SeeCalifornia.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this past week that they're reducing funding for water quality testing at California's and the nation's beaches --and they also announced that water standards are being relaxed. There is no official estimate as to how many people have avoided getting sick because of a national effort to test waters that people use for recreation, but our best guess would be millions.  California is a leader in water testing & information distribution; a nonprofit organization that has lead the way in information campaigns via Internet and ...

Photo: The news crews are out looking for the flood stories, as usual, but there's something more important that locals and tourists should know. Of course you'll want to run to the mountains after this storm has passed through California, bringing a much needed blanketing of snow to the slopes and mountain tops. If you're heading to the mountains, by all means check the traffic conditions (dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/), then run GO! But if you're visiting the beaches, rivers, and streams fed by city run-off, give yourself at least 24 hours to head into ...

The rain has just passed through California, leaving a dusting of snow in Mammoth Lakes, blue skies everywhere you look, and ocean water not fit for humans. Tourists aren't aware and locals tend to forget about the 24 to 72 hour rule--stay out of the water--it's not COOL! While logic would tell you otherwise, the reason the water should be avoided has to do with trash. There are thousands of miles of streets, creeks and rivers  delivering their a steady flow of toxins and trash to the sea during storms. Oil, ...

The water along the California coast looks so soothing on hot summer days. The temperatures in the Pacific Ocean near the coast range between 70 degrees in Southern California to 51 degrees on the North Coast around the 4th of July  (see the Ocean Temperature Chart.)  The glistening water and waves beckon as you watch others frolic and have fun. It surely most be OK to enter the water, swim & play like everyone else, right? Answer: While most the water on the coast will be fine for water ...