Los Angeles County beachgoers are being advised to steer clear of the water at several popular coastal areas due to elevated bacterial levels. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued ocean water use warnings that affect activities such as swimming, surfing, and playing in the ocean at numerous locations along the coast. These warnings are not merely cautionary advisories; they reflect an immediate concern for public health based on recent testing.

The impacted beach areas extend from Malibu's scenic shores to the bustling Santa Monica Pier and down to San Pedro's Inner Cabrillo Beach. Specific spots include Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach, Topanga Canyon Beach, Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, and Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, among others. Certain warnings apply to areas as broad as 100 yards up and down the coast from key points like piers, lagoons, and storm drains. These areas have been identified to quite possibly harbor higher levels of bacteria that can pose a risk to anyone entering the water.

In response to these findings, advisories also encompass the entire swim areas at spots like Mothers Beach and Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach. The list of the specific locations was published in a detailed bulletin released by the County's Department of Public Health.

The warnings have been prompted by bacterial level measurements that have exceeded health standards during the latest tests. Beach enthusiasts and residents are encouraged to keep abreast of these warnings and to follow them to ensure health and safety. The Department of Public Health's 24-hour beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662 is available for updates, and the public can readily view a map of the impacted locations at the official PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/ website for more information.