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How Does Coquina Beach's Water Quality Stack Up?
See where one of the Bradenton area's most popular beaches ranks among others around the country in water quality, according to one environmental study.
Coquina Beach may be popular with locals and tourists, but it's only so-so when it comes to water quality, according to one environmental group.
The Manatee County beach got middling marks from the Natural Resources Defense Council in its star ratings of 200 popular beaches around the country.Â
The study, released Wednesday as part of the organization's annual beachwater quality report, looked at two monitoring stations on Coquina in 2012. Coquina Beach North got two stars and Coquina Beach South three stars out of five.
Criteria include "testing more than once a week, notifying the public as soon as tests reveal bacterial levels violating health standards, and posting closings and advisories both online and at the beach," according to the NRDC.
Thirteen beaches received a five-star rating; none were in Florida.
No other Manatee beaches were included in the ratings.
The results for Sarasota County beaches:
- Lido Casino Beach: 1 star
- North Lido Beach: 3 stars
- South Lido Beach: 3 stars
- Venice Fishing Pier: 3 stars
- Venice Public Beach: 1 star
- Siesta Key Public Beach: 1 star
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