Which State's Coastline Is Most Polluted?

Beaches are one of America's favorite vacation destinations. At least one-third of all Americans visit coastal and Great Lakes counties and their beaches each year, generating tens of billions of dollars in goods and services and supporting tens of millions of jobs. During 1999, at U.S. ocean, bay, Great Lakes, and some freshwater beaches, there were at least 6,160 days of closings and advisories, 23 extended closings and advisories (six to 12 weeks), and 28 permanent closings and advisories (more than 12 weeks). Including the days of extended closings, the total comes to more than 7,214 closings and advisories. California's coastline was cited as one of the most frequently pollutedin the nation. Beaches throughout the state were closed or posted withwarnings a record 3,547 times, over half of the national total of 6,160. Ratings are available for all states.

Thanks to California Futures Network