Avoid Water Contact from Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler Beach at World Way

February 20, 2025

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

BEACH AREA WARNINGS (NON-FIRE RELATED):

· 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.

· Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica South Tower 20

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Ashland Ave. storm drain in Santa Monica. Santa Monica South Tower 28

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Dockweiler State Beach. Culver Blvd Storm Drain

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Dockweiler State Beach. Westchester Storm Drain

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Puerco Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

· Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Rose Avenue Storm Drain at Venice Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Wilshire Bl. storm drain at Santa Monica Beach. Santa Monica North Tower 12

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Brooks Avenue storm drain at Venice Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

OCEAN WATER ADVISORY DUE TO FIRE IMPACTS:

The ocean water advisory due to fire impacts from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice.

Beach goers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory.


For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Touring the businesses that where destroyed by the fire in Pacific Palisades as they enter "Phase 2" of the clean up.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

The County of Los Angeles Public Healthhas announced that the dark sediment washing up on the beaches is NOT hazardous:

"Dark, silty sediment has been washing up on local beaches, and experts are testing it for fire-related substances and health risks. If the sediment spreads to other beaches, testing will continue, and new locations will be added.

Early results from Will Rogers and Topanga beaches after the Jan. 26 storm show that the sediment is not hazardous—it does not threaten the environment or human health.

Since the sediment is not dangerous, there are no plans to remove it. In fact, removing it could harm the ecosystem by disturbing rocks, sand layers, and marine habitats. It could also erode the shoreline, potentially causing long-term environmental damage. Instead, natural tides and weather will gradually clear it away."

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Offhand Wine Bar Takes Over Locals' Night – Thursday, Feb. 20

In honor of Black History Month, Offhand Wine Bar and Westside Winos—Black-owned Santa Monica gems—are curating a night of music, bites, art, and community at the historic carousel building on the Santa Monica Pier. A portion of proceeds will support Restaurants Care, providing aid to food and beverage workers affected by the LA wildfires.

Come early, stay late, and enjoy an evening of community, culture, and celebration at the Pier. Free and open to all (21+ to drink)!

For more info, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Get ready to spread love and good vibes at the Venice Love Fest 2025 - a celebration of all things love in the heart of the Westside!.

Celebrate love, community, and creativity at Venice Love Fest on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 11 AM to 7 PM on Venice Blvd in Downtown Mar Vista, CA!

This free community festival brings together an incredible lineup of live music, delicious food trucks, over 400 locally made brands and artists, beer gardens, games, and family-friendly activities.

12257 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

For more info, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Avoid Water Contact from Surfrider Beach to Dockweiler Beach at World Way

February 18, 2025

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is providing the following updates on Los Angeles County Beaches.

RAIN ADVISORY:

The Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory has been lifted for all Los Angeles County Beaches. Some ocean water quality testing results are not yet available following the rain advisory. Beach users continue to be advised to avoid water contact near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers. This includes any runoff that has flown onto or ponded on the beach sand.

OCEAN WATER ADVISORY DUE TO FIRE IMPACTS:

The ocean water advisory due to fire impacts from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach remains in effect until further notice.

Beach goers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory.


For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Pacific Coast Highway will continue to remain FULLY CLOSED in both directions between Chautauqua Blvd. & Carbon Beach Terrace (ONLY open to emergency responders, contractors, utilities). Due to continuing cleanup and heavy equipment, the general public cannot enter. No estimated of opening.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

On January 15, 2025, at approximately 1:30 AM, a shooting occurred in the 200 Block of Broadway in Santa Monica. The suspect, Fabian Mendez of Inglewood, approached the victim and pursued him into the middle of the street, where he shot the victim in the back. Despite lifesaving efforts by responding officers, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, after an extensive and thorough investigation, Mendez was taken into custody by the Santa Monica Police Department. He is charged with homicide under Penal Code 187, with bail set at $3,000,000.

