SANTA CRUZ -- Most of the county's beaches maintained good water quality throughout the summer, but problem beaches, Cowell and Capitola, had unsafe levels of bacterial counts, according to the latest Beach Report Card compiled by nonprofit Heal the Bay.

The annual End of Summer report card gives letter grades to more than 400 beaches along California's coast. Collectively, California beach water quality improved, but, the report notes, federal funding for beach and recreational water quality monitoring may be at risk. The Environmental Protection Agency's 2013 budget proposes eliminating all funding Beach Act grants, which totaled $10 million in 2012. Many state and county programs depend on federal funding to maintain water quality monitoring.

Water quality grades in Santa Cruz remained the same as the previous year. "They definitely have some hot spots of bad water quality, but overall, the beaches are typically very clean," said Amanda Griesbach, beach water quality scientist of Heal the Bay. Capitola Beach earned a "C" and Cowell Beach, just west of the Municipal Wharf, earned an "F."

Cowell Beach has had chronic water quality issues and is in the No. 2 spot on Heal The Bay's Beach Bummer list of Top 10 worst California beaches. It's been at the No. 1 or No. 2 spot since it made the Beach Bummer list in 2009, making it one of the unhealthiest beaches in California.

Invisible bacterial counts don't make as big an impression

She does keep an eye on water quality, having contracted streptococcal skin infections from the water multiple times. "I don't go in if the counts are high," she said.

Kimberly Gomez, who is a stand-up-paddle-board racer, paddles three or four times a week, often on the waters of Cowell Beach. "It bums me out to know about the water quality. Cowell a great beach, especially for families with kids. It's the locals beach," she said. She did note that since the city began raking the kelp on the beach, she has noticed improved water quality. Gomez, whose daughter participates in Santa Cruz City's Junior Lifeguards, said "My daughter could go in the water many more days this year for Junior Guard than last year."

Beach water quality, though, is variable and can change dramatically following rainfall or sewage spills. Heal the Bay's Griesbach warned that "people should stay out of the water for 72 hours after a rainfall. It's important to check water quality every time you go to the beach." An interactive map is available on Heal the Bay's website. It is updated Fridays, in time for weekend beach goers.

Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services has tracked the high bacterial count for the past four years, but the cause is still not well understood. The kelp that washes up on the beach is a likely culprit, according to Griesbach. The kelp harbors bacteria as it decays on the beach. Researchers at Stanford working with the city of Santa Cruz have been studying the problem. Recently, they have been raking up and removing the rotting kelp to see if that improves water quality.

"They have looked at sediment and water samples, seeing if storm drains, septic leaks or rotting kelp are the source. But there are no conclusive results so far," said Griesbach. However, she added, study results should be available later this year.

See more here:

Poor water quality grades continue at Cowell, Capitola beaches