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Category Archives: Beaches

Local beaches get mostly A's

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San Diego County beaches earned high marks on Heal the Bays 24th annual beach report card, but the environmental organization cautioned that stormwater flows to the countys beaches still pose health problems.

For nearly a quarter century, Heal the Bay has been analyzing and grading West Coast beaches based on levels of bacterial pollution in the water. The report is widely recognized as the definitive source for beach water quality along California, Oregon and Washington.

For the period from April 2013 through March 2014, nearly 99% of beaches in San Diego County received top marks in the summer dry season, with 73 of 74 beaches sampled receiving A or A+ grades, the report concluded. Thats the second year in a row the county has scored 99 percent for that period. During winter dry weather, 98 percent of San Diego beaches earned A grades.

Grades of A or B represent generally safe beaches. But beaches marked C or lower present in increased risk of illnesses such as rashes, stomach ailments or ear infections.

Seven San Diego beaches made the reports honor roll with perfect scores of A+ for all weather conditions. Those included Saint Malo Beach in Oceanside; Carlsbads beaches at Cerezo Drive, Encina Creek, Ponto Drive and Poinsettia lane; Windansea Beach at Playa del Norte, and the Point Loma Lighthouse.

And this year, no San Diego beaches made the beach bummer list of shorelines with the poorest dry weather water quality.

The catch, however, is that the pristine beach conditions are due largely to long dry periods this year. The ongoing drought that has left the region thirsting for rainfall has also reduced stormwater flows that carry pollution to sea.

If you can call it a silver lining that comes with the drought, it would be beach water quality, said Heal the Bay beach report card manager James Alamillo. If theres no rain, theres no runoff, and there is in essence great water quality.

During wet weather, however, just over one in five San Diego beaches earned grades of C, D, or F, the report noted.

The dog beach at Ocean Beach earned an A or higher for water quality during all of the past year, according to the latest Beach Report Card from the group Heal the Bay. / photo by Hayne Palmour IV * U-T San Diego

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Local beaches get mostly A's

Beaches at risk of failing tough new standards

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Beaches at risk of failing tough new standards

12:47am Friday 23rd May 2014 in News

Dozens of beaches are at risk of failing tough new standards for water quality, the Environment Agency said as it launched its summer monitoring programme.

From next year, more stringent European Union regulations will be brought in for bathing spots around England, and the agency is warning that around 40 beaches are on track to fail if action is not taken to tackle pollution ending up in the sea.

They include Scarborough South Bay, Lyme Regis Church Cliff beach, Southend Jubilee beach, Ilfracombe Wildersmouth and beaches at Blackpool, Morecambe and Walney.

If beaches fail on water quality standards under the EU rules, local authorities will have to display a sign advising against swimming.

More than 400 beaches will be tested weekly between now and September, with a total of 8,400 samples taken, and the Environment Agency said nine out of 10 swimming spots were already meeting the new standards.

But there were still areas where pollution was a problem, caused by agricultural run-off, sewage overflows, animal and bird faeces on beaches and households and businesses with badly connected drains, the agency said.

In some areas as many as one in five houses have their drains misconnected, which means sewage is being accidentally flushed into rivers and ending up on beaches.

Water companies, local authorities and the Environment Agency were working to sort out the problem.

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Beaches at risk of failing tough new standards

The coast is clear: Water good at most Bay Area beaches

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There might be one upside to the drought, and it's just in time for the holiday weekend.

Bay Area beaches are cleaner and healthier than ever, because so little rain has washed dangerous bacteria and other pathogens into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coastline, according to a report released Thursday by Heal the Bay.

"Dry weather has meant less urban runoff. This is all great heading into Memorial Day weekend, but we shouldn't have a false sense of security," said Amanda Griesbach, a water-quality scientist for the Santa Monica environmental group. "Next year, especially if we have an El Nio cycle, things could be very different."

Heal the Bay's 24th annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches showed some of the highest-ever grades for cleanliness, with 95 percent of California's beaches receiving "excellent" or "good" marks.

The group looked at the amounts of harmful bacteria from sewage leaks, pollution runoff and industry - pathogens that are flushed into creeks and storm drains and ultimately onto the beaches.

