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San Clemente study links pigeon droppings, street flows to pier bacteria, finds measurable improvement after abatement
Summary
A multi‑year city study found high bacteria concentrations tied to sand and bird roosting under the San Clemente Pier and targeted fixes — including pigeon netting and source‑abatement work — reduced surf‑zone bacteria and improved independent beach grades.
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — A multi‑year source‑tracking study of bacteria near the San Clemente Pier found elevated indicator bacteria in sand and at pipe outfalls driven largely by bird roosting and landscape/drainage flows, researchers told the Coastal Advisory Committee on April 3.
The study, presented by Ted Von Dittner of WSP and introduced by Nikki Beach, environmental program analyst for San Clemente, used conventional culture tests and faster molecular genetic markers to identify likely sources. "Did this result in measurable improvements? The answer is yes," Von Dittner said, citing reductions in surf‑zone bacteria and changes in public health postings.
The study began in 2018 after Heal the Bay and Orange County Health Care Agency monitoring showed the pier as a hot spot. City staff and outside consultants formed a stakeholder advisory committee and conducted repeated watershed walks, CCTV inspections of drains and sewers, sand sampling, and microbial source tracking that targeted human, bird and dog genetic markers.
Why it matters: state rules set numeric bacteria targets with an enforcement deadline of April…
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