Beach and near-shore water pollution Rincon Point to Point Mugu, California

In terms of both population and industrialization, the coastal zone of Ventura County, California is one of the fastest growing areas in the State, and each newcomer, individual or industrial, adds to the volume of waste material that must be disposed. Significantly, a large portion of Ventura County's wastes ultimately pollutes the beach and near-shore waters between Rincon Point and Point Mugu In this area, industrial waste and waste products associated with human occupance combined with siltation, natural oil seeps, by-products of agriculture, and thermal and radiation water contamination are critical problems that have never been adequately studied. Integration of data concerning these pollution vectors provides an illustration of the spatial interaction between man and the land; explains some ecologic relationships, and makes understandable the public's urgent drive to enhance the environment.