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(KRON) - A Bay Area beach beloved for its surfing but plagued by high
bacteria levels only got worse in the last year, according to the
Surfrider Foundation's annual Clean Water Report released Tuesday, just
ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Volunteers took 10,120 water samples from 604 sites across the country
in 2024, the foundation said. Nearly 750 samples were collected within
the Bay Area.
One site, Pacifica State Beach, known locally as Linda Mar Beach, was
found to have bacteria levels that exceed state health standards in 71%
of its samples in 2024, according to Surfrider's report. That number is
up from 54% in 2023.
"In Pacifica, California, the San Mateo County Chapter has joined a
coalition of environmental and surfing groups to raise public awareness
and investigate the sources of pollution in San Pedro Creek, which flows
to the Pacific Ocean at Linda Mar Beach," the report stated.
Surfrider named 10 priority locations as beach bacteria hot spots:
Linda Mar Beach, Pacifica, California - 71% samples collected failed to
meet state health standard for recreational waters San Luis Creek Mouth,
Avila Beach, California - 38% Imperial Beach, San Diego, California -
82% South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock - 64%
Kahalu'u, Kahalu'u, Oahu, Hawaii - 92%
Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii - 90%
Windmill Beach, Sag Harbor, New York - 43%
Ballard Park, Melbourne, Florida - 52%
Park View Kayak Launch, Miami Beach, Florida - 90%
Playa Crashboat, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico - 23%
"These popular recreational beaches pose real health risks to swimmers, surfers, and families," the foundation wrote. "Each location regularly
shows dangerous levels of fecal-indicator bacteria tied to human
illnesses, including gastrointestinal issues, flu-like symptoms, and
serious skin conditions like MRSA and staph infections."
So far in 2025, 10 of 15 samples tested from Linda Mar Beach indicated
high levels of bacteria, according to the Surfrider website.
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/popular-bay-area-beach-continues-to-s ee-high-levels-of-fecal-bacteria-report/
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