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Southern
California Beaches
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| Avalon
Harbor exhibits the type of barriers that impede
water circulation at many enclosed beaches Photo:
Heal the Bay |
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Once again, Heal the Bay analyzed the Southern California data (Santa Barbara to San Diego County) to determine differences in water quality based on beach type. Most Southern California beaches were divided into three categories: open ocean beaches; beaches adjacent to a creek, river, or storm drain (natural or concrete); and beaches located within enclosed waterbodies. The grades were analyzed for all three time periods: dry weather summer months (from April through October, the AB411 time period), dry weather year-round, and wet weather year-round. Figures A and B illustrate the grades by percent during dry weather for both AB411 (April through October) and year-round conditions.
For the sixth year in a row this comparison demonstrates that water quality during dry weather at open ocean beaches is superior to water quality at enclosed and storm drain impacted beaches. For the first time since Heal the Bay implemented this analysis by beach
type, storm drain impacted beaches had comparable or
poorer dry weather water quality than enclosed beaches.
Approximately 13% of the enclosed beaches received fair-to-poor water quality grades during dry weather as
opposed to 21% at storm drain impacted beaches and 7%
at open ocean beaches. Although enclosed beaches
appear safe and inviting to children, parents should
research water quality conditions carefully before allowing
their children to swim at these beaches.
The disparity in water quality between beach types is seen more dramatically this year during wet weather (Figure C). 84% of open ocean monitoring locations received good grades, compared to 52% at storm drain impacted locations, and only 11% at enclosed beaches.
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