A report released last week by Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica environmental group, revealed that while water quality at Bay Area beaches is generally high, it varies widely — and predictably — between bay and ocean beaches. The group’s study monitored bacteria levels at 69 beaches in San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin counties between April and October 2011, and found that while 94 percent received A or B grades during the peak summer season, ocean beaches in general fared better than bay beaches. Four San Mateo County bayside beaches scored Ds or Fs for high bacteria levels due to poor circulation. During the winter and wet-weather events, bay water quality tends to be even poorer.
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