Beach Report Card - California Coastkeeper Alliance

or cut back on their ocean water quality monitoringprograms, Los Angeles County has beenable to continue sampling and protecting publichealth as before. This is due to the structureof the program, sewage treatment plant andstormwater permit monitoring requirements,and the shared monitoring responsibilities betweenagencies in the county.Los Angeles County’s summer dry (AB411)weather water quality fell from 80% A or Bgrades last year to 75%, which is 15% belowthe statewide average. Water quality was fairwith 75% of the locations receiving an A or Bfor the summer months and 76% year-round fordry weather (see Figure 4-5). There were somestretches of very good to excellent summerwater quality in western Malibu, from Leo Carrilloto Zuma Beach on Point Dume, and all ofSanta Monica Beach locations through VeniceBeach. The South Bay saw excellent water qualityduring the summer months from Marina delRey all the way to Cabrillo Beach Oceanside. AllSouth Bay locations received A grades, with theexception of Dockweiler State Beach at BallonaCreek and the south side of Redondo MunicipalPier, which received B grades.Overall, 2010-2011 dry weather water qualitywas slightly better than the seven-year averagefor A or B grades (74% average), with 76% of thelocations receiving A or B grades this past year(see Figure 4-8).AB411 water quality in Santa Monica Bay wasexcellent last year with 91% of Santa MonicaBay beaches (from Leo Carrillo to Palos Verdes)receiving A or B grades during the time period(see Figure 4-9). This percentage is the same aslast year and markedly better than the sevenyearaverage (82%) for Santa Monica Bay.Poor grades for year-round dry weather in SantaMonica Bay were received at Paradise Cove(F) , Solstice Canyon at Surfrider Beach (F), MarieCanyon storm drain (D), Surfrider Beach (F), TopangaBeach (F), Will Rogers drain at 16801 PacificCoast Highway (D), Cabrillo Beach harborsideat the restrooms (F), Long Beach at Molinoand Coronado Ave. (D), Long Beach’s Mother’sBeach (F), Alamitos Bay (D), and Colorado Lagoon(north) (F) and south (F).Overall wet weather water quality in Los AngelesCounty showed poor results, with only25 of 87 (29%) receiving A or B grades comparedto 50% last year. Sixty-two of 87 (71%)of sample sites received poor grades, with 40out of 87 (46%) of sample sites receiving an Fgrade. The county’s wet weather water qualitythis past year was 7% below the seven-yearaverage and well below the statewide average,most likely from the intense rainfall this pastwinter.Los Angeles County’s move to sample at themouth of flowing storm drains and creeks dueto the Santa Monica Bay Beach Bacteria TMDLhas historically contributed to the county’sgrades being well below the state average.However, it is important to note that not all waterquality problems in the county can be attributedto the sampling location. For example, thebeaches at Avalon and Cabrillo had very poorwater quality again this year, even though stormdrains are not a major contributor to pollutionat these locations. Heal the Bay believes thatsampling at the outfall (‘point-zero’) of drainsand creeks gives a more accurate picture ofwater quality and is far more protective of humanhealth. Statewide, most monitoring locationsassociated with storm drains or creeks areactually sampled at a substantial distance fromthe outfall.Although Paradise Cove improved to a B gradelast AB411 (2009) period from its persistentlypoor grades, this year it fell to a D grade. Thiswas surprising due to the completion of thelong overdue wastewater treatment facilityand sewers at the Paradise Cove MobilehomePark, and the installation of a new dry weatherrunoff treatment facility at the bottom of thewatershed (completed last July). Kelp wrackand algae have been observed by Heal theBay at the outflow of treated water dischargedfrom the treatment facility. The point of dischargemay be harboring high concentrationsof bacteria, thereby introducing bacteria intonewly treated waters and contributing to poorFIGURE 4-5Percentage of Grades by Time Periodfor Los Angeles County Beaches81026961055610984667AB411: April-October (92 locations)55WINTER-DRY (87 locations)66DRY WEATHER (87 locations)1517WET WEATHER (87 locations)1011KEY:Numbers in BOLD indicate percentages34