Los Angelenos heading to the coast for some beach time, take note—health officials are urging caution. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued warnings for several popular beach spots due to heightened bacterial levels in ocean waters that could potentially pose a health risk to swimmers and surfers.

Specifically, the advisories cover areas including Topanga Canyon Beach, and Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, where beachgoers are advised to avoid the water 100 yards up and down the coast from noted landmarks like lagoons, public restrooms, and storm drains, contamination, which is often a scathing reminder of our city’s infrastructure challenges, continues to mar our famed coastline. Other affected areas also include the Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach, the Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach, and multiple other locations spanning from San Pedro to Redondo Beach, with certain spots advised to avoid any contact with the water altogether.

However, it's not all bad news for beach enthusiasts, as there is a silver lining: previous warnings for Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove have been lifted, indicating that water quality levels there are back within state standards. These fluctuating conditions make it clear that while Mother Nature provides a stunning backdrop for our city, it's the consequences of human impact that often tip the scales on beach safety.

For those wanting to stay informed, the County provides a beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662, and more details can be accessed on their website, which provides updates on water quality and maps of affected locations because it's better to be safe than sorry when diving into that next wave or building sandcastles with the kiddos.