2015 annual beach report card

Heal the Bay released its annual beach report card for the best and worst beaches.

Get the full report

The sun rises over Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey in 2010.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times

Beach bummer: With another year of extremely poor water quality, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey moved up the Beach Bummer list from third place to second. It appears that the installed circulation devices are not doing enough to improve water quality at Mother’s Beach. As with most enclosed bodies of water throughout the state, poor water quality is exacerbated by poor water circulation. Three of the top five Beach Bummers are located within enclosed bodies of water.

A young girl splashes in the surf on Cabrillo Beach, harborside in San Pedro in 2011.

(Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)

Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times

Beach bummer: For 12 straight years, Cabrillo Beach in L.A. Harbor has made the Top 10 Beach Bummer list. This year was no different with a No. 9 spot on the list. Despite extensive improvement projects, poor water quality continues to plague this beach.

A jogger runs underneath the Santa Monica Pier in 2014. The beach at the pier was rated Top 10 worst-polluted “Beach Bummers” along with Cabrillo Beach and Mother’s Beach.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Beach bummer: The Santa Monica Pier has a long history of chronic beach pollution and unfortunately continues to stay on the Beach Bummer list at No. 6 this year.

Surfers hit the waves as Tropical Storm Simon pumps up a south swell at the Wedge in Newport Beach in 2014.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Honor roll: Once again, The Wedge in Newport Beach made the honor roll of California’s year-round monitored beaches with excellent water quality.

A standup paddleboarder is reflected in the calm waters of Dana Point Harbor in 2013.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Honor roll: Dana Point Harbor made the honor roll of California’s year-round monitored beaches with excellent water quality.

2006 photo of surfers at Cardiff State Beach watch the sunset.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Honor roll: Cardiff State Beach made the honor roll of California’s year-round monitored beaches with excellent water quality.