SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The Bay Area continues to face a shortage of lifeguards but a lack of water from the drought is also limiting the number of swimming facilities available to the public.
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The lifeguard shortage that started during the pandemic, hasn't improved much.
"Yeah, there is a shortage, especially for entry level positions, seasonal positions, temporary positions," Pete DeQuincy told KCBS Radio.
DeQuincy is the head of Lifeguard Services for the East Bay Regional Parks District, which is one of the few that has been able to fill all its open lifeguard positions. But that's partially because some lakes are closed this summer due to the drought.
"One of our star facilities with our regional parks, Shadow Cliff, does not have enough water. So right now, since we’ve been in drought, we noticed the drought was starting to affect it last year and it greatly affected it this year," he explained.
The other drought-related problem is toxic blooms of blue-green algae in some popular lakes.
"We're just trying to make sure that we stay relevant and stay ahead of it right now," he said. "It's going to be an ongoing factor that we will need to address when it comes to climate change."
Most swimming pools will be open this summer, but DeQuincy said that's only if cities can find enough lifeguards, swim instructors and camp counselors.
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