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Drought helped keep slightly cleaner than most

Updated: Wednesday, 28 Jul 2010, 1:26 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 28 Jul 2010, 1:25 PM CDT

Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Associated Press Wrtier

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - An annual report on the state of the nation's beaches said Texas beaches are slightly cleaner than most, but that is largely due to a two-year drought.

Texas has also escaped the worst of the BP spill that has fouled many Gulf beaches, leading to 1,755 beach closings and advisories in the region.

The Natural Resources Defense Council said Wednesday that in 2009, beach closings and advisories were at their sixth highest level in the 20 years they've been tracked.

However, Texas saw a drop in such advisories. The council said the incidents dropped by 27 percent in Texas last year. There were 231 such incidents last year, compared to 318 in 2008.

Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger said that was mostly because less rain meant not as much pollution reached the water.

TX beaches cleaner, escape oil spill

Drought helped keep slightly cleaner than most

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