Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force Santa Cruz

The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation’s citizen science program which provides valuable water quality information to beach communities, raises awareness of local water pollution problems and works collaboratively with local stakeholders to implement solutions.

Surfrider’s network of volunteer-run BWTF labs measure bacteria levels at ocean and bay beaches and in freshwater sources, and compare them to the national water quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health in recreational waters.

The Santa Cruz Chapter established its BWTF water testing program over 20 years ago, in 1993, and has since been building a historical record of water quality at area beaches and freshwater outlets in Santa Cruz County. Water samples are processed at the chapter’s lab located at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.