursery runoff pollution, and to aid nursery operators in improving certain management practices. During 2006, Coastkeeper will continue to monitor nursery runoff to see if our efforts have helped to reduce polluted runoff in Orange County nurseries. The California Regional Water Boards are currently using our data as a reference during the revision of nursery operation requirements. Through this processs, Coastkeeper hopes to ensure clean water and prosperous business for OC nurseries.
To read more about our Nursery Project, and access the Nursery Database, please visit our Data and Reports page.
