Newport beaches get clean bill

Paul Clinton

Beaches in West Newport, Newport Harbor and the swimming destinations

at the city’s southern border all received generally good grades in

an annual report of water quality.

“Overall, dry-weather water quality at most beaches in Orange

County was very good,” the report said.

However, several “hot spots” in the harbor received failing

grades, as did nearly all of Newport’s harbor front and beaches

following rain.

The grades came as part of Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay’s 13th

annual Beach Report Card, released on Wednesday. The environmental

group collects sampling data from each county along the coast to

reach its conclusions.

Beaches with “great water quality” include five West Newport

locations, among them the Santa Ana River mouth and two Balboa

Peninsula beaches, the report said.

Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said the high marks at the Santa

Ana River surprised him. The water quality samples are taken a few

feet offshore; water quality further up the river is much worse, Kiff

said.

“To me, you would need to put an asterisk in that report,” Kiff

said. “People should not be swimming in the Santa Ana River.”

Corona del Mar’s two beaches, including Little Corona, received

high marks, as did Pelican Point, Crystal Cove and Muddy Creek Beach.

Beaches on the shoreline tend to have better water quality because

ocean tidal action moves potentially dirty water out to sea. In

contrast, Newport Harbor has very little flushing, allowing bacteria

to collect and gather in inland locations.

“I’m surprised they find it so clean,” said Bob Caustin, a local

activist and founder of Defend the Bay. “On a par with the other

California beaches, I think they’re accurate. As to the standards we

should be judged on, we are below par.”

Most of the 23 Newport Harbor locations received “very good to

excellent grades,” the report said. However, two harbor locations

were among the worst in water quality in the county. The group cited

43rd Street, 38th Street, 19th Street and 10th Street beaches as

trouble spots. During dry weather seasons, the first two made the

list of “county bummers.”

Up and down the city during the rainy season, beaches and

harbor-side areas received F grades. Only Corona del Mar, which got a

D, Crystal Cove at Los Trancos Canyon, which got a C, and Muddy Creek

Beach, which got an A+, did not have failing grades during the wet

parts of the year.

Harbor Patrol Beach received an F. 43rd Street was also given a

failing grade, while 38th Street earned a C.

Kiff agreed that certain so-called “hot spots” in the harbor still

need to be cleaned up.

In July, the city installed 70 filters and screens in front of

catch basins in the gutters around the city. That cost about $90,000,

Kiff said.

Kiff said the filters have improved the quality of the water from

last year.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.