Lance Johnson, visiting from Albuquerque, NM., swings his niece Elsa Schulte,3, of Redondo Beach, just south of the Redondo Beach Pier. The beach got an F for the winter months and a C during summer in Heal the Bay's annual report card. (Jay L. Clendenin \/ Los Angeles Times \/ May 23, 2013) <\/p>\n
May 23, 2013, 8:34 p.m. <\/p>\n
Southern California beaches had overall good water quality during the last year, and a vast majority of beaches received good to excellent ratings, according to an annual report released Thursday by Heal the Bay. <\/p>\n
The organization's beach report card was first published in 1991 and assesses water quality at more than 600 beach monitoring locations on the West Coast. <\/p>\n
Each location is assigned an A to F grade. The higher the grade, the lower the chance of becoming ill while swimming in the water. <\/p>\n
Southern California beaches that received A ratings during summer and dry winter periods included Santa Monica Beach at Wilshire Boulevard and Will Rogers Beach at Temescal Canyon, the report by the Santa Monica-based environmental organization found. <\/p>\n
Some beaches received A+ ratings. They included Hermosa Beach, Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and the Wedge in Newport Beach. <\/p>\n
Among the beaches receiving F grades were Doheny Beach in Dana Point, Avalon Beach in Catalina and the beaches adjacent to the Redondo Beach and Malibu piers, according to the report. <\/p>\n
Grades are typically lower during rainy periods. The report noted that Southern California experienced rainfall totals well below average last winter, resulting in improved water quality. <\/p>\n
\"Rainstorms greatly increase the amount of urban runoff, the greatest source of bacterial pollution at local beaches,\" Heal the Bay officials said in a statement. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Go here to read the rest: <\/p>\n
Many Southern California beaches get top grades, report says<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lance Johnson, visiting from Albuquerque, NM., swings his niece Elsa Schulte,3, of Redondo Beach, just south of the Redondo Beach Pier. The beach got an F for the winter months and a C during summer in Heal the Bay's annual report card. (Jay L. Continue reading