On Sept. 6, MarinHealth officials announced the closure of Bolinas Beach due to sewer waste permeating the area. After county officials discovered wastewater intoxicating the water and sand, they abruptly shut down the beach, which may not reopen until Nov.
Beachgoers first noticed liquid pooling on the sand a couple of weeks prior to the closure, creating concern among public health officials and locals. When tested, the liquid was found to contain bacteria present in human waste, including E.coli. Health officials estimated the liquid to be spewing into the sand at 10 gallons per minute, with 43,000 gallons entering daily from various locations.
The cause of the leak is still unknown, but Bolinas residents suspect the waste descends from nearby septic tanks, due to the homes along the hillside not being on a public sewage system. As for Bolinas visitors, surfers and swimmers are advised not to utilize the beach for their own safety. Archie Williams sophomore Charlie Hinkleman used to visit Bolinas on weekends to hang out at the beach with friends.
“[The closure has] affected me personally, because I’ve gone there since I was a child, and now a place that I’ve gone to since I was little isn’t accessible anymore and I’m not able to go,” Charlie said.
Bolinas Beach is expected to be closed through November, as the Marin County Health and Safety Code requires officials to close beaches if visible sewage is present. Health officials have recommended that Bolinas homeowners test their water at home, due to possible bacteria spread. There has also been a temporary prohibition on local tap water, leaving the community with a limited water supply.
Archie Williams junior Nolan Anderson enjoys surfing and swimming in the community, and was impacted by the beach shutdown.
“The closure affected me because I worry about my home beach, as I used to go frequently to swim. I’m glad there are other options for surfing in [Marin],” Nolan said.
In the Marin County area, there are multiple surfing opportunities outside of Bolinas. San Francisco offers a few locations, including Ocean Beach on the western coast and Cronkite Beach located near the Golden Gate Bridge. There are many alternative spots for surfers in the area, making the sport accessible for Bolinas regulars.
As tourists and regulars alike find new surfing locations, the businesses in the town of Bolinas now lack customers, leading to possible shutdowns. Local resident and volunteer firefighter for the Bolinas Fire Department Meg Gould noticed a recent impact on local shops, but remains optimistic.
“The businesses are affected because of the decrease of people in town. Luckily, it isn’t the height of summer, [and] the only way [the lack of visitors] has affected my life personally is that I can park easily and there are less people at the beach,” Gould said.
The temporary closure of Bolinas Beach prompted by the harmful bacteria present has had significant implications for the Bolinas community and Marin visitors. Health officials advise against participating in any water activity until further notice.
