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The
First Flush Program
Program Description:
First Flush is the annual volunteer monitoring event that samples storm drain run-off during the first significant rainfall of the wet season. During the first rain water mobilizes particles off street surfaces and curbs, and cleans drain pipes which have collected during the dry season. First Flush samples are analyzed professionally to assess levels of non-point source pollutants such as nutrients, bacteria and metals, which are washed into the Monterey Bay during the first rain of the year. Storm drain outfalls from the Urban Watch program will be monitored for First Flush during the first rain, day or night (¦yes, we do it in the dark!).
Volunteer monitors have been collecting valuable data in the Monterey Bay since 1997, when the Urban Watch and First Flush Programs were first initiated.
The First Flush Event typically occurs sometime in October or November. We hold one 3 hour classroom training and one 3 hour "dry run" training in September. The 'dry run' is a day time training event that carries three purposes: 1: to familiarize volunteers with their First Flush site during daylight hours, as the actual event may occur at night; 2: to provide field training; and 3: to collect sample water (if any exists in the outfall) to determine pollutant concentrations in the runoff prior to the first rains.
Storm drain outfalls are monitored for conductivity,
water temperature, pH, transparency, and field samples
are collected for analysis of nitrate, orthophosphates,
zinc, copper, lead, hardness, total coliform, E.
coli ., total dissolved solids, and total suspended
solids. Results are compared to the Central Coast
Ambient Monitoring Program's (CCAMP) Action Levels.
These action levels are not for regulatory purposes;
rather they provide guidance on potential impacts to
the health of the marine ecosystem.
First Flush monitoring event reports are sent to local area governments
and agencies. First Flush results illustrate the impact
of non-point source pollution generated through our
daily interactions in the environment. The pollutants
detected, in part, are a result of the daily activities
of the local population as well as the many visitors
that come to this region each year - high metal concentrations
can be attributed to car brake linings, high nutrient
concentrations can be linked to fertilizers, and high
bacteria concentrations are generated by failing sewer
and septic lines, wildlife and pet waste.
This
data is available to interested organizations, and will
be used to assess the pollutant load in the waters flowing
into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The
results of past First Flush events are available by:
- Browsing our Library page
or
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