See How Sonoma County Ranked On Annual Beach Report Card

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Six of seven Sonoma County beaches received an A or A+ on Heal the Bay’s Annual Beach Report Card & River Report Card.

According to Heal the Bay's 2021-2022 Beach Report Card, Sonoma County beaches had good water quality with 86 percent receiving As for Summer Dry Grades. However, this stretch of coastline usually receives all As in the summer months.

All monitored beaches received As for Wet Weather Grades. Sonoma County does not monitor its beaches in the winter months so no Winter Dry Grades were generated and no beaches from this County were eligible for the Honor Roll.

Sonoma County received 8 inches of rain, which is 71 percent lower than the historical average of 29 inches and more characteristic of a Southern California county. Sonoma County saw the largest drop in rainfall in California this year.

A total of 571,849 gallons of sewage were spilled into waterways, mainly from two major spills. Both occurred in the same area, sending sewage into Petaluma River and Sonoma Creek which flow into San Pablo Bay, Heal the Bay reported.

Here is how Heal the Bay graded Sonoma County beaches on its 2021-2022 report card:

• Gualala Regional Park Beach: A+ (Summer Dry Grade)
• Black Point Beach: A+ (Summer Dry Grade)
• Stillwater Cove Regional Park Beach: A+(Summer Dry Grade)
• Goat Rock State Park Beach: A (Summer Dry Grade); A+ (Wet Weather Grade)
• Salmon Creek State Park Beach: A+ (Summer Dry Grade)
• Campbell Cove State Park Beach: C (Summer Dry Grade); A+ (Wet Weather Grade)
• Doran Regional Park Beach: A (Summer Dry Grade)

Honor Roll, Beach Bummers

Beaches around the state had excellent water quality last summer, according to an environmental group's annual honor roll of coastline quality grades.

A total of 51 beaches around the state landed on Heal the Bay's honor roll, indicating top-rate water quality grades recorded year-round. Orange County led the way with 19 beaches making the cut, up from 10 last year. Los Angeles County had six beaches on the list, down from seven last year.

On the report’s “beach bummers” list, were the 10 poorest grades given during the summer months. In the Golden State, Marlin Park in San Mateo County; Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles County; Marina del Rey in Los Angeles County; Moonstone County Park in Humboldt County and Mother’s Beach in Los Angeles County all garnered poor marks.

Polluted ocean water can pose major health risks to swimmers and surfers, according to Heal the Bay. Those who enter waters that received a C grade or lower in the report are at risk of illnesses including stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and rashes.

Some 94 percent of California beaches tested for water quality received A or B grades during the summer of 2021, which the environmental group called roughly on par with the five-year average, according to Heal the Bay. But only 66 percent of California beaches had good or excellent grades during wet weather, which is slightly above the annual average, but "still very concerning," according to Heal the Bay.

"It is wonderful news that most beaches in California have good water quality for swimming," Tracy Quinn, president/CEO of Heal the Bay said in a statement.

"But there are areas with poor water quality that need improvement and infrastructure upgrades. We can't forget that our marine ecosystems are still threatened by the climate crisis and other pollution sources, and we need solutions to address these pressing issues as well. We expect people to increasingly seek out ocean shorelines and freshwater swimming holes to cool off as temperatures rise, so safe, clean and healthy water is needed now more than ever."

Read the full report here.