By Ralph Schwartz
The Natural Resources Defense Council issued its annual report last week of pollution off America’s beaches.
The report shows a national trend of deteriorating water quality at beaches, due primarily to storm runoff. The NRDC tracked the number of beach-closure and advisory days due to pollution from animal and human waste in 2011.
Whatcom County beaches came out as clean as was expected. The only trouble spots in the county were Birch Bay Beach (12 percent of samples above health standards), Wildcat Cove at Larrabee State Park (35 percent) and Little Squalicum Park (18 percent). Only Wildcat Cove had beach closure or advisory days in Whatcom County (207 days).
Most beaches in Whatcom County go unmonitored for fecal bacteria pollution.
Eight percent of all samples nationally exceeded recommended health standards in 2011, which was unchanged from 2010. But the number of days beaches were closed or under advisories was the third highest since the NRDC began the count 22 years ago.
The NRDC analyzed data from more than 3,000 sample sites nationwide.
Ralph, are you joking or part of a coverup? You write “most whatcom county beaches show no pollution in national survey.” Did you look at the NDRC data? Out of 50 beaches, only 5 had samples taken and, of those, 3 exceeded standards. No samples were taken from 45 of our beaches…OF COURSE no pollution was found. Pollution can’t be detected if no samples were taken.
Your choice for headline was outrageous and I assume deliberately misleading!
Steve, I am sorry you found the headline misleading. I think all the information required to indicate the actual situation is included in the body of my post.
My intention was to write a short intro to the link to the data online. I strongly encourage everyone to look at the data for themselves.
Ralph, surely you know that most people will not click on the link to the data. Many will just read your headline and think, good our beaches are clean. And for those who go a step further to read your summary of the data will read “whatcom county beaches came out clean as expected.” That’s misleading. How can you conclude that when 45 of 50 of our beaches were NOT sampled for pollution? Readers will see your statement “the only trouble spots are…” Using “only” gives the impression that we don’t have a problem in whatcom county. However, if only 5 of 50 beaches were monitored for pollution, and 3 of those 5 exceeded standards, we very well might have numerous polluted beaches. But readers will simply see your headline, feel relieved, and move on to the next story without reading the details.
As a person involved with the news media, you must be aware of reader patterns. Everyone knows the title and first paragraph are the most important components of every article.
Your title should have been what you wrote in the fourth paragraph “most whatcom beaches go unmonitored for fecal bacteria pollution” or “3 of 5 whatcom beaches exceed pollution standards, the rest go unmonitored.” Either would be a more accurate summary of the NRDC data.
Steve, thanks for your contribution to the discussion. I found it to be helpful.