That beach day you have planned along the Los Angeles coast might need a rain check. County health officials are warning that recent water tests turned up elevated bacteria levels at several popular spots and are telling people to skip swimming, surfing, and splashing in the ocean in those areas for now.
The current advisory stretches along pockets of coastline from parts of Malibu through Santa Monica down to Marina del Rey. The warnings follow routine sampling that detected bacteria counts above state safety thresholds. Health officials say the biggest concerns are near creek outlets, storm drains, and pier outfalls, where runoff and other pollution sources tend to collect.
Which Beaches Are Affected
According to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the warning covers specific stretches, including:
- The entire swim area at Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey
- One hundred yards up and down the coast from the Santa Monica Pier
- Areas around the Pico Kenter storm drain and the Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach
- The Santa Monica Canyon creek area at Will Rogers State Beach near Tower 18
The department maintains an updated list and interactive map of affected locations as new test results come in.
Warnings Lifted At Some Spots
It is not all bad news. Follow-up testing by county and local agencies has cleared several sites and led to advisories being lifted. Recent reopenings include Topanga Canyon Beach, the Hermosa Beach Pier, the Redondo Beach Pier, and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, according to KTLA.
Why The Tests Spike
Bacteria levels in the surf zone often jump after stormwater runoff washes grime off streets and into the ocean, when sewer infrastructure fails, or when concentrated sources such as large bird roosts under piers send waste into nearshore waters. Long-term monitoring and annual report card grades from Heal the Bay show that parts of Santa Monica Bay, including areas around the Santa Monica Pier and Mother’s Beach, have a track record of lower water quality grades, especially after rain or other disruptions.
What Beachgoers Should Do
Public Health officials advise avoiding any ocean contact in the posted areas, with special caution within 100 yards of storm drains, creeks, and piers. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are considered at higher risk for getting sick after exposure to contaminated water…