San Diego County has slapped a water-quality advisory on Coronado's Avenida Lunar beach (monitoring station IB-079), effective 4 PM yesterday, telling beachgoers to stay out of the surf while follow-up testing is completed. The posting covers a short stretch of shoreline on the Coronado side of the Silver Strand and will remain in place until samples show the water meets state health standards.
The county's SD County Beach Info account flagged the status change on X, shared the advisory, and pointed followers to the county beach portal for more details. The alert read, "Beach Status Change, Effective 07/26/2026 at 16:00 - Advisory issued for IB-079 Avenida Lunar," according to SD County Beach Info.
Beach Status Change, Effective 07/26/2026 at 16:00 - Advisory issued for IB-079 Avenida Lunar.
— SD County Beach Info (@SDBeachH2O) July 26, 2026
For more information visit https://t.co/fvWGWvCAfb
What the advisory means
An advisory is posted when county testing or field observations indicate recreational waters may exceed state bacterial standards and could pose a public health risk, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health Beach and Bay Program. The county reports that it now uses ddPCR testing for faster, more precise detection of fecal indicator bacteria, and that postings stay up until follow-up samples meet state guidelines.
Why this stretch is often flagged
Avenida Lunar and nearby Coronado beaches have been repeatedly posted or closed in recent years when cross-border flows from the Tijuana River or heavy runoff push bacteria counts above standards, local reporting notes. KPBS and other outlets have tied earlier closures and reopenings at Avenida Lunar to testing results and transboundary sewage concerns.
What beachgoers should do
Health officials advise people to avoid swimming, surfing or wading in the advisory area until the county lifts the posting, since contact with contaminated water can lead to gastrointestinal or skin illnesses. For the latest status, call the county Beach & Bay hotline at (619) 338-2073 or check the live map at Beach and Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program .
