Report Card Ranks California's 10 Most Polluted Beaches

Although California's heavy winter storms relieved the state's historic drought, the record rainfall came at some cost.

More vegetation means more fuel for fires. California's wildfire season already got off to a rough start with 19 wildfires last week scorching about 10,000 acres.

The rain also affected the Golden State's coastline. Bacterial pollution at some of California’s most popular beaches went up dramatically in 2016-17, according to Heal the Bay’s 27th annual Beach Report Card.

The environmental nonprofit analyzed water quality during summer dry weather between April and October 2016, winter dry weather from November 2016 to March 2017, and year-round wet weather from April 2016 to March 2017.

According to the data, about 96 percent of California's beaches received "A" or "B" grades during the high-traffic summer season, slightly above the statewide five-year average. But with winter rains sending billions of gallons of polluted runoff into the ocean during the winter months, nearly 48 percent of the state’s beaches received "C" to "F" grades, about 12 percent more than the statewide five-year average.

“We want people catching waves, not bugs, when they head to the beach,” Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bay’s vice president said in a statement. “The reassuring news is that if you swim at an open-ocean beach in the summer away from storm drains and creek mouths you statistically have very little risk of getting ill.”

Swimming or surfing at a beach with a water quality grade of "C" or lower greatly increases the risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and rashes, according to Heal the Bay.

Heal the Bay’s "Beach Bummers List," which annually ranks the 10 most polluted beaches in the state, was split between Northern and Southern California. San Clemente Pier and La Jolla Cove made their debut on the list this year, while Clam Beach County Park, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey and Santa Monica Pier have each been on the list for the past four years.

Here's the full list of Beach Bummers:

1. Clam Beach County Park, McKinleyville (Humboldt County)
2. San Clemente Pier, San Clemente (Orange County)
3. Cowell Beach, West of Wharf, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz County)
4. Lakeshore Park, Marina Lagoon, San Mateo (San Mateo County)
5. La Jolla Cove, La Jolla (San Diego County)
6. Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica (Los Angeles County)
7. Capitola Beach, Capitola (Santa Cruz County)
8. Luffenholtz Beach, Trinidad (Humboldt County)
9. Mother’s Beach, Marina del Rey (Los Angeles County)
10. Monarch Beach, North of Salt Creek, Dana Point (Orange County)

Click here for the Heal the Bay’s full report.

Image by Shaun Paredes via flickr.com, used under Creative Commons