Swimmers at La Jolla Shores are being told to stay out of the water near the Avenida de la Playa boat launch after San Diego County health officials issued a beach advisory for FM-080 - Avenida de la Playa, effective 5:38 PM yesterday. The posting covers the sampling station near the boat launch and will remain in place until follow-up testing shows bacterial levels have returned to acceptable levels. For now, visitors are urged to treat the ocean water there as potentially contaminated and to obey posted signs and lifeguard instructions.
According to SD County Beach Info, the advisory went into effect at 17:38 on July 14 and was shared with a link to the county's beach-information portal for more details. The County's Beach and Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program conducts routine sampling and issues postings when test results exceed state thresholds, per the Department of Environmental Health and Quality. The State Water Resources Control Board notes that advisories are typically posted when bacteriological samples exceed public-health standards for recreational waters.
Beach Status Change, Effective 07/14/2026 at 17:38 - Advisory issued for FM-080 Ave De La Playa.
— SD County Beach Info (@SDBeachH2O) July 15, 2026
For more information visit https://t.co/fvWGWvCAfb
What the advisory means
An advisory signals that a recent sample showed bacteria above the state's safety threshold and warns people to avoid water contact, but it does not automatically shut down the entire beach. As the State Water Resources Control Board explains, when a bacteriological sample exceeds water quality standards, signs are posted indicating that waters have exceeded public health standards. County postings also outline how resampling works and how officials decide when to lift an advisory.
Why this matters at La Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores is a heavily used stretch of beach, and the public boat launch at the end of Avenida de la Playa means an advisory there hits swimmers, paddlers and small-boat users all at once. The City of San Diego notes the boat launch at roughly 2000 Avenida de la Playa is about 300 yards south of the lifeguard station, and the county samples many popular public access points on a weekly schedule. When a station near a primary entry spot shows an exceedance, signs go up along the adjacent shoreline to protect the public.
Where to check for updates
For the latest status, head to the county’s beach portal at sdbeachinfo.com or check updates from the SD County Beach Info account on X, which linked to the advisory. If you are planning to swim or launch a kayak or small boat at La Jolla Shores, pick an open nearby site or hold off until the county confirms that follow-up tests have cleared the water.