When people or wildlife come into contact with the bacteria, they're likely to suffer from gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, skin rashes, or eye, ear or lung infections.

In San Francisco, the beaches with the highest grades - an A or A+ - include Aquatic Park Beach at the Hyde Street Pier, Ocean Beach at Balboa Avenue, and Baker Beach.

Most Marin and East Bay beaches also received high scores.

The Peninsula saw some challenges. Marina Lagoon in San Mateo is a perpetual low scorer, and 2013-14 was no exception. In fact, it ranked as the second-worst beach in the state, largely because it's enclosed and shallow and the water tends to stagnate.

Pillar Point near Half Moon Bay also received poor grades, and was singled out as a "beach bummer."

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The coast is clear: Water good at most Bay Area beaches

Report card names Bay Area's cleanest beaches

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(05-22) 10:34 PDT San Francisco -- There might be one upside to the drought, and it's just in time for the holiday weekend.

Bay Area beaches are cleaner and healthier than ever, because so little rain has washed dangerous bacteria and other pathogens into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coastline, according to a report released Thursday by Heal the Bay.

"Dry weather has meant less urban runoff. This is all great heading into Memorial Day weekend, but we shouldn't have a false sense of security," said Amanda Griesbach, a water quality scientist for Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based environmental group. "Next year, especially if we have an El Nio cycle, things could be very different."

Heal the Bay's 24th annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches showed some of the highest-ever grades for cleanliness, with 95 percent of California's beaches receiving "excellent" or "good" marks.

The group looked at the amounts of harmful bacteria from sewage leaks, pollution runoff and industry, pathogens that are flushed into creeks and storm drains and ultimately onto the beaches.

When people or wildlife come into contact with the bacteria, they're likely to suffer from gastro-intestinal problems like diarrhea, skin rashes or eye, ear or lung infections.

In San Francisco, the beaches with the highest grades include Aquatic Beach at the Hyde Street Pier, Ocean Beach at Balboa Avenue and Baker Beach.

Most Marin and East Bay beaches also received high scores.

The Peninsula saw some challenges. Marina Lagoon in San Mateo is a perpetual low-scorer, and 2013-14 was no exception. In fact, it ranked as the second-worst beach in the state, largely because it's enclosed and shallow and the water tends to stagnate.

Pillar Point near Half Moon Bay also received poor grades, and was singled out as a "beach bummer."

See the article here:

Report card names Bay Area's cleanest beaches

There's an upside to California's drought: Cleaner beaches

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(05-22) 10:34 PDT San Francisco -- There might be one upside to the drought, and it's just in time for the holiday weekend.

Bay Area beaches are cleaner and healthier than ever, because so little rain has washed dangerous bacteria and other pathogens into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coastline, according to a report released Thursday by Heal the Bay.

"Dry weather has meant less urban runoff. This is all great heading into Memorial Day weekend, but we shouldn't have a false sense of security," said Amanda Griesbach, a water quality scientist for Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based environmental group. "Next year, especially if we have an El Nio cycle, things could be very different."

Heal the Bay's 24th annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches showed some of the highest-ever grades for cleanliness, with 95 percent of California's beaches receiving "excellent" or "good" marks.

The group looked at the amounts of harmful bacteria from sewage leaks, pollution runoff and industry, pathogens that are flushed into creeks and storm drains and ultimately onto the beaches.

When people or wildlife come into contact with the bacteria, they're likely to suffer from gastro-intestinal problems like diarrhea, skin rashes or eye, ear or lung infections.

In San Francisco, the beaches with the highest grades include Aquatic Beach at the Hyde Street Pier, Ocean Beach at Balboa Avenue and Baker Beach.

Most Marin and East Bay beaches also received high scores.

The Peninsula saw some challenges. Marina Lagoon in San Mateo is a perpetual low-scorer, and 2013-14 was no exception. In fact, it ranked as the second-worst beach in the state, largely because it's enclosed and shallow and the water tends to stagnate.

Pillar Point near Half Moon Bay also received poor grades, and was singled out as a "beach bummer."

