San Diego County slapped water-contact advisories on two heavily used shorelines yesterday, telling would-be swimmers to stay dry at Tidelands Park on Coronado’s bayside and Harbor Beach in Oceanside. The county is warning visitors not to swim or wade in the water at either spot while the notices are in effect, with updates pushed out overnight through the county’s beach dashboard and social alerts.
Which Beaches Are Posted
The county’s Beach Water Quality dashboard, last updated yesterday at 5:38 PM, lists Tidelands Park (EH‑070) and Harbor Beach (OC‑110) among eight active advisories and four closures, according to the County of San Diego Beach Water Quality. The site also publishes a public hotline at 619‑338‑2073 and links out to the state’s sample database for anyone who wants to dig into the test results.
Why The County Posts Advisories
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality issues advisories and closures when monitoring shows contamination, for example a sewage release, or when bacteria levels exceed state health standards. The county also relies on a rapid ddPCR testing method to detect fecal indicator bacteria and get information to the public more quickly, according to the San Diego County Beach and Bay Program. Warning signs stay up until follow-up testing confirms that water quality has returned to safe levels.
What To Know About These Beaches
Tidelands Park sits at the foot of Mullinix Drive and is known for its open lawns, playground and small bayside shoreline that sees steady family use, according to Port of San Diego park listings. Harbor Beach is Oceanside’s wide, lifeguarded strip by the harbor and Harbor Village, where visitors commonly surf, paddle and fish, per the City of Oceanside’s harbor information. Because both spots are prime recreation hubs, county health officials are urging people to avoid direct water contact until the advisories are cleared.
Where To Check For Updates
Before heading out, the county advises checking the live status on the County of San Diego Beach Water Quality dashboard and calling the Beach and Bay hotline at 619‑338‑2073 with any questions. The dashboard is updated as soon as conditions change and links directly to state sample results for those who want to see the underlying data.
