With a prolonged heat wave baking the region, sending Southern Californians scrambling for the coast, beachgoers looking for relief from the heat this Wednesday were met with a warning: avoid the water at eight specific Los Angeles County locations.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health urged people to stay out of the ocean at these spots, citing tests that revealed bacteria levels exceeding state health standards. The department cautioned that these elevated bacteria levels could increase the risk of illness for anyone swimming, surfing, or playing in the affected waters.
Among the locations where beachgoers were advised to steer clear were several well-known spots. In the South Bay, the area 100 yards up and down the coast from the Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach was flagged. Further north along the coast, near the Bel Air Bay Club storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach, the warning extended 100 yards up and down the coast from the club's border fence.
Santa Monica Beach saw warnings at two distinct storm drain locations: 100 yards up and down the coast from the East Wilshire Boulevard storm drain, near Santa Monica North Tower 12, and an additional 100 yards up and down the coast from the Wilshire Boulevard storm drain, also near Santa Monica North Tower 12. The Santa Monica Pier area, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier itself, was also included in the advisory.
Moving further west, the water near Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove was deemed unsafe, with the warning covering 100 yards up and down the coast from the Paradise Cove Pier. At Dan Blocker County Beach, the entire swim area near Solstice Creek was under the same advisory. Lastly, in San Pedro, the entire swim area of Inner Cabrillo Beach was also included in the warning.
In some good news for those planning a getaway to the islands, health officials did lift a water quality warning for Avalon Beach on Catalina Island. Recent samples from Avalon Beach showed water quality levels within state standards.
Residents seeking current information on beach conditions can call the county’s beach hotline 24 hours a day at 800-525-5662. Additional details and a map of affected locations are available on the Public Health website.
