Newport Area Beaches Make Honor Roll for Water Quality

A handful of the city's beaches reached honor roll status on Heal the Bay's annual beach report card released this week.

The Wedge, projection of 52nd/53rd Street, Onyx Avenue Beach, N Street Beach and Rocky Point Beach each earned a spot on the report card's honor roll  for scoring A grades every week of the report's three time periods. Grades are based on water quality, bacteria and pollution. Mayor Nancy Gardner says the stellar ranking points to a collaborative, community effort. 

"Our residents and businesses have changed many of their practices because of their impact on water quality," Gardner said. "They have supported the city funding staff positions for water quality education and enforcement as well as water quality projects."

Along with the honor roll designations, A and B grades were also given to areas at the Balboa Pier, Newport Bay, Little Corona Beach, Newport Dunes, Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove.

City Manager Dave Kiff says the favorable grades are a result of the city's commitment to improve water quality which has been in the works for the last several years and has been a joint effort between the community and city staff.

"I think it's the city's long term emphasis on water quality education, enforcement of our no-discharge requirements, improved built-in infrastructure like storm drain diversions and screens and better practices by everyone," Kiff said.

Heal the Bay's annual Beach Report Card grades more than 650 locations across the West Coast, in the summer dry weather and more than 300 locations year-round. Beaches that earn As and Bs pose less of a health risk to swimmers, who can come down with stomach flu, ear infections and skin rashes when water quality is poor.

Read the full report here. Beachgoers can check Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card weekly grades online at www.beachreportcard.org.