The area around the Santa Monica Pier is the second dirtiest beach in California, according to Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card.
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“Despite upgrades like stormwater capture systems and bird deterrent netting, pollution remains a problem, worsened by urban runoff and high levels of activities at the Pier,” the report says.
The Santa Monica Pier is the only Los Angeles County beach to make this year’s “Beach Bummer” top 10 list, with the county overall earning top marks for beach cleanliness.
Orange County topped the water quality Honor Roll, with 34 beaches recognized. Seven L.A. County beaches also made it onto the Honor Roll – an improvement over zero beaches in the last two reports.
Heal the Bay credits a dry summer and winter for an increase in coastal water quality across the state, with less rain washing fewer pollutants into the ocean.
The report card’s scores don’t account for runoff from the January wildfires, which Heal the Bay is monitoring separately.
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