The Californer - Long Beach Earns Top Dry Season Water Quality Marks in 2024-2025 Heal the Bay Report

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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has once again proven its commitment to maintaining high standards of recreational water quality. According to the recently released Heal the Bay Report for 2024-2025, all of the city's monitored beaches received A or B grades for both the dry summer months and winter dry period. This achievement highlights the city's continuous efforts in improving coastal water quality.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his pride in Long Beach's progress, stating, "As Long Beach prepares to welcome the world in 2028, these strong dry season grades demonstrate clear and consistent progress in protecting coastal water quality and ensuring our beaches are safe and welcoming for all." He also emphasized the city's dedication to collaboration and advocating for solutions to address water quality challenges.

The report revealed that during the dry summer season (April through October), Long Beach's beaches received 11 A grades and four B grades. All Alamitos Bay beaches received A grades, with one even receiving an A+ grade. The city also scored highly during the winter dry periods, with all beaches receiving A grades. This marks the fifth consecutive year that no Long Beach beaches have been listed as "Beach Bummers."

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The Heal the Bay Annual Beach Report Card assigns water quality grades based on bacteria levels that indicate potential pollution. These grades serve as a guide for residents and visitors to understand health risks associated with recreational ocean use. The full report is available on their website.

Long Beach boasts over six miles of public beaches along coastal waters and bays, attracting thousands of people throughout the year. To ensure public safety, the city operates a robust beach water monitoring program. The Health Department's Environmental Health Recreational Water Quality Program collects water samples three times per week from City beaches and tests them for bacterial levels.

According to Health Department Director Alison King, consistent monitoring is crucial in protecting public health. She stated, "These grades help us better understand conditions at our beaches and guide our response to potential risks. We will continue using this data to inform our work and engage with regional partners on solutions."

In addition to monitoring, the city takes a coordinated approach in improving recreational water quality and maintaining a clean shoreline. The Public Works Department implements stormwater projects, monitors waterways, conducts regular street sweeping, and operates and maintains infrastructure designed to reduce debris and pollutants from entering local waterways. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine also plays a role in maintaining beach accessibility and cleanliness.

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Despite consistently strong dry weather grades, wet weather runoff remains a challenge for the city. This is reflected in the lower grades received during the wet weather season. The report highlights regional water quality challenges such as runoff from heavy rain, wildfires, outdated sewage and stormwater systems, and other pollution sources. It also emphasizes the need for upstream solutions and improved climate resilience.

The City's Marine Advisory Commission is working towards advocating for upstream prevention policies and infrastructure to limit debris flow to the coastline. They are also advocating for additional state funding to be allocated to impacted communities like Long Beach.

Residents can stay updated on water quality in Long Beach through the Environmental Health Bureau webpage. More information about Heal the Bay can be found on their website at healthebay.org. With Long Beach's continued efforts in maintaining high recreational water quality standards, visitors can enjoy their time at the beach without any health concerns.

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