Photo: Jeremy Bishop // Unsplash
On May 8, Los Angeles Public Health officials closed off beaches from Dockweiler Beach to Venice Beach after a sewage spill leaked thousands of gallons of sewage in Ballona Creek. The spill was said to include 14,400 gallons of untreated wastewater into Santa Monica Bay and officials advised the public to steer clear of the water in those areas until samples started showing a return to lower contamination levels.
A release from the L.A. Public Health Department on Tuesday didn’t directly acknowledge the early May spill but a new warning for L.A. beaches cited “bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.” While they aren’t closing beaches, they did release a warning Tuesday for the public to steer clear of swimming, playing, and surfing in the ocean in several locations ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. One that stood out in particular is the city’s most famous surf spot of them all.
To be exact, the health advisory lists “100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms” at Malibu Lagoon, Surfrider Beach. It’s a safe bet it’s going to take more than a “warning” from the public health department to clear the lineup at First Point on a three-day weekend.
The full list of beach area warnings in Los Angeles includes:
·East Temescal Canyon Storm Drain at Will Rogers State Beach
100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.
· Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu
100 yards up and down the coast from the Lagoon.
· Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica State Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20
100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.
· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
The entire swim area.
· Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.
· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.
· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
The entire swim area.
