Surfrider Foundation – San Diego Chapter

Surfrider Foundation was established in California in 1984 as a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a large activist network. There are many chapters that span the world, each having various programs. The San Diego County chapter has 8 different programs focusing on plastic pollution, ocean preservation, beach access, coastal preservation, and clean coastal water.

The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is a volunteer-run water quality monitoring, education, and advocacy program. Our mission is to communicate the importance of coastal water quality to preserve the health of the community. Each week, BWTF volunteers sample local coastal water sources at 10 different sites for Enterococcus, a fecal indicator bacteria. This helps us identify local water quality issues, alert the public within 24 hours, and partner with other organizations and government groups to find solutions.

In addition to weekly water quality monitoring, ,we emphasize educating younger generations about how we can work to preserve our precious coastal resources. Two of our three water sampling labs are housed in local high school classrooms, where students from Mar Vista and Coronado High School carry out the experiments. Additionally, we organize outreach events to engage and educate the public about water quality testing, train community scientists, and discuss barriers to the industry.

Every Friday, we share the results of our weekly water quality samples with the public so they can make an informed decision before going to their local beach or bay. We are always looking for more volunteers to help in any way they can and are currently working towards expanding and opening a new lab with additional water sampling sites.

Social Media Addresses

Facebook: surfriderSD
Instagram: @surfridersandiego

Contact information

Website: https://surfridersd.org/bwtf
email: bwtf@surfridersd.org
Mail: 3900 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 201
San Diego, CA 92103