Bodega Bay beach again makes most-polluted list

<p>Tiny Campbell Cove located near the mouth of Bodega Bay continues to be ranked among the state’s Top 10 polluted beaches by a Santa Monica environmental group.</p><p>The small beach, popular for its tide pools and beachcombing, has been on Heal the Bay’s list for several years largely due to annual beach contamination blamed on excrement from sea gulls and marine mammals. </p><p>The clean water watchdog organization analyzed water samples taken between April 2008 through March 2009 of 502 beaches along the California coast.</p><p>The group reports most contamination occurs during the winter when rains wash stormwater, overloaded sewage systems and pollutants into the ocean. Most of the offending beaches are along the Southern California coast.</p><p>Except for Campbell Cove, all other beaches in Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties were given “A” ratings. Campbell Cove received a “D” grade.</p><p>There were reports some counties, including Sonoma, would cease testing in the coming year because of budget cuts but an employee of Sonoma County’s Environmental Health said a grant will allow them to continue to test for beach contaminants.</p>