The Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program has
been monitoring the quality of stormwater runoff in Ventura
County for more than 10 years. The data show how much the runoff
from a storm differs from water in a natural stream. Bacteria
counts used to measure beach water quality are always high
following a major flow of water from the streets, and that is
why surfers are advised to stay out of the water after a storm.
A recent analysis of the 10-year data showed the concentration
of pollutants can be associated with something simple: dirt. It
may come as a surprise, but the reality is pollutants like
bacteria or heavy metals stick to dirt, and as the dirt is
transported by the storm, so are the pollutants. You may think
dirt is everywhere and nothing you do can make a difference, but
simple acts by individuals can make a big difference. The
following tale adapted from the story "The Star Thrower" by
Loren Eiseley demonstrates how one person's efforts can make a
difference when faced with an ove