Public warned about bacteria levels at these California beaches

FILE PHOTO: A surfer surfs a longboard as the sun sets on a hot day. Health officials Friday warned the public to stay out of nine Southern California beaches with high bacteria levels. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

LOS ANGELES – Amid rising temperatures that will likely have people flocking to the coastline, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Friday warned residents to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters at nine area beaches due to high bacteria levels.

The department’s warning covers:

• Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State beach, near Will Rogers Tower 18, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon;
• Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, entire swim area;
• Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms;
• Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier;
• Trancas Creek at Zuma Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek;
• Malibu Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier;
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, the entire swim area; and
• Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach, the entire swim area.

The department said those locations were found to have bacteria levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

Meanwhile, the department lifted an earlier warning for the Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain area at Carbon Canyon Beach, with recent samples finding water quality levels within state standards.

Information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county’s beach closure hotline at 1-800- 525-5662. A map of impacted locations and more information is available here.

People are expected to flock to the coastline as a high-pressure system blanketing much of the southwestern United States drives up temperatures across Southern California.

Triple-digit temperatures are anticipated in some areas this weekend.

“Only the beaches will see temperatures in the 70s, with upper 60s possible along the Central Coast,” according to the National Weather Service. (With CNS report)

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