May 27, 2011 > Report: Water quality good at California's beaches Report: Water quality good at California's beaches Submitted By AP Wire Service LOS ANGELES (AP), May 25 - A study finds California beachgoers are generally enjoying good water quality but next year they may be swimming at their own risk because of funding cuts to sampling. Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay on Wednesday released a study of bacteria in water samples taken by local agencies at 445 beaches from Humboldt County in Northern California to the Mexico border. The group assigned a grade to beaches based on testing done from April 2010 to March 2011. Ninety percent of beaches received A or B grades. Among the most polluted beaches were Santa Cruz's Cowell Beach, Avalon Harbor Beach on Catalina Island and Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles harbor but Santa Monica Pier got top grades after a $2 million cleanup. The state water board funded the program through 2011.