Los Angeles County beachgoers are being hit with a wet blanket of warnings just as many were planning to enjoy the surf and sand; higher-than-normal bacterial levels are causing health officials to wave the caution flag. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued an advisory urging the public to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters at several local beaches, including popular spots like Surfrider Beach and the area around the Redondo Beach Pier.
The specific areas under warning are not to be taken lightly, with the advisory listing The Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach, Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, and the Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach among others, identifiers like the Redondo Beach Pier, Dockweiler State Beach's Culver Blvd. storm drain, and the entirety of Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey highlighting the no-go zones. Residents are warned to stay a good 100 yards away from identified points like club border fences, public restrooms, and storm drains, where the water quality tests have churned up less-than-stellar results.
But there's a silver lining for some beachfront locales—recent samples have shown that 28th Street Extension in Manhattan Beach and the area near the Herondo Street storm drain in Hermosa Beach have been given all-clears, much to the relief of beach enthusiasts in those areas. The Health Department lifted previous warnings for these spots after water quality levels were deemed acceptable by state standards.
These rolling advisories are emblematic of a larger issue that coastal communities face, as urban runoff and sewage spills continue to plague California's iconic beaches, the high bacterial levels are not only a bummer for those looking to paddle out or take a dip but also raise concerns about the long-term health of our coastal waters, and the need for robust, systemic solutions to water quality issues cannot be overstated. For updated information on beach conditions, residents can dial into the county's 24-hour beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662 or visit the Public Health website for a detailed map of impacted locations.
Check out the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advisory before you pack your towels and sunscreen.
