The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a stern warning on January 9th against the use of ocean waters at several popular beaches including Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach and Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey due to bacterial levels hitting the red zone. The advisory covers both surfing and swimming, so you may want to keep your board and swimwear stashed for now.
Specific areas flagged are a 100-yard span from facilities or notable natural outflows like the storm drains and lagoons. According to authorities, the trouble spots include Topanga Canyon Beach and Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach – both popular gathering places for locals and tourists alike. Those looking for a refreshing dip or ride in the surf will have to look elsewhere as the waters have been deemed a health risk, with bacterial levels exceeding safe limits when last tested.
A full map and details on impacted locations can be viewed on the Public Health website.
