Jul 29, 2009 5:55 pm US/Eastern
NRDC: S. Florida Beaches Barely Get Passing Grade
Florida Beaches Rank Ninth In The Nation Overall
In Its First Five-Star Rating Of The Nation's Top 200 Beaches, South Beach Only Earned A Two Star Rating
No Beaches In Broward Made The List
MIAMI (CBS News) ―
When it comes to water quality, South Florida beaches are barely getting a passing grade. So says an environmental group in its annual survey of the nation's beaches.
The National Resources Defense Council says that Florida beaches rank ninth in the nation overall, and that they are no cleaner or dirtier than they were last year.
However, in its first five-star rating of the nation's top 200 beaches, South Beach only earned a two star rating. No beaches in Broward made the list.
The surveys were based on data collected from the state. A spokesman says it shows that Florida beaches must do a better job of keeping bacteria and other pollutants out of the water.
The survey collected data from six thousand beaches nationwide.
On a nationwide level, the report shows a 10 percent decrease in closing or advisory days last year compared to 2007, but indicates pollution remains serious.
Click here to read the full report
Rain plays a big role in flushing pollutants into the oceans, but last year it was relatively dry in California, Hawaii and from Delaware to the southeastern states and the Gulf of Mexico.
The NRDC also says some of the overall decline was due to decreased funding for monitoring.
Five-Star Beaches include:
- Gulf Shores Public Beach (Alabama),
- Laguna Beach-Main Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, Newport Beach (California)
- Ocean City (Maryland),
- Park Point - Community Club Beach in Duluth (Minnesota)
- Hampton Beach State Park in Rockingham County (New Hampshire)
One-Star Beaches include:
- Zach's Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh (New York)
- Ocean Beach Park in New London (Connecticut)
- Venice Public Beach (Florida)
- Central Beach in Point Pleasant (New Jersey)
Wetter than usual conditions increased closings and advisories in the Great Lakes, New England and the New York-New Jersey region.
"Nobody wants their trip to the beach to send them to the bathroom or, worse, the emergency room," said Stoner. "It is vitally important to remember that if it has recently rained - or you see or smell a pipe discharging onto the beach - keep your head above water or avoid swimming altogether."
CBS4's Jim Berry contributed to this report.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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