Heal The Bay's 20th annual Beach Report Card showed “significant improvement” in the water quality of L.A.'s coastal spots from March, 2009 to April, 2010. Nearly eight in 10 of the 86 beaches tested received A or B grades verses seven in 10 last year.

“After all these years of poor water quality in the summer, it is great to see that state and local funding for clean beach projects is resulting in better protection of public health,” stated Mark Gold, president of the Santa Monica-based nonprofit.

The bad news: County beaches continue to make L.A. the water quality loser in California, and 15 intractable, low-rated spots continued to include Surfrider State Beach in Malibu, Santa Monica Municipal Pier, Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey, Sunset Beach in Pacific Palisades, Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Avalon Beach in Catalina, and Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach.

More good news: Nine out of 10 beaches along the Santa Monica Bay scored As or Bs in summer months.

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