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California beaches have improved over the years, report the Los Angeles Times.
In the annual survey of over 500 beaches, Heal the Bay reported that 93% of the state's beaches had good water quality between April and October 2020.
According to the LA Times, the severe drought means less polluted beaches during the summer. However, it wasn't enough to eradicate all the pockets of pollution along the coast.
Based on the survey, these are the California beaches with the dirtiest water:
- Tijuana River mouth (San Diego County)
- Erckenbrack Park (Foster City, San Mateo County)
- Capitola Beach, west of the jetty (Capitola, Santa Cruz County)
- Gull Park (Foster City, San Mateo County)
- Mother’s Beach (Marina del Rey, Los Angeles County)
- Tijuana Slough, 3/4 mile north of the Tijuana River (San Diego County)
- Clam Beach County Park near Strawberry Creek (McKinleyville, Humboldt County)
- Marlin Park (Foster City, San Mateo County)
- Candlestick Point, Windsurfer Circle (San Francisco)
- East Beach at Mission Creek (Santa Barbara County)
Heal the Bay's report card also included the popular river locations that have the highest risk of illness:
- Tujunga Wash at Hansen Dam
- Los Angeles River at Rattlesnake Park
- San Gabriel River, below the North and West forks
- Los Angeles River at the middle of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Zone
- Bull Creek
- Lake Balboa boat ramp
- Lake Balboa outlet
- Los Angeles River at Balboa Boulevard
- Switzer Falls