San Diego County, California – This Fourth of July weekend, beachgoers in San Diego County may need to rethink their beach plans. The county’s Beach and Bay Program, which monitors water quality along the coast, has issued advisories for several areas due to excessive bacteria levels.
Affected Areas
As of Wednesday night, advisories for high bacterial levels were in place for the following coastal locations:
- Mission Bay: Tecolote Shores swim area (since June 27), Campland Beachline (since July 2), Santa Clara Cove swim area (since July 2)
- La Jolla: La Jolla Cove Beachline (since June 24), Children’s Pool (ongoing)
- Del Mar: San Dieguito River outlet (since June 24)
- Cardiff State Beach: Charthouse parking lot (since June 27), San Elijo Lagoon Outlet (since June 27)
These advisories indicate that the water quality does not meet state health standards due to elevated bacterial levels, which pose health risks to swimmers.
SD County Beach Advisory lifted for:
Torrey Pines at Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, Torrey Pines State Beach
San Diego River – Dog Beach, Ocean Beach
Silver Strand Shoreline, CoronadoAdvisory issued for:
Campland, Mission Bay
Santa Clara Cove, Mission Bay— SD County Beach Info (@SDBeachH2O) July 3, 2025
Health Risks and Sources of Contamination
The advisories are based on tests that detect Enterococcus bacteria, which can cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and vomiting, as well as skin and ear infections. These bacteria come from various sources including animal waste, stormwater, or human contamination.
Despite the warnings, many beachgoers like Domonique Estay-Foix, who enjoys the beach with her family, express concern for the safety of children. “It is to be careful with the kids, especially because they are so little,” she said.
Ty Miller, a body surfer at Cardiff State Beach, expressed concerns over the water near a pipe that has been part of a dredging project releasing lagoon water and sediment into the ocean. “I think it is a local problem, meaning very local, where the pipe is dumping it out right now,” Miller said.
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The Source of Contamination
While the exact source of contamination has not been confirmed, experts suggest that the problem may be exacerbated by pollution from the Tijuana River.
Atmospheric chemist Dr. Kim Prather from UC San Diego commented on the ongoing issue, noting that the contamination, including sewage flowing from Mexico, has been a persistent problem. “For me, I am not surprised it makes its way up the coast,” Prather said.
What This Means for Beachgoers
As the Fourth of July approaches, beachgoers should be aware of these advisories and take caution when deciding whether to swim in the affected areas. The high bacteria levels pose health risks, especially for children and those with compromised immune systems.
Do you plan to head to the beach despite the advisories? What are your thoughts on how local authorities are addressing water contamination? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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