For Angelenos hoping to beat the heat with a beach day, heed the latest advisory from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health before diving in. Several popular Los Angeles County beaches, including fan-favorites like Escondido State Beach and Surfrider Beach, have been flagged with ocean water use warnings due to elevated bacterial levels that can pose a significant risk to your health—and it's not just for swimmers, surfers and beachcombers are advised to stay dry as well.
The affected areas include the entire swim zones at Escondido Creek, Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, and those looking to catch some waves or rays near specific landmarks such as 100 yards up and down from Paradise Cove Pier, near the Malibu Lagoon public restrooms, and adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier, where bacterial levels have soared past the acceptable benchmarks. These are not the spots to find your summer bliss, not until the all-clear is given.
But it's not all bleak; some beach areas are back on the safe list. According to the official announcement by the Los Angeles County, waters at Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach, Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro have been declared clean and are now within the golden standards set by the State - perfect for a refreshing dip or lounge.
If you're still plotting out your beach day itinerary, consider dialing into the county's beach closure hotline at 1-800- 525-5662 for up-to-the-minute updates, or better yet, visit the Los Angeles County's Public Health website for a comprehensive map of current water quality at local beaches so you can plan where to unfurl your towel and where to steer clear because nothing ruins the summer vibe like a beach warning.
