RACINE — North and Zoo beaches have both earned a B grade for water quality, according to the Racine Public Health Department's 2026 North and Zoo Beach Report Card.
The report summarizes the water quality monitoring and environmental data from 2020-25.
According to the report card, 88% of water samples at North Beach and 87% of samples at Zoo Beach met water swimming standards, earning the beaches the B grade.
The largest threat to water quality is stormwater runoff, the report card said; after a quarter-inch of rain, water samples were up to 16 times more likely to fail safety standards than on dry days.
Shoreline health also is an issue.
The beaches have lost almost five acres (31%) of dunes since 2018, which the department said is driven largely by high water levels and storms.
“The dunes and natural areas that help keep the water clean are disappearing, and that affects everyone who visits,” said Adrian “AJ” Koski, a grant coordinator and research assistant.
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