Last year the County of Santa Cruz Environmental Health Services monitored approximately 25 shoreline locations. However, only 13 of these were monitored frequently enough year-round to be included in this report. Santa Cruz County’s monitored beaches range from as far upcoast as Waddell Creek Beach at Waddell Creek near Big Basin Redwood Park to a downcoast location at Palm Beach, near the Pajaro River. Most samples are collected at the wave wash (where runoff meets surf), or 25 yards north or south of the mouth of a storm drain or creek. For additional water quality information visit the Santa Cruz County Department of Environmental Health Services website.

Capitola Beach. Copyright © 2002 Kenneth & Gabrielle Adelman. All rights reserved, California Coastal Records Project.

Overall dry weather water quality at all beaches in Santa Cruz County was good (Figure 15 and 16). During the summer dry weather months, all but two of Santa Cruz beaches received As; Cowell Beach west of the wharf (D) and Capitola Beach west of the jetty (C). Yearround dry weather water quality was very similar to the summer dry weather with Cowell Beach at the wharf receiving a slightly higher C grade.

Santa Cruz County’s wet weather water quality was well above the state average. 12 of the 13 (92%) locations with wet weather data received an A or a B grade. Only Capitola Beach west of the jetty scored slightly lower with a grade of C.

Sewage Spill Summary
There were zero (0) reported sewage spills in Santa Cruz County that led to beach closures.

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