Water At L.A. Beaches In Part Of Malibu Closed Until Further Notice Due To Potentially Toxic Runoff

The ocean water along roughly eight miles of prime Los Angeles coastline remained off-limits indefinitely due to the recent rains and fire debris carried to the coast, while a water quality advisory was in effect all beaches in L.A. county until Thursday morning.

The water closure ordered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health impacts all beaches from Las Flores State Beach in Malibu to Santa Monica State Beach. That stretch of coast, which includes popular surfing beaches like Topanga, was hit especially hard by the Palisades Fire.

“Fire debris runoff and pollutants in the water and on the sand may contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals,” county health officials said in a statement. “This includes any runoff that may flow onto or pond on the beach sand. Beach users are advised to stay away from any fire debris on the beach.”

Many of the homes lining the beaches in question were burnt to the ground in the blaze.

The closure order will be in effect until further notice.

Los Angeles Public Works Department chief Mark Pestrella warned on January 17 that the destruction wrought by the fires would pose a danger even after the Santa Anas stopped.

“Properties have been damaged beyond belief. They are full of sediment, debris and hazardous materials,” he said, while assuring that debris removal would be done in conjunction with city of L.A. and the Federal Government, which would first clear away any toxic remnants.

But until those toxic remnants and other debris were cleared away, a potentially greater danger, said Pestrella, could be not fire but water from winter rains.

Right of Entry forms giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clear debris of wildfire-destroyed homes became available for affected property yesterday, as Gov. Gavin Newsom said authorities are expediting the debris clearance process to get the rebuilding process moving.

The debris removal process is currently in Phase 1, which is the removal of hazardous materials from properties by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the debris areas are safe for people to enter.

Once hazardous waste is cleared from properties, the Corps of Engineers or private contractors hired by homeowners will be able to move in and physically remove the debris from properties. Property owners who want the Corps of Engineers to conduct the work — at no cost to the homeowner — must opt in to the program by completing a Right of Entry form. Property owners also have the option of opting out of the program if they plan to hire their own contractor to do the removal work.

An Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory will be in effect for all Los Angeles County beaches until 8 a.m. Thursday, due to the rain that fell earlier this week and traditionally carries potentially harmful bacteria to the coast.

A separate Water Quality Advisory, however, will remain in effect beyond Thursday due to the potential of fire debris being carried into the ocean. That advisory impacts all beaches in Malibu from Surfrider to Las Flores State Beach and from Santa Monica State Beach to Dockweiler State Beach at World Way in Playa del Rey.

The advisory will be in effect indefinitely. The warnings strongly urge people to avoid contact with the ocean water.