If you're planning a beach trip in Southern California this summer, you may want to pay close attention to water quality reports before diving in. A newly released annual assessment from Heal the Bay has once again placed the area around Santa Monica Pier among California’s most polluted beaches.

The environmental organization published its latest Beach Report Card ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, and the findings show that the iconic Santa Monica destination remains a concern for water safety. The Pier ranked second on Heal the Bay’s annual list of beaches with the poorest water quality during dry-weather months. This marks the tenth consecutive year the location has appeared among the state's most polluted coastal areas.

According to the report, high bacteria levels and long-term pollution issues continue to affect the water surrounding the Pier. Only Playa Blanca, near Tijuana, received the worst ranking this year.

Several other beaches across California also made the list of locations with troubling water quality conditions. A large number of the lower-ranked sites were concentrated in San Mateo County, while the Tijuana River Mouth area in San Diego County also appeared among the state's pollution hotspots.

Despite these problem areas, California beaches generally performed well overall. Heal the Bay reported that approximately 91% of beaches earned either an A or a B grade during dry summer conditions. However, water quality declined significantly during wet weather periods, with scores dropping compared to previous years. Researchers attributed the decline to rainfall, stormwater runoff, and aging water infrastructure systems.

Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn emphasized that water quality remains a serious public health concern. In comments accompanying the report, she stressed that recreational visits to beaches and waterways should not put people at risk of illness.

Alongside its beach rankings, Heal the Bay also released its annual freshwater report. The findings identified several sections of the Los Angeles River watershed as ongoing pollution trouble spots. Areas near the Rio Hondo confluence and Hollydale Park recorded some of the poorest scores in the report.

Not all of the news was negative. Twenty-one beaches across California earned Honor Roll recognition by receiving top marks in all monitored weather conditions. Among those standout locations was Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates.

For travelers and beachgoers planning summer outings, Heal the Bay continues to recommend avoiding swimming within three days after rainfall. Visitors are also encouraged to avoid storm drains, river outlets, and stagnant water zones, where contamination risks are often higher.

As California enters another busy beach season, the report serves as a reminder that even some of the state's most famous coastal attractions can face environmental challenges beneath the surface.

The report's Beach Bummer rankings were:

1. Playa Blanca near Tijuana;

2. Santa Monica Pier;

3. Erckenbrack Park in San Mateo County;

4. Linda Mar Beach at San Pedro Creek in San Mateo County;

5. Parkside Aquatic Park in San Mateo County;

6. Pillar Point Harbor's Capistrano Road Beach in San Mateo County;

7. Pillar Point Harbor's Harbor Beach in San Mateo County;

8. Marlin Park in San Mateo County;

9. Tijuana Slough at the Tijuana River Mouth in San Diego County; and

10. Clam Beach County Park at Strawberry Creek in Humboldt County.