Mission Creek-Adjacent Beaches Fecal Matter-Free

Creeks restoration manager Cameron Benson said recent tests show no fecal contamination of the beaches where Mission Creek intersects with the ocean. But he said there are indications of fecal contamination at Arroyo Burro and Leadbetter beaches, even though there’s no outfall flowing into either. According to Benson, both beaches consistently test high for fecal indicators on Mondays but at acceptable levels when tested again on Wednesdays. He suggested that dog walkers – who tend to come out in greater numbers on the weekend – may be responsible for this consistent discrepancy. Dogs, he said, like to relieve themselves in the kelp on the beach, which in turn, acts as a great incubator and disseminator of fecal related bacteria.