Newport earns high water marks

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- The bulk of the 33 beach locations and swimming holes

here that were examined in an annual clean-water survey fared well when

compared with their state peers, a Santa Monica-based group reported

Thursday.

In the 12th annual Beach Report Card, released by Heal the Bay, only

six received failing grades.

The nonprofit group handed out grades from A to F in both the dry

weather season and during rainy weather. Beaches tend to be more

contaminated after rainstorms, when urban runoff is washed down channels

and storm drains into the ocean.

Bob Caustin, a local environmentalist who founded Defend the Bay, said

he was still concerned about the group of areas with consistently high

bacteria readings.

“We’ve got some pupils failing the class,” Caustin said. “You need to

go to beaches that have a very high propensity to be clean.”

Heal the Bay analyzed data from local water-quality agencies from 396

shoreline monitoring stations from Sonoma County to the Mexican border.

The group released its report Thursday at a press conference at

Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

In addition to the report, the group also released a list of “Summer

Bummers” -- 10 beaches with elevated bacteria counts at least 75% of the

time.

These bottom 10 dirty beaches include Doheny State Beach in Dana Point

and Arroyo Quemada in Santa Barbara County. No beaches in Newport Beach,

Laguna Beach or Huntington Beach made that hit list.

However, several swimming areas in Newport Beach were given D and F

grades. For the dry season, a period covering all non-rainy days between

April 2001 to March, three swimming areas fell short -- 43rd Street

Beach, 19th Street Beach in Newport Harbor and the northern side of the

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort’s lagoon.

Many more failed with high bacteria counts on rainy days. Of the 33,

24 were bacteria “hot spots” with either D or F grades. Upper Newport Bay

tends to act as a receptacle for animal and human waste and other urban

runoff during a rainstorm.

“Much of California’s coastal waters are clean and safe,” said Shelley

Luce, a scientist with Heal the Bay. “The real concern is certain hot

spots and beaches after rainfall.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment, John Wayne Airport and

politics. He may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .