Community Corner
Which Orange County Beach Ranked As 'Most Polluted' In CA?
Historic rainfall took a toll on ocean quality throughout the state of California, according to nonprofit Heal The Bay's annual report.
DANA POINT, CA — Thanks to recent heavy rainfall and millions of gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean, beach pollution grades slipped across Southern California this year, according to Heal the Bay’s 33rd Annual Beach Report Card.
The nonprofit assigns letter grades to beaches across California based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution that are reported by local health agencies.
This year, the group's "Honor Roll" — reserved for beaches with immaculate water quality all year — dropped from 51 sites in 2022 to just two beaches. Only one SoCal beach made the list with perfect water quality year-round near Point Loma Lighthouse in San Diego county.
Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The other honoree was Bean Hollow State Beach in San Mateo County, according to the report.
One Orange County beach made Heal the Bay's "Beach Bummer" list, which covers the state's 10 most polluted beaches.
Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Straddling Dana Point and San Clemente, Poche Beach made the list for the fourth time in 11 years after a two-year absence.
According to the report, the pollutants at the beach stem from a storm channel that collects runoff and discharges directly into the surf zone along the county-owned beach.
Los Angeles County is home to the state's most polluted beach, according to the rankings. Santa Monica Pier shares that first-place dishonor with Playa Blanca in Baja California.
Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey also made the list of top 10 most polluted beaches, which Heal the Bay says is due to its poor water circulation.
“As climate change continues to bring weather whiplash, our water woes will swing from scarcity to pollution. This year, record precipitation produced major impacts on water quality across Coastal California,” said Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn. “Now more than ever, we must prioritize multi-benefit projects to manage stormwater as both a water quality and supply solution, all while ensuring that the public is kept informed of risks to public health.”
You can view an interactive map of beach grades here.
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