4 San Diego Beaches On 'Beach Bummers' List: Heal The Bay Grades A-F

SAN DIEGO, CA — Water quality at California beaches declined last year, according to a new report. Most beaches scored great across the state last summer in Heal the Bay's 34th annual Beach Report Card, but scores were well below average in the winter due to heavy rainfall and millions of gallons of sewage that spilled into the ocean.

The environmental nonprofit assigned A-to-F grades to about 700 beaches along the Pacific Coast, from Washington state to Baja California, based on levels of bacterial pollution. The organization gave beaches three separate grades for dry conditions in the summer and winter seasons, as well as wet weather conditions.

According to the report, 89 percent of California beaches received A or B grades during the summer season, a 6 percent decline from last year. Southern California beaches scored about the same as those statewide, with 90 percent of beaches receiving A or B grades.

During the winter season, however, only 66 percent of California beaches received overall A or B grades. Coastal counties received 31 percent more rainfall than the 10-year average, according to the report.

"Eighty-nine percent of California beaches were safe to swim at during summer 2023, but we are still seeing water quality impacts from record-breaking storms, urban runoff, and sewage spills," said Tracy Quinn, Heal the Bay's CEO and president. "California's 20th century water infrastructure was not designed to address the challenges faced by climate change in the 21st century. We need to upgrade outdated sewage treatment facilities and prioritize public investment in nature-based, multi-benefit stormwater capture infrastructure."

Four beaches in San Diego County made Heal the Bay's "Beach Bummers" list, which ranks the 10 most polluted beaches. The Tijuana River Mouth, Tijuana Slough, Border Field State Park, and Imperial Beach at Seacoast Drive all landed on the list, making San Diego the county with the highest number of bummers.

"This issue is exacerbated by the millions of gallons of untreated sewage that regularly flow into the ocean via the Tijuana River," the report said.

This year, only 12 of the more than 500 monitored beaches in California made Heal the Bay's Honor Roll.

While this was up from just two beaches last year, it remained significantly lower than the typical 30 to 50 beaches that make the list. This year's short list was largely due to the unprecedented rainfall during the winter, which substantially decreased overall water quality, according to Heal the Bay.

Two beaches in San Diego County made the Honor Roll list: Point Loma Lighthouse in San Diego and Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Notably, the Point Loma Lighthouse location has maintained its position on the Honor Roll for three consecutive years.

One beach in Ventura County made the list, while the rest of the Honor Roll beaches were in Orange County.

Read Heal the Bay's full report or view an interactive map of beach grades here.

• Also see: 6 SoCal Beaches On 'Beach Bummers' List: Heal The Bay Grades A-F