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The most polluted beach in SoCal won't shock Angelenos. But what are the cleanest ones?
An aerial view of the Santa Monica Pier on Santa Monica Beach on May 13, 2020 in Santa Monica, California.
(
Mario Tama
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Getty Images North America
)
Topline:
The nonprofit Heal the Bay has been tracking bacteria levels at California's beaches for years, and they're out with their latest water quality report.
The least polluted beaches: Let's start with the good news, shall we? Here are the SoCal beaches with the lowest levels of bacteria:
- Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates
- Capistrano County Beach
- Dana Point Harbor at the guest dock
- Huntington City Beach at Beach Boulevard
- Coral Cay Beach in Huntington Harbor
- Admiral Drive Beach in Huntington Harbor
- 1000 Steps Beach in Laguna Beach
- Three Arch Bay in Laguna Beach
- Sunset Beach at Broadway in Huntington Beach
The dirtiest beaches: Tourists beware — Santa Monica Pier was the beach in Southern California with the highest bacteria levels, a dishonorable distinction it's received before. A majority of the 10 most polluted beaches were in the Bay Area's San Mateo County.
Ew, could it get worse than the pier? Yes. The most polluted beach measured by Heal the Bay was Tijuana's Playa Blanca, which sits near the mouth of the notoriously polluted Tijuana River.
Cleaner rivers are upstream: Heal the Bay also tracked the quality of our region's freshwater. Malibu Creek at Rock Pool was the highest-ranked, while the majority of the other areas with the lowest bacteria levels were in the Upper San Gabriel River Watershed.
The polluted river sections: The lowest water quality on the L.A. River was measured in areas in and around Southeast L.A., though areas in the upper watershed like Eaton Wash, the Arroyo Seco and Santa Anita Wash also ranked on the list.
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Wait, but I want to swim this weekend: That's probably fine. Overall, Heal the Bay's report noted that water quality is relatively good in most of L.A. County and O.C. during the summer. 91% of beaches got an "A" or a "B" ranking from the nonprofit, so feel free to hit the beach and even jump in this weekend. It's always a good idea to check for water advisories first, though, especially after it rains.
To see the full list: Visit Heal the Bay's website.
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