Heal the Bay has released their annual 2022-2023 beach report card and we have some good news. In Orange County, Summer Dry Grades surpassed the average with 98 percent of the beaches receiving A and B grades. The Winter Dry Grades were stellar with a 94 percent of the beaches receiving A and B grades. During the Wet Weather, grades were also better than average with 63 percent of Orange County beaches receiving A and B grades.

Although we received excellent grades at Orange County beaches, unlike previous years, there were no Orange County beaches that made the honor roll this year (19 Orange County beaches made the honor roll last year), and the main reason is the unprecedented rainfall during this reporting period. To make the honor roll, there needs to be zero bacterial exceedances during the year which is extremely difficult with so much rainfall.

A huge shoutout goes to our staff for all the work that is done to protect the quality of our beaches. Without you, our beaches would have a completely different outcome in these report cards.

Check out the full Heal the Bay Report.