The 7 Most Disgusting L.A. Beaches

By Simone Wilson Wed., Sep. 26 2012 at 11:30 AM

Avalon Beach: Bathe if you dare.

See also: "Dirty Beaches? Not in L.A. (Well, for the Most Part)"

Were you chin-deep in scary ocean bacteria all summer long, without ever realizing it? Now, thanks to local environmental org Heal the Bay, your blissful summertime ignorance shall be briskly swiped clean by the hard facts of fall!

Every year, at summer's end, Heal the Bay releases a "Beach Report Card"...

... for almost 500 sites along the California coast. The good news in 2012:

Heal the Bay reports, "Water quality data collected at California beaches this past summer improved, with 4% more A and B grades over last summer, and this summer was one of the cleanest years on record." And locally, in the land of Angels, "Water quality grades improved 2%." (Also: "There were no known sewage spills in Los Angeles County that resulted in beach closures this summer." Phew.)

The bad news: The seven beaches below all flunked out of summer school -- including Avalon Beach on Catalina Island, world-famous for its crystal-clear snorkeling waters. How's that for paradise?

7. Castle Rock Beach near the Pacific Palisades: C

A big ugly drainpipe jutting out from beneath the PCH sullies up this roadside swim spot. But it's kind of rocky and gross anyway -- so just stay east of the storm drain, and you should be good.

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Tags:

Avalon Beach, Beach Report Card, Belmont Pier, Heal the Bay, Malibu Pier

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CrAsh

With a 60 year old sewage treatment infrastructure overwhelmed by over population what did you expect?

MsGalnSoCal

@stephschmitty There's a proven solution in cleaning polution with new technology by Quantum Ozone, Inc. Check out LA's apprved Vendor List!

ifoundmymind

The reason Long Beach has such awful water quality is due to the nearby port and the breakwater, which traps beach water and prevents the river runoff from dissipating into the Pacific Ocean. The Long Beach chapter of the Surfrider foundation has long been campaigning to get the breakwater demolished. You can find out more at http://www.lbsurfrider.org/sink-the-breakwater/

JustSomeDude

For what it's worth, it's only the inner beach at Cabrillo in San Pedro that's a mess. The outer beach (which features "fresh" water, as opposed to what's on the other side of the breakwall) consistently rates highly.