Photo Boys reacted to the smell near La Jolla Cove, which has made regular appearances on a ranking of the states most polluted beaches. Credit Sam Hodgson for The New York Times

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Some of Californias most celebrated beaches are also the most likely to make you sick.

Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit, recently issued its annual report card for bacterial pollution at more than 400 beaches along the Pacific Coast.

Singled out as the least sanitary were destinations like La Jolla Cove, San Clemente Pier, Santa Monica Pier and Santa Cruz Countys Cowell and Capitola beaches.

Heal the Bay divvied out grades by season, using weekly data from April 2016 through March 2017.

During the dry days of summer last year, the vast majority of California beaches had excellent grades.

But winter was a different story. As record rainfall swept through the states cityscapes and pushed billions of gallons of runoff out to sea, water quality plummeted.

Nearly half of California beaches earned grades of C to F during the wet weather, 12 percent more than the five-year average.

Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bays chief scientist, said solutions lie in programs known to mitigate runoff pollution such as increased urban green cover and projects to capture, clean and reuse storm water.

Its indicative of a water mismanagement issue in California, she said. If we were doing a better job of rethinking that runoff we could turn it from a nuisance into a resource.

Coastal geography also plays a role. Cove-like stretches such as those at Cowell and La Jolla are at a disadvantage because pollutants are less readily washed out to sea.

And beaches near creeks, rivers or storm drains absorb the brunt of urban runoff.

Humboldt Countys Clam Beach, which is fed by two creeks, was named Californias most polluted beach by Heal the Bay.

The problem there has vexed local environmentalists who cite a panoply of possible causes: bird poop, campground toilets, old septic systems, livestock and more.

Theres no shortage of theories, said Jennifer Kalt, the director of Humboldt Baykeeper, an environmental group.

Better understood is that bacterial pollution rises sharply immediately after a rain, then typically goes right back to normal. Thats why health experts recommend beachgoers wait three days to enter the ocean after a storm.

(You can also check Heal the Bays online tool for the latest beach conditions).

I think oftentimes people think kids just get diarrhea or stomach aches for other reasons, Ms. Kalt said. But studies have shown that its often correlated with rainfall. If it rains one day and then the next day its sunny, people dont really give it much thought.

Heal the Bay, based in Santa Monica, also noted some bright spots with an honor roll of beaches that maintained exceptional water quality year-round.

Seven beaches in Laguna Beach, five in Carlsbad and four in both Encintas and Newport Beach made the cut.

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(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)

Gov. Jerry Browns Delta tunnels project got a crucial green light from two federal agencies. [Sacramento Bee]

The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a California law that places limits on carrying guns in public. [The New York Times]

Representative Brad Sherman, from Los Angeles, has drafted and circulated articles of impeachment for President Trump. [Los Angeles Times]

A study ranked cities by how hard it is to add new apartments. It didnt bode well for rents in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. [San Diego Union-Tribune]

In the past year, San Francisco spent $275 million to fight homelessness. Yet its as bad as ever. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Many Bay Area residents who made the leap to Sacramento have discovered a city coming into its own. [SFGate]

Californias minimum-wage fight could heat up after a study found that jobs and hours fell in Seattle. [Los Angeles Times]

The police have been cracking down on car-pool lane offenders. It doesnt seem to be making a difference. [The Mercury News]

Hes probably going to break Barry Bondss record. The Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger already has 24 home runs. [The New York Times]

The Warriors Draymond Green led the league in steals. Now hes been honored as Defensive Player of the Year. [East Bay Times]

Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj: What I love about comedy is that were this group of weirdos. [The New York Times]

Instagrammable food, impeccable coffee: Todays campsite cooks have high ambitions. [The New York Times]

Video: A drone was used to capture a blue whale swimming in Monterey Bay. [YouTube | Slater Moore Photography]

Its one of Los Angeless little known treats.

During the summer, you can drop by the Hollywood Bowl and watch the Los Angeles Philharmonic rehearse and its free.

The schedule is worked out on a week-by-week basis, but the rehearsals have typically happened on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, lasting a couple of hours.

Writing recently in The New York Times, the music critic Zachary Woolfe called the Los Angeles Philharmonic the most important orchestra in America.

During rehearsals the music may not be polished, but thats also part of the allure.

Spectators get to see how a piece of music is shaped by the conductor and musicians before a formal performance.

The rehearsals run from July through September, though not all are open to the public.

To find out whats on tap, the Philharmonic said to call the information line starting after the July Fourth weekend at 323-850-2000.

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California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.

The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Los Osos. Follow him on Twitter.

California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.

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California Today: Surf, Sun and Bacteria - New York Times