Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz, a historical bacterial hotzone, has the dubious distinction of knocking Avalon Beach on Catalina Island off the No. 1 spot.

The number of dead zones in U.S. coastal waters has increased dramatically in the past 50 years, according to a federal report released Friday by the Office of Science and Technology Policy in Washington, D.C.

Many in the environmental and surfing communities contend that the design for Legacy Park falls short because it does not also provide for treating sewage in the Civic Center area, home to the Malibu Country Mart and Cross Creek Plaza