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El Matador Beach
El Matador Beach
Eric Demarcq

Mapped: The 18 Cleanest Beaches in Los Angeles

Where to swim and where not to

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El Matador Beach
| Eric Demarcq

Heal the Bay has just released its annual report card on California beach cleanliness, and five Los Angeles beaches have made the honor roll: El Matador, Escondido, Long Point, Abalone Cove, and Portuguese Bend Cove were all singled out as some of the cleanest beaches in Southern California.

Heal the Bay also found the dirtiest beaches too. Stay away from Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, and the Redondo Beach Pier. They were named amongst the top ten "Beach Bummers" in California. Yikes.

But we're not here to dwell on some dirty piers, we're here to celebrate LA's finest beaches and show you where you can find the cleanest ocean water in town.

Heal the Bay gave each beach a grade from A+ to F in three categories: how clean it was during the summer months (April-October), winter months (November-March), and during wet weather. We've averaged the three grades for all the beaches on Heal the Bay's list and given them a score from one to six. Here are the LA beaches that scored the highest.

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El Matador State Beach

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At Encinal Canyon, the grades were summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Escondido Beach

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Grades at Escondido Creek were summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Long Point Beach

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Portuguese Bend Reserve

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Zuma Beach

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Bluff Cove

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Carbon Beach

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Nicholas Canyon County Beach

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Measured at San Nicholas Canyon Creek. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Malaga Cove

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Royal Palms Beach

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Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Cabrillo Beach

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Measured on the ocean side, Cabrillo Beach scores were Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6Stay away from the water near the boat launch and restrooms, though. After wet weather, they both scored D's.

Broad Beach

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Measure at the mouth of Trancas Creek, Broad Beach scores were Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.3

Latigo Beach

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Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Puerco Beach

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Malibu Point

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Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Will Rogers State Beach

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Will Rogers Beach scored best near the Temescal Canyon storm drain. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): B. Overall score: 5.3. The Santa Ynez drain near Sunset Boulevard was another story.

Dockweiler State Beach

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Dockweiler Beach near the North Westchester storm drain gets a special mention since it scores highly in dry weather, but absolutely fails after a rain. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): F. Overall score: 4.3

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El Matador State Beach

At Encinal Canyon, the grades were summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Escondido Beach

Grades at Escondido Creek were summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Long Point Beach

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Portuguese Bend Reserve

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 6.0

Zuma Beach

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Bluff Cove

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Carbon Beach

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Nicholas Canyon County Beach

Measured at San Nicholas Canyon Creek. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.6

Malaga Cove

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Royal Palms Beach

Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6

Cabrillo Beach

Measured on the ocean side, Cabrillo Beach scores were Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.6Stay away from the water near the boat launch and restrooms, though. After wet weather, they both scored D's.

Broad Beach

Measure at the mouth of Trancas Creek, Broad Beach scores were Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A+. Overall score: 5.3

Latigo Beach

Summer (dry): A; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Puerco Beach

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Malibu Point

Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A; year-round (wet): A. Overall score: 5.3

Will Rogers State Beach

Will Rogers Beach scored best near the Temescal Canyon storm drain. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): B. Overall score: 5.3. The Santa Ynez drain near Sunset Boulevard was another story.

Dockweiler State Beach

Dockweiler Beach near the North Westchester storm drain gets a special mention since it scores highly in dry weather, but absolutely fails after a rain. Summer (dry): A+; winter (dry): A+; year-round (wet): F. Overall score: 4.3