The California drought may be fueling wildfires, but at least the record low in rainfall has resulted in cleaner beaches.
As less pollution flows into coastal waters, 95 percent of California beaches have earned A or B grades for water quality after being tested for bacteria, reflecting a 2 percent improvement over last year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
According to the yearly Beach Report Card released Thursday by the environmental group Heal the Bay, even Los Angeles County beaches had lower levels of bacteria despite their standing among the most-polluted beaches in California.
As the driest calendar year on record in 119 years, 2013 may not be the most accurate indicator of whether or not beaches will improve long-term. The numbers this year "may be providing a false sense of long-term beach water quality improvement," said the Heal the Bay report.
Experts also note that while cleaner beaches are a perk for now, a hurricane predicted for later this year could bring more contamination to the coast.
"Dry weather has meant less urban runoff. This is all great heading into Memorial Day weekend, but we shouldn't have a false sense of security," Amanda Griesbach, a water-quality scientist for Heal the Bay, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Next year, especially if we have an El Niño cycle, things could be very different."
The Santa Monica-based group conducted its 24th annual survey of 650 West Coast beaches this year, measuring levels of bacteria from sewage leaks, pollution runoff and industry.
Here is the list of the top 10 dirtiest beaches, as reported in the Heal the Bay survey:
1. Cowell Beach at Wharf (Santa Cruz County)
2. Marina Lagoon (San Mateo County)
3. Marina del Rey Mother's Beach (Los Angeles County)
4. Cabrillo Beach harbor side (Los Angeles County)
5. Stillwater Cove (Monterey County)
6. Clam Beach County Park (Humboldt County)
7. Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles County)
8. Pillar Point Harbor (San Mateo County)
9. Capitola Beach west of jetty (Santa Cruz County)
10. Windsurfer Circle (San Francisco County)
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