Anyone with information about this incident, please contact Det. Reyes (Isaac.Reyes@santamonica.gov) at (310) 458-4852, Detective Sergeant Lozano (Alfonso.Lozano@santamonica.gov) at (310) 458-8774, or the Watch Commander 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

The Marina del Rey Dragon Boat Festival returns on Saturday, March 1st (7 am – 4 pm) at Burton Chace Park! This free event will feature 40 local and out-of-state dragon boat teams and clubs competing to be the fastest team on the water.

For more info, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, at approximately 1:50 AM, the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing at The Bungalow, located at 101 Wilshire Blvd.

Officers arrived within moments and located two male victims with stab wounds. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel provided medical aid and transported both individuals to a local hospital. One victim sustained critical injuries and, despite life-saving efforts, later succumbed to his injuries. The second victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and remains under medical care.

Preliminary findings indicate the incident occurred outside the hotel in the 100 block of Wilshire Blvd. At this time, detectives believe this was an isolated incident and not a random act of violence. There is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.

Detectives are actively investigating and pursuing all available leads. At this stage, no arrests have been made. Investigators are reviewing video surveillance and gathering witness statements to determine the circumstances surrounding the altercation.

The Santa Monica Police Department is asking anyone with information related to this incident to contact Detective Lucero at hilda.lucero@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Cooney at shaun.cooney@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander 24 hours at 310-458-8427.

A mobile survey was conducted by South Coast AQMD in the Palisades Fire area near cleanup and re-populated zones on February 10th. Overall air toxic metals and VOCs are within background levels and national standards and state health thresholds.

Results show no elevated levels of:

Air toxic metals including lead and arsenic
VOCs including benzene (Figure 7)

On January 31, 2025, South Coast AQMD began air monitoring efforts in the burn scars and surrounding communities of the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire. Debris removal could cause hazardous dust and ash to become airborne. This initiative, supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and, in close coordination with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will assess air quality during debris removal or other activities. South Coast AQMD’s monitoring efforts will occur in two key stages.

Stage One: Mobile Monitoring of Air Toxics: Four mobile monitoring surveys will be conducted. Two in the Eaton Fire area and two in the Palisades Fire area. Mobile monitors provide instantaneous measurements for air toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) and will be used to identify potential areas of elevated pollutants near the Eaton and Palisades Fire areas. Results of the mobile monitoring will help identify locations for temporary air monitoring stations.

Stage Two: Stationary Air Monitoring: Placement of air monitoring stations will be determined based on mobile monitoring results, cleanup activity, sensitive receptors (such as residents and schools) and meteorological conditions. These stations will include air monitors that will provide data for particulate matter (PM), lead, arsenic, and asbestos in communities near the burn zones. South Coast AQMD is planning to conduct this initial stationary air monitoring for one month.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

The storm drains on Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades Beaches the day after a powerful winter storm hit.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Friday morning at Dockweiler Beach, lifeguards responded to a stranded dwarf pygmy whale and assisted Marine Mammal Care in assessing the situation.

Rainstorms this week caused large mudslides on Topanga Canyon Blvd. (State Route 27) in the Palisades fire burn scar. ⛰️🌊



The route will remain closed south of Grand View Dr. until crews can clear debris and mitigate potential hazards, such as falling rocks and road damage.



For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Despite the city's health warnings about ash, chemicals, and debris from the Palisades Fire contaminating the ocean water, several surfers have been out catching waves.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Several mudslides throughout fire burnt Pacific Palisades. Crews work to make the roads passable for vehicles.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

More destruction in Pacific Palisades. The latest storm washed away more a the remaining support of the already damaged Will Rogers Beach bike path bridge causing another portion of the bridge to collapse, sending more of it onto the beach.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.

Pacific Coast Highway between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace is FULLY CLOSED and will remain until further notice due to heavy flooding and mudslides. Only Emergency Responders may access PCH until further notice due to a HARD CLOSURE of the route.



For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

For more news and updates on the Palisades Fire, Click Here.