LA County health department: Avoid ocean water at 11 beaches

Beachgoers should avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean water at 11 beaches in Los Angeles County that had unsafe levels of bacteria, the Department of Public Health warned Friday.

The warnings were issued because bacterial levels exceeded health standards when ocean water was last tested at these beaches:

• Redondo Beach Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier;
• Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, entire swim area;
• Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach, entire swim area;
• Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, entire swim area;
• Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps;
• Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove; 100 yards up and down the shoreline from the Paradise Cove Pier;
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro; entire swim area;
• Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach; entire swim area;
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu; 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon;
• Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, 100 yards up and down the shore from the pier; and
• Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach, entire swim area.

A warning was lifted for the Pico-Kenter Storm Drain at Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica South Tower 20, where recent test samples showed water quality levels were within state standards.

Recorded information from LA County on beach conditions is available 24-hours by calling 800-525-5662. A map of beach conditions and more information on water quality is online at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach.