Santa Monica Pier ranked second on Beach Bummer

Heal the Bay’s 2025-26 Beach Report Card put Santa Monica Pier second on its annual “Beach Bummer” list, a ranking of beaches with the poorest summer dry-weather water quality. The environmental nonprofit released the report on Wednesday, May 21, ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and FOX 11 Los Angeles reported the result later that day. The listing marks the 10th straight year that the pier has appeared among California’s most polluted beaches, according to FOX 11. Playa Blanca near Tijuana ranked first on this year’s list. ### What exactly does the “Beach Bummer” list measure? Heal the Bay said the “Beach Bummer” list identifies the 10 beaches with the worst summer dry-weather grades in its annual report. The broader Beach Report Card assigns A-to-F grades based on fecal indicator bacteria found in monitoring data collected at more than 700 beaches along the Pacific Coast, including about 500 in California. A and B grades indicate generally safe-to-swim conditions, while C, D and F grades indicate higher risk of illness, the group said. (foxla.com) The 2025-26 report covers bacterial pollution trends at beaches from Washington state to Baja California. Heal the Bay said a single exposure to contaminated water can cause rashes, ear infections, respiratory illness and gastrointestinal symptoms. ### Why did Santa Monica Pier rank so poorly again? FOX 11 reported that Santa Monica Pier was cited for elevated bacteria levels and chronic pollution concerns. (healthebay.org) Heal the Bay’s press release said the site remains a persistent pollution hotspot despite years of investment and remediation efforts, and described the problem as an ongoing public health risk at one of California’s most visited coastal destinations. Tracy Quinn, chief executive of Heal the Bay, said in the release: “No one should get sick from a weekend in our waters.” Quinn said the findings show that water quality “isn’t just a report” but a public health issue affecting beachgoers and river users across California. ### Is this a statewide problem or mainly a Santa Monica problem? (foxla.com) California’s beaches were mostly clean in dry summer conditions, even as some chronic trouble spots remained. Heal the Bay said 91% of California beaches earned A or B grades during summer dry weather in the latest report. FOX 11 reported that statewide wet-weather grades fell to 61%, down from 67% a year earlier. (healthebay.org) Heal the Bay attributed the statewide decline in wet-weather grades to increased rainfall, stormwater runoff and aging infrastructure. FOX 11 also reported that only 21 beaches made the group’s “Honor Roll” this year, down from 62 in the previous report. ### Which other beaches were on the list? FOX 11 reported that Playa Blanca near Tijuana topped the 2025-26 “Beach Bummer” rankings. (healthebay.org) The rest of the top 10 included several sites in San Mateo County, plus Tijuana Slough at the Tijuana River Mouth in San Diego County and Clam Beach County Park at Strawberry Creek in Humboldt County. (foxla.com) San Mateo County accounted for six of the 10 beaches on the list, according to FOX 11. Los Angeles County’s Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates was among the beaches that still achieved top marks on the report’s “Honor Roll.” ### Where can beachgoers check conditions before heading out? Heal the Bay said weekly water-quality grades are available year-round through its Beach Report Card app and website. (foxla.com) The nonprofit said those updates are meant to help residents and visitors make real-time decisions about where it is safe to recreate. Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the busy summer beach season in California, and Heal the Bay said the 2025-26 report was released to give the public current guidance before holiday crowds arrive. (foxla.com) FOX 11 reported the findings on May 21, the same day the annual rankings were published. (healthebay.org)