SEA TURTLES:
 

• Since 2022, trained WCA staff and volunteers conduct regular morning surveys to monitor sea turtle nesting activity and threats to sea turtles in Pelada and Guiones.
   

• 72 sea turtle observations have been recorded in Pelada and Guiones, in addition to 1695 dogs, 425 motorized vehicles, and 58 bonfires (222 surveys conducted, average 1.2 km). 
   

• 53% of sea turtle nests on Pelada and Guiones were taken illegally and 10% of nests were depredated by dogs. 
   

• WCA has also documented 62 incidental reports by community members of sea turtle activity in Pelada and Guiones, including 3 adult nesting turtles that were attacked by dogs and died or had to be euthanized as a result and 1 report of sea turtle hatchlings that died in a bonfire. 
   

• Due to these threats, WCA’s strategic plan prioritizes establishing full-time night patrols and a protected hatchery for nest relocation.
   

WATER QUALITY
 
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• Since 2020, WCA staff and volunteers monitor water quality on a weekly basis at several sites. Samples are collected from the ocean at knee-depth and water is tested for Enterococcus and Fecal coliform bacteria using EPA standard methods. 
   

• 25% of 1205 samples analyzed failed to meet recreational water quality standards established by the World Health Organization, indicating the discharge of untreated wastewater into streams and the ocean and posing a threat to human and ecosystem health.
   

• On 27 July 2022, WCA sampled water from upstream at 3 streams in Guiones where they cross Route 160 and downstream where they enter the ocean. Bacteria levels downstream were up to 18 times higher, indicating pollution is entering waterways between those points in Playa Guiones.
   

• On 3 August 2022, WCA sampled water from upstream every 5 km at the Nosara River from the source at Hojancha to the hanging bridge in San Pedro. The average bacteria level at the Nosara Rivermouth that rainy season was up to 10 times higher than all upstream sites that day, indicating pollution is entering waterways in the immediate area of Nosara.
   

• On 13 October 2022, WCA sampled water from the Nosara River and a stream in Pelada and Guiones. We used DNA to determine the relative contribution of fecal contamination from different animal groups. We traced pollution in Pelada and Guiones primarily to dogs, humans, and chickens, while Nosara River contamination was more linked to cows, chickens, and pigs.
   

• Human fecal contamination poses a higher health risk due to the likelihood of human-specific pathogens, WCA has therefore prioritized wastewater treatment improvements in our strategic plan. 
   

WILDLIFE
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• Since 2022, WCA has established and maintains motion-sensored cameras to collect observations of wildlife in the area. Additionally, we collect community observations of wildlife on iNaturalist.
   

• A total of 5,139 observations of 60 species of wildlife have been collected at 20 different camera stations over 12,255 nights total. Based on their spot patterns, we’ve identified a total of 14 different individuals of Ocelot (Leopardis pardalis) and 5 Margay (Leopardus weidii) within the monitored area. 

• The iNaturalist project has documented over 16,349 observations of over 2,051 different species (852 community members contributing data).
   

• WCA has prioritized sustainable business certifications and the development of SustainableNosara.com in our strategic plan to reduce human impact on biodiversity.