Which South Orange County Beaches Ranked The Best In The County?

DANA POINT, CA — South Orange County scored high marks during the summer season in the 33rd Annual Heal the Bay Beach Report Card, officials said this week.

In Newport Beach, of the 36 bay and ocean testing sites listed in the report, 32 earned an A or A+ during the summer season, when beaches are most visited.

Four sites in Newport Beach earned a B grade.

Heal the Bay's annual report measures bacterial pollution for more than 700 West Coast beaches, from Washington to Baja, ranking them and grading their water quality from A to F.

Newport Beach's grades were consistent with other California beaches, 94 percent of which received an A or B grade during the summer season.

According to the report, earning consistently high marks for water quality is more difficult during wet weather, when rainfall washes bacteria and other toxins into oceans and bays.

During the wet weather, five Newport Beach ocean-facing beaches received an F, while two earned B grades.

According to the report, all Newport Harbor locations were graded A+, A or B during wet weather.

In Laguna Beach, several beaches across town were graded by Heal The Bay. In particular, Main Beach, 1000 Steps Beach, North Aliso County Beach and Treasure Island all received exemplary scores.

In Dana Point, of the 14 ocean testing sites listed in the report, all 14 earned an A or A+ during the summer season, when most beaches are visited.

During wet weather, Doheny Beach earned an F grade while Dana Point Harbor Patrol Dock earned a D.

One Orange County beach made Heal the Bay's "Beach Bummer" list, which covers the state's 10 most polluted beaches.

Straddling Dana Point and San Clemente, Poche Beach made the list for the fourth time in 11 years after a two-year absence.

According to the report, the pollutants at the beach stem from a storm channel that collects runoff and discharges directly into the surf zone along the county-owned beach.

For the rundown on which south Orange County beaches made good grades for Heal the Bay's report card, view the full report here.