Dateline: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at and after 11 a.m. approximately, I conducted an audit of the #beachtrash near the water's edge between Lifeguard Tower #300 (out front of Zuma Lifeguard HQ) and west to the Trancas lifeguard tower, a distance of approximately one plus mile.
Comments:
• First off, Zuma Beach is stunning and beautiful. The sand itself is clean and does not have the same level of debris mixed in with it as you find at Will Rogers State Beach, State Monica State Beach, and Venice Beach. There is, of course, some kelp and sea weed that washes up on shore but that is absolutely natural and expected.
• Secondly, along this stretch of Zuma Beach it is dramatically narrow due to the loss of sand acreage the past several years. Therefore, it is a very thin band of dry soft sand above the mean high tide line that gets cleaned by the L.A. County Dept. of Beaches & Harbors (aka, LACDBH) using their tractors and rakes.
• Third, it is both unfortunate and obvious that LACDBH does not have its staff daily hand pick up #beachtrash untouched by the tractors and rakes and that is found between the mean high tide line and the water's edge. This is, of course, symptomatic of other beaches as well, including Will Rogers, Santa Monica and Venice. Each of these four (4) beaches incorporate the regular use of tractors and rakes, but they each incredibly and intentionally avoid devoting human resources to hand pick up #beachtrash near the water's edge where the tractors and rakes do not clean.
In my opinion, it is inexcusable for LACDBH not to hand pick up #beachtrash near the water's edge at Zuma Beach, Will Rogers, and Venice Beach. Furthermore, it is also my considered opinion that LACDBH does not do so because its leadership lacks the integrity and commitment to do so. The same is true of the City of Santa Monica.
It is obviously NOT A COINCIDENCE that all FOUR (4) of these beaches do not daily hand pick up #beachtrash near the water's edge. Instead, it is regularly ignored and as a result thereof, #beachtrash near the water's edge continues to represent an ongoing threat to public health and safety.
In any case, here are the photos I took today along Zuma Beach which reveals this spectacular beach to be absolutely beautiful, but also a victim of LACDBH's failure to hand pick up #beachtrash daily near the water's edge. If LACDBH did so, then I would not have observed the #beachtrash shown in the photos below that was left uncollected and not disposed of today by LACDBH.
The two photos above and the one photo immediately below, exhibit the tell tale signs of the LACDBH tractor and rake.... It's done its job well and the sand is clear of #beachtrash. The tractor has literally drawn a line in the sand. Make no mistake, however, that there was no hand picking of #beachtrash from the line in the sand to the water's edge and this is exactly the same issue at the other beaches referenced above. IT is inexcusable for LACDBH not to devote human resources to hand picking up of #beachtrash near the water's edge.
To rely SOLELY on the tractors and rakes leaves a significant and important swatch of beach unaddressed. This failure is both deliberate and negligent, in my opinion.
Above and below, a broken discarded styrofoam cup near the water's edge. LACDBH is too lazy to pick it up and it remains unobserved and disregarded by virtue of the fact that no one from LACDBH cares to walk down near the water's edge to pick it up.
Above and below, more evidence of the sole use of the tractor and rake by LACDBH and literally drawing a line in the sand. To the left, #beachtrash is IGNORED. To the right, the tractor and rake take care of the #beachtrash for the most part.
Below, a perfect example of LACDBH's failure to hand pick up #beachtrash near the water's edge. Just to the left of the tractor and rake's line in the sand is an empty discarded plastic water bottle.
If LACDBH were to devote one small ATV in the morning to drive along the high tide line in advance of the tractor, then this #beachtrash could be hand picked and disposed of properly. This is an easy fix so why won't LACDBH do so? Because they don't care, that's why.
Below, a plastic bag is left behind by the falling tide. This too could have been hand picked and disposed of if LACDBH had anyone walk along the water's edge to hand pick it up. Instead, I did so.
Below, wildlife, namely, sea gulls, etc. are at risk as well from #beachtrash that is ignored by LACDBH because it lacks the integrity to daily hand pick it up near the water's edge. Yes, that is your job, LACDBH. Why not do so?!...
More #beachtrash, below, near the water's edge that must be hand picked to be removed and disposed of since the tractors and rakes do not operate this close to the water's edge.
Zuma is nevertheless an absolutely stunning beach. Why would LACDBH not use it's "best efforts" to preserve this amazing natural resource?
Above and below, additional plastic #beachtrash uncollected and right next to the line drawn in the sand by a LACDBH tractor and rake.
Finally, a parting shot of Lifeguard Tower #5 at Zuma Beach. The grounds and picnic table are clear of #beachtrash and the sky and ocean are absolutely stunning! The beach should be this clean near the water's edge!
LACDBH continues to avoid devoting resources that it has to the daily hand picking and disposal of #beachtrash near the water's edge. On the other hand, LACDBH is definitely devoted to using its tractors and rakes, albeit, away from the water's edge. Thus, it is literally as if no one at LACDBH wants to hand pick and dispose of #beachtrash near the water's edge.
The fix is simple, however. All it would take is for two diligent and dedicated employees of LACDBH to drive a small ATV along the beach ahead of the tractor each morning and stop periodically and hand pick up #beachtrash that is observed near the water's edge where the tractor and rake do not operate.
One would think that LACDBH would use its best efforts to protect the public health and safety.
Best efforts would include daily hand picking and disposal of #beachtrash near the water's edge.
Not to do so is both deliberate and negligent on the part of LACDBH, in my opinion.
Respectfully submitted,
William Maguire,
L.A. County resident,
Concerned citizen,
Attorney at law
(All photos by & Copyright William Maguire 2017.)
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