With summer in full swing, Angelenos looking to beat the heat at the beach may need to pay extra attention to where they dip their toes. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued ocean water use warnings for several popular coastal spots, urging beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing, and any aqua play due to hazardous bacterial levels.
Visitors to Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove, the Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach, Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach, Santa Monica Pier, and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro should all think twice before getting wet. The waters at two locations on Avalon Beach at Catalina Island are also under warning—the swim area 50 feet west of the pier and Step Beach east of the Casino Arch. These areas have been flagged for bacterial levels that surpass health standards when last tested, a situation that no one wants to become up close and personal with.
There is a silver lining for those who frequent the shores near the Wilshire Blvd. storm drain at Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica North Tower 12 as warnings for those areas have been lifted, signaling a return to water quality levels that meet state standards. For up-to-the-minute updates on beach conditions, the County has a 24-hour beach closure hotline available at 1-800-525-5662.
Detailed information, along with a map of the impacted locations, can be found on the Public Health website. If you've got questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to them at (626) 430-5360, or look for updates at their beach advisory page. In the meantime, keep an ear to the ground and eye on the signs at your favorite coastal enclave to ensure the only thing you're catching waves, not bacteria.
