Turtles like clean coasts

Environmental group NRDC has just released the report for 2009 on the country's cleanest (and not so clean) beaches. More than 200 beaches were rated, based on water quality testing and beach closures and advisories. Unfortunately, the news was not great, as closings were the 4th highest in 19 years of reporting. One bright spot is that closures dropped 10% from last year, though that was due to less rain than any real improvements in water quality. Stormwater runoff, where treatment plants are overwhelmed by water and end up directly in streams, is the major cause of closures.

Sea turtles and other marine creatures are affected by this pollution as well. Where the report's map coincides with turtle nesting beaches in the US, most spots received commendation for water quality in 2008, which is good news. However, none of the five nesting areas in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina were tested on a regular basis. Only one area, on North Carolina's barrier islands, did not pass for water quality in 2008.

-Brad Nahill