The Cowell's Beach Working Group is made up of representatives from the City Manager’s Office and Public Works Department, Santa Cruz County Division of Water Resources, Saves the Waves Coalition, Coastal Watershed Council and the Santa Cruz chapters of Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club.
The Group is changing management practices of the Neary Lagoon outfall that empties onto the beach. A gate has been installed at the lagoon and a diversion pump to block foul water from reaching the beach is in the works. The Group is also considering creating a new citywide sewer lateral inspection program. Area sewer mains were replaced in recent years, but the city wants to ensure laterals connecting homes and businesses to the system are in good working order.
A full report from the Working Group is expected this spring. Read more about the efforts to solve the water pollution problems at Cowell's Beach and to finally take this popular beach off the 'Beach Bummer' list.