Los Angeles County Rated F for Beaches

California environmental group Heal the Bay has cited Los Angeles County as having the most polluted beaches in the state.

The city of Long Beach was cited as the worst in the county in the Santa Monica, Calif.-based group’s study, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The group analyzed 450 beaches in the state for levels of bacterial pollution. Twenty-nine of Los Angeles County’s 97 test cites received an F grade for pollution, while San Diego county was given three Fs and Orange County received one. In the entire state, 37 beaches were rated F while 278 test sites were given A grades.

Mark Gold, the executive director of the group, said that overall, the state had improved. He said many beaches, including the formerly polluted Will Rogers State Beach, had benefited from cleanup efforts and received A ratings.

Gold theorized that the source of pollution in the formerly clean Long Beach water was probably the Los Angeles River, which feeds into the ocean near the city’s coastline.