
The Blue Water Task Force is Back in Action!
Hi Surfrider Santa Cruz community!
We’re thrilled to announce that our Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) has officially relaunched, and we've already completed our first rounds of water sampling and testing at priority beaches in the Santa Cruz area. This is a huge milestone, and we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank everyone who helped make this happen.
How We Got Here
The BWTF program had been on pause for about two years. But earlier this year, things started moving again:
- Feb/March 2025: New energy entered the program with Ivy and Tico stepping up as coordinators, and a group of new volunteers began signing up. Ivy later had to step down due to a new job.
- April: Mike Z and Caylin joined as co-coordinators, forming a strong core leadership team with Tico.
- April–May: We started organizing—cleaning the lab (“Shedquarters”), assessing equipment and supplies, updating the budget, and replacing key items like our broken autoclave.
- End of June: Our first group of volunteers was trained.
- July: We officially began sampling and testing water at 16 beaches in the region!
Where We’re At Now
- 9 volunteers have completed training, with beach assignments in place and sampling underway.
- 3 more volunteers are now trained and joining the next sampling cycle.
- 6 additional volunteers will be trained over the next two weeks.
Our first results are live on the Santa Cruz BWTF page and new results will be posted every other week. If you're interested in volunteering with the BWTF team, you can learn more here.
We were even featured with a write-up in Good Times!
What’s Next?
We’re growing into a strong, connected team of over 20 active volunteers, and we’re just getting started. After the summer, we hope to:
- Hold regular team meetings to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
- Launch feedback sessions and surveys to refine and grow the program.
- Host brainstorm sessions on expanding testing sites and potential advocacy efforts.
- Collaborate with other Surfrider BWTF chapters to share knowledge and resources.
- Build partnerships with local organizations to expand our reach and impact.
If we missed thanking anyone, please let us know—we’ve had so many hands on deck and are grateful for every single one.
Together, we’ve brought the Blue Water Task Force back to life. Thank you for your passion, energy, and commitment to clean water!
With gratitude,
The BWTF Coordination Team
Surfrider Foundation Santa Cruz