The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.

Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.

The Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force, the organization’s volunteer-run water quality monitoring program, has officially been relaunched on the Monterey Peninsula.

Led locally by Program Director Harry Parker, the program is rebuilding a network of trained volunteers dedicated to protecting the health of Monterey Bay. Water samples are collected regularly from key coastal locations including Asilomar State Beach, Otter Cove, Lovers Point Park, and Del Monte Beach, helping provide timely, independent data about the water where our community swims, surfs, and plays.

A new partnership with META Lab at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey brings scientific collaboration and fresh energy to the program. This partnership is guided by the leadership of Dr. Philip Murphy, Director and founding faculty lead of the META Lab at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey. Under Dr. Murphy’s direction, the META Lab has become a student-driven, faculty-led research hub focused on evidence-based policy evaluation, applied data analysis, and real-world community impact.

Students at MetaLab gain hands-on experience in environmental monitoring while supporting testing and analysis that makes this community science program possible. Under the guidance of MetaLab’s director and laboratory team, the program follows rigorous scientific protocols and quality assurance standards.

Together, volunteers, students, and scientists are building a stronger picture of local water quality while helping protect public health and the ecosystems that make Monterey Bay so special.

Where We Test

The Monterey Blue Water Task Force focuses on several key beaches across the peninsula where people frequently swim, surf, and enter the water. Regular monitoring helps ensure the community has access to timely and transparent information about local water conditions.

Sampling Locations

• Asilomar State Beach – A popular surfing and coastal recreation area known for its rocky shoreline and strong ocean exposure.
• Otter Cove – Located along the Pacific Grove coastline, this protected cove is frequently visited by local wildlife and ocean enthusiasts.
• Lovers Point – One of the peninsula’s most accessible beaches and a hub for swimming, kayaking, and paddle sports.
• Del Monte Beach (Wharf area) – A long stretch of sand near downtown Monterey that receives heavy recreational use and heavy city pollution outflows.
• Del Monte Beach at Casa Verde – A commonly used access point for residents and beachgoers along Monterey State Beach.

Monitoring these sites helps provide a snapshot of water quality conditions across the Monterey Peninsula, from exposed ocean beaches to sheltered recreation areas.

Why Water Quality Matters in Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay is one of the most biologically rich marine ecosystems in the world and home to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Millions of people visit the region each year to surf, swim, paddle, dive, and explore the coast.

However, coastal water quality can be affected by factors such as:

• Stormwater runoff
• Urban and agricultural pollution
• Wildlife and bacterial contamination
• Aging infrastructure and sewage overflows

Monitoring programs like the Blue Water Task Force help provide independent water quality data that complements government testing programs. By regularly sampling local beaches, the program helps identify potential health risks and ensures the public has access to reliable information about the water they recreate in.

Protecting clean water also supports the health of marine life, kelp forests, and coastal habitats that make Monterey Bay so unique.

How the Blue Water Task Force Works

The Blue Water Task Force is one of the largest volunteer-run water quality monitoring programs in the United States. The program combines community volunteers, scientific protocols, and laboratory partnerships to monitor coastal water conditions.

The process is simple but scientifically rigorous:

1. Water Sampling
Trained volunteers collect water samples from designated beach locations following standardized protocols.

2. Laboratory Analysis
Samples are processed in partnership with MetaLab using approved testing methods to measure bacteria levels that indicate potential contamination.

3. Public Reporting
Results are uploaded to Surfrider’s national Blue Water Task Force database and shared with the community to promote transparency and awareness about local water conditions.

This approach empowers communities with real-time information about the health of their local beaches.

Get Involved

The Blue Water Task Force is just one way to plug into the growing Surfrider Monterey community. We’re building a network of people who care deeply about protecting our ocean, beaches, and clean water.

There are many ways to participate:

• Volunteer with any of our ongoing programs and campaigns
• Join a beach cleanup
• Come meet the community at one of our Blue Beers mixers
• Support local campaigns that protect Monterey Bay

These events are a great way to meet like-minded people while taking action to protect Monterey Bay and beyond.

Together, we can safeguard our ocean, beaches, and clean water for future generations.

Questions?
 BWTF@monterey.surfrider.org