Surf City beaches get good grades

Paul Clinton

Surf City’s beaches have brought home a report card any parent would

be proud of.

The bulk of the 15 swimming and surf spots in Huntington Beach that

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

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

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

23, only five Surf City beaches received substandard 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.

“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.”

The good news was no surprise to Mayor Debbie Cook, who echoed the

report’s contention that the southern state beaches are a trouble spot.

“We have a problem with one area,” Cook said. “The rest of our beaches

rival any others in Southern California for cleanliness. We don’t need to

get hysterical.”

The southern beaches of Huntington State Beach are in the group of

areas with consistently high bacteria readings.

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 last week 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.

Many of the the Huntington Beach locations received A and B grades for

dry and rainy-day conditions. The Seapoint bluffs at Huntington City

Beach scored straight As, as did the Trinidad Lane beach in Huntington

Harbour.

The two monitoring stations at Bolsa Chica State Beach also fared well

in the report earning all As for the dry season and Bs for the rainy

season. The three city beaches also scored high marks on the group’s

report card. The beach at Jack’s Snack Bar and 17th Street registered As

and Bs.

However, when the rains come several beaches at both ends of town

suffer.

At the southernmost end of the city three beaches were given D and F

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

April 2001 to March, only Magnolia Street on Huntington State Beach

received a low mark. But in the rainy season the beach at Brookhurst

Street and the Santa Ana River Mouth failed with the beach at high

bacteria counts. Those areas have been consistent bacteria sore spots. As

such, they have inspired a number of high-profile studies, including a

$5.1-million testing survey by the Orange County Sanitation District, to

uncover the cause of the persistent surf zone contamination.

A wave of postings and beach closures during the summer of 1999 turned

the city into a ghost town in its most popular season for tourism.

The rainy season also meant failing grades for three areas in

Huntington Harbour.

In the harbor, substandard areas after a rainfall included the 11th

Street Beach, Davenport Drive Beach and Mothers’ Beach, two of which

earned As in dry weather.

Local health care officials say urban runoff is one likely source of

the wet-weather contamination. Often times, bacteria can wash down flood

channels and into the water off the beach.

“It does appear that much of the problem of surf zone contamination is

from inland, from urban runoff,” Councilman Peter Green said. “Of course,

I’m pleased that Huntington Beach gets top grades.”

* PAUL CLINTON is a reporter with Times Community News. He covers City

Hall and education. He may be reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail ato7 paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .

FYI BOX

BEACH / DRY SEASON / WET SEASON

Bolsa Chica State Beach, Warner Avenue / A / B

Bolsa Chica State Beach, Lifeguard building / A / B

Huntington City Beach, Seapoint Avenue / A / A

Huntington City Beach, 17th Street / A / B

Huntington City Beach, Jack’s Snack Bar / A / B

Huntington State Beach, Newland Street / B / B

Huntington State Beach, Magnolia Street / D / F

Huntington State Beach, Brookhurst Street / B / D

Santa Ana River Mouth, North side / A / F

Huntington Harbour, Mothers’ Beach / A / F

Huntington Harbour, Trinidad Lane / A / A

Huntington Harbour, Seagate / A / A+

Huntington Harbour, Humboldt Drive / A / A

Huntington Harbour, Davenport Drive / A+ / F

Huntington Harbour, 11th Street / C / F