Features

SANTA MONICA — The celebrity-filled Malibu shore is known for more than swaying palms, sun-roasted sands and bronzed surfers: The lapping waves also contain some of Southern California’s filthiest ocean water. 

The environmental watchdog group Heal the Bay released its annual Beach Report Card for Summer 2000 and Malibu’s Surfrider Beach led the list of Los Angeles County spots getting a failing grade for high bacteria levels. 

Surfrider is adjacent to the exclusive Malibu Colony gated outpost. 

Will Rogers, Big Rock, Santa Monica Pier, Herondo Street, Redondo, Cabrillo, Long Beach, Alamitos Bay and Avalon beaches also got “F” marks. 

Heal the Bay took weekly ocean samples at 373 beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties between May and September and gave “A” grades to 257 beaches. There were 38 “B” marks, 34 “C’s” and 17 “D’s”. 

Beaches were graded on a 28-day rolling average based on the risk of ocean users becoming ill. 

“F” grades went to 27 beaches, including Santa Barbara County’s Gaviota and Arroyo Quemado beaches as well as Ventura County’s Peninsula and Channel Islands harbor beaches and Sycamore Cove beach. 

Orange County’s “F” beaches included Seal Beach, Huntington Harbour, Huntington State, Santa Ana River Mouth and Newport. San Diego County’s Oceanside, Encinitas, Mission Bay, Ocean Beach and San Diego Bay. 

On The Net: http://www.healthebay.org