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Water Quality
Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach Bacteria TMDL
The State Water Board adopted Resolution No. 2021-0026 approving the Basin Plan amendment to establish the Bacteria TMDL and to update the bacteria objectives in the Basin Plan on July 20, 2021.
The City of Half Moon Bay, in partnership with The County of San Mateo and San Mateo County Harbor District, are working to improve creek and beach water quality here on the Coastside. Some of the ways we are working to accomplish this is by inspecting and maintaining our stormwater infrastructure, increasing access to public restrooms and pet waste stations to keep waste from entering our waterways, and monitoring the bacteria levels at our beaches.
Project Location:
The Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach Bacteria TMDL project location consists of multiple watersheds ranging from north of the Pillar Point Harbor to south of Half Moon Bay State Beach. Pillar Point Harbor drains approximately 3,920 acres and includes inflows from the Denniston, St. Augustine, and Deer Creek watersheds, which comprise open space, an airport, and agricultural, commercial, and residential areas. Venice Beach is one of the five interconnected beaches comprising the Half Moon Bay State Beach The approximately 0.8-mile stretch of Venice Beach is abutted by Frenchmans Creek to the north and Pilarcitos Creek to the south. These two creeks drain approximately 21,120 acres of watershed, which is predominantly open space with residential and commercial areas in the lower watershed close to the beach. Small farms are scattered along Pilarcitos Creek where it follows Highway 92. These creeks sometimes breach the beach and flow into the ocean, providing a conduit for stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds.