: Beyond California, the EPA's 2020 Beach Report noted that 68% of monitored U.S. beaches were tested for bacteria that year, with specific focus on Enterococci , an indicator of fecal contamination. Other "Beach Bug" Reports (2020)

The 2020 swimming season was unique due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted monitoring efforts and beach usage. Notable highlights include:

: Wet weather conditions generally worsened grades across the state. This is typically caused by major rain events that wash urban pollution and bacteria directly into the ocean.