Residents of San Diego County have reason to breathe a little easier as most of Imperial Beach's shoreline has reopened after three years of closures due to pollution concerns. According to the Times of San Diego, the county's Department of Environmental Health and Quality lifted beach closures at Cortez Avenue and the end of Seacoast Drive on Sunday, with officials deeming the water quality in this section safe for the public.
However, the struggle is far from over, as the Tijuana Slough remains off-limits due to high bacterial levels. As per the Times of San Diego, County Supervisor Nora Vargas acknowledged the progress but insisted that open and safe beaches shouldn't be exceptional. Meanwhile, the SD County Beach Info confirmed the status change effective yesterday.
Beach Status Change , Effective 9-22-2024 at 5:09 PM: SD County Beach closure lifted for Cortez Ave & End of Seacost Dr (Imperial Beach). More info at https://t.co/ZI6XkJezR4
— SD County Beach Info (@SDBeachH2O) September 23, 2024
Further complicating San Diego's waterscape, advisories remain in place at other popular spots. The Beach & Bay Water Quality Program lists ongoing Glorietta Bay and La Jolla Cove advisories where bacteria levels may pose health risks. This is added to a chronic advisory at the Children's Pool in La Jolla, which has been ongoing since 1997, and complete closure at Tijuana Slough Shoreline due to cross-boundary contamination, as per County of San Diego Beach Info.
