Loyola Marymount University

INFORMATION FOR:


APR 2304 CLEAN BEACH GRANT


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

LMU PROFESSOR TO RECEIVE $50,000 GRANT FROM STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD TO ASSESS EFFECTIVENESS OF CLEAN BEACH INITIATIVE PROJECTS

April 23, 2004 -Loyola Marymount University professor John H. Dorsey has received a $50,000 grant to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded though Southern California's Clean Beach Initiative, instituted to reduce the incidence of bacterial impairments at public beaches. Dorsey's involvement is part a larger project for which the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project received a total grant of nearly $250,000 from the State Water Resources Control Board.

Dorsey, an assistant professor of natural science, will represent LMU as he collaborates with the SCCWRP in assessing the programs. He plans to employ student assistants, who will gain valuable, practical experience in the assessment of important environmental projects. The project will take up to two years, depending on the progress of existing and new CBI projects.

"Protecting swimmers and surfers from contaminated water is the prime goal of the State's Clean Beach Initiative. Millions of dollars have been granted to cities and public agencies to build projects that help prevent contaminated water from reaching our beaches. LMU will play a significant role for the state by assessing the success of each project at cleaning beach waters, then recommending the best strategies for future projects," says Dorsey.

Dorsey will oversee efforts to:

  • Evaluate the effect of individual projects funded through the Clean Beach Initiative on water quality, and the number of beach postings and closures.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative in achieving the goal of reducing or eliminating beach postings and closures.
  • Provide an overall assessment strategies used in the initiative, and give recommendations for successful future actions

Grant recipients from the Los Angeles area will receive their funding at a ceremony sponsored by the SWRCB at Will Rogers State Beach on May 7 at 10 a.m. Dorsey will attend on behalf of the SCCWRP.

The mission of the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project is to contribute to the scientific understanding of linkages among human activities, natural events, and the health of the Southern California coastal environment, communicate this understanding to decision makers and other stakeholders, and recommend strategies for protecting the ocean environment for this and future generations.

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