On May 23, 2001, the Santa Monica based environmental group "Heal the Bay" issued its annual comprehensive examination of coastal water quality throughout Southern California, based on the routine monitoring of beaches completed by local agencies. In the public interest, LBReport.com provides below Heal the Bay's grades for LB beach waters.

Heal the Bay's grades are based on daily and weekly bacterial pollution levels in the surf zone; water samples are analyzed for bacteria that indicate pollution from numerous sources, including fecal waste. The higher the grade a beach receives, the lower the risk of illness to ocean users, the group says. Heal the Bay's report is not designed to measure the amount of trash or toxins found at Southern California beaches.

Heal the Bay advises beachgoers not to swim or surf within 100 yards of any flowing storm drain and for three days after a rainstorm. Storm drain runoff-one of the largest sources of pollution to local beaches-flows untreated to the coast and is often contaminated with motor oil, animal waste, pesticides, yard waste and trash. After a rain, indicator bacteria counts usually far exceed statewide bathing water standards.

Heal the Bay notes its grades are an indication of past water quality and not a warranty of the current safety of those areas surveyed.

Location	Dry Apr 00-Oct 00	Dry Apr 00-Mar 01	Wet Apr 00-Mar 01
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 3rd Place	F	F	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 5th Place	B	C	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 10th Place	D	C	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 16th Place	D	C	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of Molino Ave.	B	B	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of Coronado Ave.	A	A	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 36th Place	C	B	ns
Belmont Pier - westside	C	B	ns
Belmont Pier - mid-pier	ns	ns	ns
Belmont Pier - eastside	B	B	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of Prospect Ave.	A	A	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of Granada Ave.	D	C	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 54th Place	D	C	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 55th Place	A+	A	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 62nd Place	A	A	ns
Long Beach City Beach- projection of 72nd Place	B	B	ns
Alamitos Bay, 56th Place	A	A	ns
Alamitos Bay, Shore float	A+	A	ns
Alamitos Bay, 1st & Bayshore	A	A	ns
Alamitos Bay, 2nd St. Bridge & Bayshore	B	B	ns
Los Cerritos Channel, Mothers' Beach	D	D	ns