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 Texas Coastal Bend Chapter has teamed up with Texas A&M University Corpus Christi to monitor recreational beaches. Surfrider Foundation volunteers collect water samples at JP Luby Surf Park and Padre Balli Beach for processing at the Texas A&M University lab. Sites are monitored on a weekly basis, year-round.
Our BWTF data augments the beach monitoring program conducted by Texas General Land Office (GLO), and helps build community awareness of local pollution issues.
If you are interested in becoming a BWTF volunteer, please contact: bwtf@coastalbend.surfrider.org