Heal the Bay’s ‘Beach Bummers’

Nagendra Tiruttani brings his son, Rishi, 2, up to the water as they visit the beach in Santa Monica.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

May 26, 2016 6 PM PT

The Santa Monica Pier ranks fifth on environmental group Heal the Bay’s “Beach Bummer” list, a ranking of California’s worst polluted beaches.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Waves crash againt the Los Angeles Harbor breakwater at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. For the first time in 14 years, the harbor side of Cabrillo Beach did not make Heal the Bay’s “Bummer” list.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A surfer at Redondo Beach. The Redondo Municipal Pier is among Heal the Bay’s top 10 worst polluted beach locations.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The pier at Santa Monica Beach has significant pollution problems, according to the environmental group Heal the Bay. Piers attract humans and birds, both key sources of bacteria.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

A leopard shark at Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Ray. Mother’s Beach ranked sixth among California’s worst polluted beaches.

(Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)