Monterey State Beach only beach in county with lifeguards
Updated: 6:08 PM PDT May 29, 2015
Caitlin Conrad
KSBW
Monterey State Beach (May 27, 2015)
SOURCE: KSBW
Lifeguards are back on the sand in Monterey for the summer.The lifeguards will only be out on one coastal beach, Monterey State Beach, but will respond to all ocean beaches for accidents. Just two lifeguards are assigned to Monterey State beach. Those two lifeguards are responsible for patrolling from Warf II up to Tioga Rd. Lifeguard Ethan Crane says they work in teams, with one person in the tower and one in a vehicle on the beach."I'm talking to him at all times, so if I see anything way down the beach, I'm going to let him know about that," said Crane, about his role in the tower.Crane said even though Monterey State Beach is the only spot with guard, it still has dangers to watch out for."We do get a lot of rip currents here, speckled all over the beach. Especially this area is kind of bad for them," he said.The lifeguards are working from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, and are on duty from 12-6 p.m.People on the beach Wednesday said having lifeguards within sight gives them peace of mind."I mean, I don't swim, but when I see a lot of families and kids and visitors and people who maybe aren't familiar with the local waters, it makes me feel more secure that there are lifeguards on duty," Colleen Griffin said.Many locals consider Monastery Beach, nicknamed "Mortuary Beach," the most deadly beach on the Central Coast. In February, 57-year-old Linda June was on the sand at Monastery Beach when a wave dragged her into the ocean and she drowned. California State Parks weighed the possibility of stationing a lifeguard at the beach, but that plan didn't happen for this summer because of staffing shortages. James Bilz Monterey sector superintendent said it is not lack of staffing affecting lifeguards from providing lifeguard coverage at Monastery Beach, he said it is a lack of funding. "We are currently looking at the possibility of partnerships within the community to help assist our department to offset these costs," Bilz said in a written statement.Bilz said his team also has three additional seasonal lifeguards attending lifeguard training this June in Huntington Beach
MONTEREY, Calif. —
Lifeguards are back on the sand in Monterey for the summer.
The lifeguards will only be out on one coastal beach, Monterey State Beach, but will respond to all ocean beaches for accidents. Just two lifeguards are assigned to Monterey State beach. Those two lifeguards are responsible for patrolling from Warf II up to Tioga Rd.
Monterey State Beach only beach in county with lifeguard patrols
Drowning raises concerns about beach safety
Lifeguard Ethan Crane says they work in teams, with one person in the tower and one in a vehicle on the beach.
"I'm talking to him at all times, so if I see anything way down the beach, I'm going to let him know about that," said Crane, about his role in the tower.
Crane said even though Monterey State Beach is the only spot with guard, it still has dangers to watch out for.
"We do get a lot of rip currents here, speckled all over the beach. Especially this area is kind of bad for them," he said.
The lifeguards are working from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, and are on duty from 12-6 p.m.
People on the beach Wednesday said having lifeguards within sight gives them peace of mind.
"I mean, I don't swim, but when I see a lot of families and kids and visitors and people who maybe aren't familiar with the local waters, it makes me feel more secure that there are lifeguards on duty," Colleen Griffin said.
Many locals consider Monastery Beach, nicknamed "Mortuary Beach," the most deadly beach on the Central Coast.
In February, 57-year-old Linda June was on the sand at Monastery Beach when a wave dragged her into the ocean and she drowned.
California State Parks weighed the possibility of stationing a lifeguard at the beach, but that plan didn't happen for this summer because of staffing shortages.
James Bilz Monterey sector superintendent said it is not lack of staffing affecting lifeguards from providing lifeguard coverage at Monastery Beach, he said it is a lack of funding.
"We are currently looking at the possibility of partnerships within the community to help assist our department to offset these costs," Bilz said in a written statement.
Bilz said his team also has three additional seasonal lifeguards attending lifeguard training this June in Huntington Beach