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Testing the waters to find the cleanest swimming holes

Swimming and water sports are the perfect way to beat the Central Valley's scorching summer heat.

Come on in -- the water's fine!

Probably.

You never know what you might find in rivers, lakes, or ocean.

Swimming and water sports in California’s many rivers, lakes, and of course the Pacific Ocean are immensely popular responses to scorching Valley heat. But not all waterways are equal when it comes to pollutants or harmful aquatic critters.

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, is one you definitely don’t want to mess with.

The algae can cause eye irritation, skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea and other cold- and flu-like symptoms, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Children and animals are particularly vulnerable to its potential for harm.

People are advised to avoid all contact with water cyanobacteria-laden water. If pets jump or fall in, they should be prevented from licking their fur until they are thoroughly washed in clean water.

Cyanobacteria has been found in Lake Oroville and all three arms of Clear Lake, according to Cal DWR. San Luis Reservoir is under a cyanobacteria warning, so it should also be treated as off limits.

Most beaches on the American and Sacramento Rivers tested for E. coli levels met Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria. But at sites below Howe Avenue, testing shows those levels tend to be elevated, according to the California Water Boards.

E. coli levels at Tiscornia Beach, at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, as well as those at the end of North 10th Street, tested higher than EPA criteria in the most recent sample. Testing at Sutter’s Landing Park and Steelhead Creek near Natomas Park Drive indicated average E. coli levels above the EPA criteria over six weeks of testing.

However, before you run screaming from the water, elevated E. coli levels don’t necessarily translate to a risk to human health, according to Samantha Mott, a spokesperson for Sacramento County Health Services.

“There are many different types of E. coli, and very few species make people sick,” she said

The EPA standard relates to the health of the waterway overall and is not a gauge of how safe the water is for swimming or water sports.

Don’t drink the water and bathe after you get out, and you should be fine, Mott told ABC10.

Drowning poses a far greater risk of harm, she said, adding that if you must swim in the river with its unpredictable currents, wearing a life jacket is the best thing you can do to stay safe.

More information on E. coli monitoring and health issues can be found on the Sacramento County website.

Heal the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safe, clean and healthy coastal waters grades Pacific beaches for pollution, issuing regularly updated ratings.

Of the closest Pacific beaches in driving distance of Sacramento, most Bodega Bay beaches got good marks from the Heal the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to safe, clean and healthy coastal waters.

Bodega Bay beaches at Salmon Creek State Park, Doran Regional Park, Campbell Cove State all got A+ rating from the Beach Report Card.

Dillon Beach and Lawson’s Landing also got A+ grades; Miller Park beach got a C.

Marin County, San Francisco and East Bay beaches

Francis Beach and Roosevelt Beach in Half Moon Bay have been given F grades. But nearby Venice Beach (at Frenchman’s Creek) and Surfer’s Beach (at the south end of the riprap) got a B.

However, in the 2017-2018 Beach Report Card by Heal the Bay, Surfer’s Beach was on the “Beach Bummer” list – the top 10 most polluted beaches.

Pacific Beaches in Central California graded D or F by nonprofit group Heal the Bay:

Heart’s Desire at Point Reyes Station: D

Rockaway Beach in San Mateo County: F

Roosevelt Beach at Half Moon Bay: F

Frances Beach at Half Moon Bay: F

Fort Baker Beach in Marin County: F

Two beaches that were on the organization’s top 10 “beach bummer” list, but had a passing grade this week, were Surfer’s Beach in Half Moon Bay and Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz.

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