Beaches and Recreational Waters:  Regulations and Guidance

Last Update: January 12, 2011

The Deparment of Health Services (DHS, now CDPH) prepared the following material to assist local health agencies in addressing microbiological contamination of beaches and recreational waters. 

Regulations

• Regulations for public beaches and ocean water-contact sports areas (PDF)include health-protective standards, monitoring requirements, and actions to be taken when standards are exceeded, and specific requirements for certain beaches from April 1 through October 31, pursuant to AB 411, (Statutes of 1997, Chapter 765).  Click here for the Statement of Reasons  (PDF).
• The annual State budget provides funding to local agencies with beaches that meet certain statutory criteria. (see Appendix A (PDF)for pertinent statutes.)   Local agencies receiving funding for beach monitoring programs provide reports on beach postings and closures to the State Water Resources Control Board.

Guidance for Salt Water Beaches

• Guidance for Salt Water Beaches (2006) (PDF) - Scroll down for appendices.
• Also, see Recommended Analytical Methods (PDF)for public beaches and ocean water-contact sports areas.

Fresh Water Beaches

• Guidance for Fresh Water Beaches (2010) (PDF) - Scroll down for appendices

Cyanobacteria

• CDPH's Information on Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) Blooms

Appendices and References for Guidance for Salt- and Fresh-Water Beaches

• Appendix A (PDF) -  State Regulation of Beaches and Recreational Waters (Last update: April 2006)
• Appendix B (PDF) -  US EPA Guidance for Recreational Waters and Beaches  (Last update: July 2000)
• Appendix C (PDF) -  Local Guidance and Ordinances (Last update:  July 2000)
• Appendix D (PDF) -  Microbiological Indicator Organisms in Standards and Guidance (Last update:  July 2000)
• Appendix E (PDF) -  Epidemiological Studies Related to Ocean Water and Fresh Water Recreation (Last update:  July 2000)
• Appendix F (PDF) -  Information and World Health Organization Guidelines for Cyanobacteria (Last update: May 2006)
• References (PDF) -  Literature cited (Last update: April 2006)

For More Information

For more on Recreational Health Program activities, contact Robin Belle Hook by phone at 916 449-5693 or email at Robin Belle Hook.