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Siesta Key a One-Star Beach?

Find out why one environmental group gives this popular Sarasota beach a one-star rating.

Siesta Key may top many "best beach" lists for its sugary sand, but it gets one star when it comes to water quality, according to one environmental group.

Siesta Key Public Beach got a one-star rating from the Natural Resources Defense Council in its rankings of water quality at 200 popular beaches around the country. 

The study, released Wednesday as part of the organization's annual beachwater quality report, looked at data from 2012. 

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.

Here's how Sarasota-area beaches fared:

  • 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
See the full report online.


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