Editing Openai/696104ab-2174-8005-8aa4-6c24c2d26342 (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s what the most up-to-date information available today shows about Bodega Bay coastal water quality specifically r… ===
Here’s what the most up-to-date information available today shows about Bodega Bay coastal water quality (specifically relevant to recreational waters like beach swimming, fishing, and crab fishing):

===== 📊 Official Water Quality Monitoring =====
* **California’s “Safe to Swim” interactive water quality map is the authoritative source for recent bacterial sampling data (e.g., enterococci, E. coli) for coastal beaches — including those near Bodega Bay — and updates daily on weekdays. It shows whether sites meet state bacterial objectives. mywaterquality.ca.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=mywaterquality.ca.gov|url=https://www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/safe-to-swim/safe-to-swim-maps.html|publisher=mywaterquality.ca.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref> - However, I can’t directly fetch the live sample values at specific stations right now — you can check them here: California Safe to Swim Interactive Map (search for “Bodega” on the map). mywaterquality.ca.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=mywaterquality.ca.gov|url=https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/safe-to-swim/content/interactive_map/|publisher=mywaterquality.ca.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Sonoma County Environmental Health conducts weekly ocean water quality sampling at multiple county beaches (including Bodega Bay area beaches) during their regular monitoring season and posts the results. Sonoma County<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonoma County|url=https://sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/environmental-health/programs-and-services/ocean-water-quality|publisher=Sonoma County|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== 🧪 General Recent Water Quality Status =====
* As of the most recent official public testing posted (late 2025) there are no active beach water quality advisories currently listed for Sonoma County beaches — meaning sampled beaches were not flagged as exceeding bacterial thresholds at the last published test. scceh.com<ref>{{cite web|title=scceh.com|url=https://scceh.com/NewHome/Programs/WaterResources/SurfaceWaterStewardship/WaterQualityMonitoring/BeachWaterBodyAdvisories.aspx|publisher=scceh.com|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref> - Note: this county report is from December 15, 2025, so it may not reflect impacts from the latest Russian River sewage spill or recent storms.

===== 🌧️ Rain & Sewage Spill Impacts =====
* After recent heavy storms, the Russian River experienced a sewage treatment plant overflow, which led county officials to advise avoiding all contact with Russian River waters and some nearby coastal beaches (e.g., Doran Beach toward Russian Gulch area) while water quality sampling continues. KQED<ref>{{cite web|title=KQED|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/12068963/sonoma-county-storms-spill-wastewater-into-russian-river-residents-warned-to-stay-away|publisher=kqed.org|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref> - These advisories were focused on direct river water contact and adjacent beaches, not explicit oceanwide bacterial closures for all of Bodega Bay. - Coastal monitoring stations in Sonoma County generally sample weekly for indicator bacteria and will post advisories if levels are elevated. Sonoma County<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonoma County|url=https://sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/environmental-health/programs-and-services/ocean-water-quality|publisher=Sonoma County|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== 🦀 What This Means for Today =====

✅ There is no current statewide or county-posted advisory specifically listing Bodega Bay’s coastal ocean water as unsafe for recreational contact based on recent bacterial sampling. scceh.com<ref>{{cite web|title=scceh.com|url=https://scceh.com/NewHome/Programs/WaterResources/SurfaceWaterStewardship/WaterQualityMonitoring/BeachWaterBodyAdvisories.aspx|publisher=scceh.com|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

⚠️ But because of the recent sewage overflow, local officials have:
* Posted avoidance advisories downstream and on some beaches nearer the Russian River mouth until ongoing tests confirm that bacteria levels are safe. KQED<ref>{{cite web|title=KQED|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/12068963/sonoma-county-storms-spill-wastewater-into-russian-river-residents-warned-to-stay-away|publisher=kqed.org|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* Warned that stormwater runoff can elevate bacteria levels in coastal waters after rainfall — even if not yet reflected in tests. scceh.com<ref>{{cite web|title=scceh.com|url=https://scceh.com/NewHome/Programs/WaterResources/SurfaceWaterStewardship/WaterQualityMonitoring/BeachWaterBodyAdvisories.aspx|publisher=scceh.com|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

📌 Live/Today action you can take:
# Open the “Safe to Swim” interactive map here: → Safe to Swim Maps — California Water Quality Monitoring Council and search for Bodega Bay stations. mywaterquality.ca.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=mywaterquality.ca.gov|url=https://www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/safe-to-swim/safe-to-swim-maps.html|publisher=mywaterquality.ca.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
# Check Sonoma County Environmental Health’s latest ocean water quality postings (often updated weekly). Sonoma County<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonoma County|url=https://sonomacounty.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/environmental-health/programs-and-services/ocean-water-quality|publisher=Sonoma County|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

===== 🧠 Bottom Line =====
* Current official sampling doesn’t show a posted water quality advisory at Bodega Bay beaches right now. scceh.com<ref>{{cite web|title=scceh.com|url=https://scceh.com/NewHome/Programs/WaterResources/SurfaceWaterStewardship/WaterQualityMonitoring/BeachWaterBodyAdvisories.aspx|publisher=scceh.com|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>
* But because of recent storms + the Russian River sewage overflow, water quality could be temporarily elevated with bacteria or other pathogens — especially near the river plume — before the next round of test results are posted.
* Using the official Safe-to-Swim map and Sonoma County postings will give you the latest readings for specific sites today before you go out. mywaterquality.ca.gov<ref>{{cite web|title=mywaterquality.ca.gov|url=https://www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/safe-to-swim/safe-to-swim-maps.html|publisher=mywaterquality.ca.gov|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

If you tell me the specific beach or sampling location you’re planning to fish/crab from (e.g., Doran Beach, Westside Rd beach, Bodega Head), I can help you look up the most recent sample values for that exact spot.