California’s dirtiest beaches ranked in latest Heal the Bay report

Iman Palm
·3 min read
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While California’s famous coastline is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike, especially during the summer, some may want to reconsider swimming in the Pacific to escape the summer heat.

Ten beaches, including two in Los Angeles County, were named on the “Beach Bummer List” as part of Heal the Bay’s 34th annual report card. The list outlines the 10 most polluted beaches in California.

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Santa Monica Pier ranked third, while Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach ranked ninth.

“The City of Santa Monica has wrestled for years with poor water quality at the Pier, which is plagued with droppings from roosting birds and urban runoff. The enclosed Mother’s Beach in Los Angeles County might attract families because of its placid waters, but very poor circulation has led to chronic bacterial exceedances. Families beware,” the report said.

These are California’s 10 dirtest beaches:

1. Tijuana River Mouth (San Diego County)
2. Playa Blanca (Baja California, Mexico)
3. Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles County)
4. Tijuana Slough (San Diego County)
5. Linda Mar Beach (San Mateo County)
6. Lakeshore Park (San Mateo County)
7. Imperial Beach at Seacoast Drive (San Diego County)
8. Border Field State Park (San Diego County)
9. Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach at Lifeguard Tower (Los Angeles County)
10. El Faro (Baja California, Mexico)

However, it’s not all bad news. Out of the 500 beaches tested, nearly 90% of the beaches tested last year from April through October received an A or B water-quality grade for the dry-weather summer months when people typically spend the most time at the beach.

The report also stated that water sampling conducted during dry periods from November 2023 through March 2024 produced results well below average, with only 66% of beaches receiving A and B grades.

The poor grades during the dry winter period are usually due to heavy rainfall, which can cause pollutants to flow through storm drains and trigger sewage spills. The report noted that 38 million gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean and coastal waterways, due to increased rainfall that overwhelmed sewage systems.

Despite the lower grades in some areas, 12 beaches — nine in Orange County, two in San Diego County and one in Ventura County — met the highest clean-water standards for the entire year.

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These are California’s ‘honor roll’ beaches:

1. Dana Point Harbor Fuel Dock (Orange County)
2. Huntington Harbor, Seagate Lagoon (Orange County)
3. Huntington Harbor, Trinidad Lane Beach (Orange County)
4. Newport Bay, Promontory Point (Orange County)
5. Dana Point, South Capistrano Bay Community Beach (Orange County)
6. Riviera Beach (Orange County)
7. Emerald Bay Beach (Orange County)
8. Marine Science Institute Beach (Orange County)
9. Salt Creek Beach (Orange County)
10. Point Loma Lighthouse (San Diego County)
11. Encinitas, Moonlight Beach, Cottonwood Creek (San Diego County)
12. County Line Beach (Ventura County)

That’s an improvement from last year’s report when only two beaches made the organization’s “honor roll,” but still below the average 30 to 50 beaches that make the list.

The full report can be viewed here.

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