Heal the Bay released a new Beach Report Card Thursday, grading the beaches along California’s coastline from A to F.

The environmental group’s annual California Summer Beach Report Card gives out grades based on dry weather water quality data. This year’s report reflects surveillance of California’s beaches from Memorial Day weekend (5/26/07) through Labor Day weekend (9/3/07).

Announcing excellent water quality over the summer across California beaches (which means bacteria pollution levels were very low), the report notes that only 8 percent of monitored locations “failed,” with 8 Cs, 10 Ds and 20 Fs received.

As California experienced record low levels of precipitation over the summer, this counts as a factor for the generally good grades. Wet weather typically leads to an overload of storm drain and sewage systems, which in turn leads to waste being washed out into the ocean.

This is potentially harmful for human health, as swimming in polluted water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory infections and skin rashes.

Another reason Heal the Bay says this year’s Summer Beach Report Card is so positive is improved infrastructure; drain systems and sewage treatment plants along the beaches have gone through significant improvements.

“Usually, we stand here and do these report cards and talk about all of the bad news. This is an exceptional year that we are focusing on the good news,” said Heal the Bay Executive Director Mark Gold.

Beaches failing Heal the Bay’s standards of safety were thirty-eight in number.

In Orange County, Huntington State Beach at Magnolia Street, North Beach at Dohney, Poche Creek Beach in San Clemente, and Baby Beach in Dana Point on the west end all received failing grades from the group.

The beaches in worst condition in L.A. County were Avalon Beach on Catalina Island and the Santa Monica Pier. In Long Beach, two locations were sub-standard, between the L.A. River and the Belmont Pier.

For full details on Heal the Bay’s 2007 California Summer Beach Report Card, go to http://www.healthebay.org/ and have a read of the online version of the report.