LA County Health Department Issues Warnings for 7 Area Beaches

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - People should avoid swimming, surfing or playing in ocean waters at seven area beaches Friday due to high bacteria levels at those locations, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned.

The affected beaches are:

-- Torrance Beach at Malaga Cove, just North of RAT Tower, 100 yards up and down the coast from the lifeguard tower;

-- Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek;

-- Marie Canyon storm drain at Puerco Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps;

-- Castlerock storm drain at Topanga County Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain;

-- Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, entire swim area;

-- Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, entire swim area, and

-- Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

Those beaches had bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested, the health department said.

Meanwhile, earlier warnings have been lifted for three beaches where recent samples produced water-quality levels within state standards, the health department said.

The cleared beaches are:

-- Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach;

-- Brooks Avenue storm drain at Venice Beach, and

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

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county's beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-5662. A map of impacted locations and more information can be found at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.