Ventura County spot makes the list of top-scoring California beaches

Ventura County beaches ranked among the cleanest in the state, an environmental group reported this week.

Heal the Bay released its annual report card Wednesday, grading beaches from A to F based on water-quality samples from April 2023 through March 2024. Locally, all but one, or 97%, of those monitored scored A and B grades during the summer season, the busiest time for the beaches.

That’s higher than the close to 90% statewide.

"If a beach receives a grade of an A or a B, that means that it's safe to swim," said Annelisa Moe, associate director of science and policy at Heal the Bay.

Bacteria levels could have reached close to limits at times, but the water is generally safe for beachgoers, she said. For more than three decades, the organization has taken water-quality data sampled by local agenices to provide the public with easily recognizable grades for the summer and winter months.

The lower the grade, the higher the risk of getting ill, Moe said. Illnesses could include an upset stomach, skin rashes and eye infections.

The numbers of top-performing spots drop from November through March locally and statewide. That's largely because the storm runoff during the rain season tends to increase bacteria levels in the ocean.

How clean is the water at local beaches?

One local beach got top marks year round, earning a spot on Heal the Bay's Honor Roll.

County Line Beach, a popular surfing spot near the Ventura and Los Angeles County border, was one of a dozen of the more than 500 beaches monitored in California that earned A-plus grades.

The number is up from last year, when just two beaches made the honor roll. But it is far from the 30 to 50 that typically do, according to Heal the Bay.

The region's particularly wet year may be to blame. Those on the list need to be monitored weekly throughout the year and earn A-plus grades. But severe storms not only affect water quality but can prevent agencies from getting samples because of unsafe conditions.

Why did only some scores drop?

Statewide, grades during dry summer months fell slightly below the 94% historical average. Tests during dry winter conditions had a larger decrease from an average of 89% to 66% in 2023-24.

But the same sort of drop did not show up in samples taken during wet weather. Roughly 80% of the monitored beaches received A and B grades during wet conditions, up from the 59% average.

The reason likely had to do with the timing and number of samples, both affected by severe storms. Fewer samples during wet weather – particularly during the biggest storms – could have led to above-average grades, Heal the Bay reported.

Water quality clearly declined with wet weather, Moe said. But the delays for safety reasons in getting samples could mean tests missed the initial flush of bacteria out to the ocean.

How did local beaches score in wet weather?

Ventura County beaches posted above-average scores in wet weather over the past year with 85% earning A and B grades.

Meanwhile, 92% of the beaches had As and Bs during dry winter conditions – a higher percentage than many of the other counties and close to average for that time of year.

No local beaches made the organization's list of Beach Bummers, spots that earned the 10 poorest grades during dry summer months.

The only failing grade locally was at Rincon Beach near the mouth of a creek during the summer.

Find the report card and more information about water quality at local beaches at healthebay.org.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County spot on the list of top-scoring California beaches