Yesterday, San Diego County health officials raised a caution flag at the San Elijo Lagoon outlet, warning that water near Cardiff State Beach could contain more bacteria than the state allows.
The advisory, issued at 4:36 PM for monitoring station SE-060, means water at the lagoon mouth may exceed state bacterial standards. County officials are urging people to avoid contact with the ocean in the affected zone until follow-up testing shows levels are back within state thresholds.
County posting and official notice
The alert went out through the county's SD County Beach Info account on X, as posted by SD County Beach Info, and is also listed on the County of San Diego Beach Water Quality portal. Before you grab a board or set up a beach tent, the county suggests checking its Beach Water Quality map at sdbeachinfo for the current status of station SE-060.
Beach Status Change, Effective 07/07/2026 at 16:36 - Advisory issued for SE-060 San Elijo Lagoon Outlet.
— SD County Beach Info (@SDBeachH2O) July 8, 2026
For more information visit https://t.co/fvWGWvCAfb
What an advisory means
San Diego Coastkeeper, which republishes the county's beach testing results, explains that an advisory is issued when the beach water exceeds State bacterial standards and that the Department of Environmental Health & Quality advises beachgoers to stay out of the water. A closure is a step up from an advisory and is reserved for more immediate health threats such as visible sewage or chemical spills, and those are lifted once conditions clear.
Where this affects
Monitoring station SE-060 covers the San Elijo Lagoon outlet at Cardiff State Beach. The State Water Resources Control Board station factsheet identifies the sampling location at the lagoon mouth. Cardiff State Beach and neighboring San Elijo State Beach are popular with surfers and campers, which makes quick, accurate updates especially important for locals and visitors alike.
If you were in the water
County officials told KPBS that the public is advised to avoid water contact as the water is impacted by sewage and may cause illness, and local coverage directs beachgoers to the county's 24-hour beach hotline for the latest information. If you notice gastrointestinal issues, skin irritation, or other symptoms after recent ocean exposure, health officials recommend contacting a medical provider and mentioning that you were in the water.
Where to watch for updates
The County of San Diego posts status changes on its Beach Water Quality portal and through the SD County Beach Info account on X, which remains the official word on new advisories and when they are lifted. For deeper detail, including monitoring-station descriptions and historical sampling records, beachgoers can review the State Water Resources Control Board's station pages.
