The Department of Public Health has just slapped down a stark warning: swimmers, surfers, and beach-loving tots should steer clear of certain tainted ocean waters—a bacterial bogeyman is lurking. According to the county's advisory, high bacteria levels have turned slices of seaside paradise from Leo Carrillo State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach into potential health hazards.
The roll call for the no-swim zones includes areas around Arroyo Sequit Creek, Marie Canyon Storm Drain, and all the shimmery shores of Inner Cabrillo Beach. Inner Cabrillo Beach is off-limits for the entire swim area. Santa Monica Pier and nearby Santa Monica Canyon Creek by Will Rogers State Beach flank the warning list; as do the usually bustling strands near the Malibu Lagoon and the pier at Redondo Beach, as well as the perilous patches at the 28th Street extension in Manhattan Beach and the World Way Extension close to Dockweiler State Beach. And Marina Del Rey’s Mothers Beach—it's a complete no-go there too.
These advisory messages, far from casual beachside banter, come with a serious undertone. They're hoisted up due to bacteria levels that have skyrocketed past health standards, according to the official results of recent testing.
There is, however, a silver lining for those aching to splash in the Pacific’s embrace: the Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach by Santa Monica South Tower 20 has been scrubbed clean from the blacklist; water quality there has come back from the briny depths to meet state health standards.
Seeking further information, ring up the county's beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662 or wade through the digital waters for the map of impacted locations on the Public Health website.