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There's an upside to California's drought: Cleaner beaches

San Diego beaches make high grade

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The dog beach at Ocean Beach earned an A or higher for water quality during all of the past year, according to the latest Beach Report Card from the group Heal the Bay. / photo by Hayne Palmour IV * U-T San Diego

San Diego beaches earned high marks on Heal the Bays 24th annual beach report card, but the environmental organization cautioned that stormwater flows to the countys beaches still pose health problems.

For nearly a quarter century, Heal the Bay has been analyzing and grading West Coast beaches based on levels of bacterial pollution in the water. The report is widely recognized as the definitive source for beach water quality along California, Oregon and Washington.

For the period from April 2013 through March 2014, nearly 99% of beaches in San Diego County received top marks in the summer dry season, with 73 of 74 beaches sampled receiving A or A+ grades, the report concluded. Thats the second year in a row the county has scored 99 percent for that period. During winter dry weather, 98 percent of San Diego beaches earned A grades.

Grades of A or B represent generally safe beaches. But beaches marked C or lower present in increased risk of illnesses such as rashes, stomach ailments or ear infections.

Seven San Diego beaches made the reports honor roll with perfect scores of A+ for all weather conditions. Those included Saint Malo Beach in Oceanside; Carlsbads beaches at Cerezo Drive, Encina Creek, Ponto Drive and Poinsettia lane; Windansea Beach at Playa del Norte, and the Point Loma Lighthouse.

And this year, no San Diego beaches made the beach bummer list of shorelines with the poorest dry weather water quality.

The catch, however, is that the pristine beach conditions are due largely to long dry periods this year. The ongoing drought that has left the region thirsting for rainfall has also reduced stormwater flows that carry pollution to sea.

If you can call it a silver lining that comes with the drought, it would be beach water quality, said Heal the Bay beach report card manager James Alamillo. If theres no rain, theres no runoff, and there is in essence great water quality.

During wet weather, however, just over one in five San Diego beaches earned grades of C, D, or F, the report noted.

Continued here:

San Diego beaches make high grade

Sandy-Ravaged Babylon Beaches Fully Restored For Memorial Day Weekend

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TRI-STATE NEWS HEADLINES

From our newsroom to your inbox weekday mornings at 9AM.

BABYLON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) Two Sandy-damaged beaches on Long Island have been fully restored, and are now ready to open for Memorial Day.

As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported Tuesday night, Babylon residents are ready for some fun and sun come Memorial Day weekend.

Workers have carved the final touches into the newly-rebuilt dunes that once again protect Overlook and Cedar Beach from the oceans punishing waves.

The Army Corps of Engineers placed 5,000 cubic yards of sand along the shore, replacing what Superstorm Sandy washed away a year and a half ago.

After living through the hurricane, I cant believe its all back in once place, said Steve Civardi of Babylon.

Civardi said his family practically grew up on the beaches.

I worked at this beach when I was in high school. I went here for came to this beach before there was a bridge; we used to come here by the ferry when I was a child, he said.

Ahead of the upcoming holiday, construction workers pounded 30-foot poles into the sand, just outside one beach vendors restaurant.

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Sandy-Ravaged Babylon Beaches Fully Restored For Memorial Day Weekend

Blue Flag beaches in Cornwall reduced in number by 80 per cent, prompting tourism fears

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Number of Cornish beaches with Blue Flag status falls 80 per cent on 2013 Cornwall Council has decided not to pay for the 820 inspections this year Businesses in Falmouth and St Ives are concerned tourists will stay away

By Travelmail Reporter

Published: 07:45 EST, 21 May 2014 | Updated: 09:21 EST, 21 May 2014

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Towns and holiday attractions in Cornwall are worried that tourists will stay away this summer after the number of Blue Flag beaches in the country plummeted to just one.

In the sun: Porthmeor Beach, near St Ives, will not be able to boast Blue Flag status this summer

This is a drop of 80 per cent on 2013. Last year, five coastal strips in the region flew the prestigious marker of quality and cleanliness, and there are fears among those who rely on tourism from their income that potential visitors will be put off by the news.

Only Carbis Bay a privately owned beach on the north coast of the Cornish peninsula, near St Ives will have Blue Flag status this year after Cornwall Council decided not to involve itself in the application process, arguing that it is too costly.

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Blue Flag beaches in Cornwall reduced in number by 80 per cent, prompting tourism fears


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