How the Ballona Drainage Creeks Adversely Affects Water Quality and Local Fauna

Abstract

According to Heal the Bay (“Urban Runoff” Overview, 2022), more than 30 million gallons of urban runoff—carrying fertilizers, pet waste, and bacteria—flow into Santa Monica Bay daily through the storm drain system. This project investigated how urban runoff from Ballona Creek affected ocean water quality and local marine life near the creek’s outlet. Specifically, the study tested water for pollutants such as nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, and pH to determine whether the creek introduced harmful substances into the coastal ecosystem. It also explored how these pollutants may have impacted populations of local species, such as the striped shore crab which was the indicator species for the study. By comparing water quality at sites near the creek outlet to others upstream, the project aimed to understand the connection between human activity in urban watersheds and its ecological consequences in marine environments. The surrounding Santa Monica Bay means that ecological consequences also are intertwined with human activity. This research has far reaching implications on public health and ecosystem stability.