San Diego County's Department of Environmental Health and Quality is extending an active water contact closure among the Tijuana and Imperial Beach shorelines, to now also cover the Silver Strand Shoreline and Coronado Beach.
The Environmental Health and Quality department confirmed the decision this week, as sewage run-off with a concerning amount of contamination continues to enter the waters of Imperial Beach, including the Tijuana Estuary. In addition, officials say that the contamination is now entering the waters of Silver Strand Shoreline, and slowly but surely entering the Coronado Beach zone.
It's a move that county officials make when the Tijuana River flows with contamination heading north of the coast. Earlier this year, the county made the same decision when observers learned that the contaminated water was starting to make its way up north along the Southbay.
“Sewage-contaminated runoff in the Tijuana River has been entering the Tijuana Estuary and observations indicate contamination of ocean water now extends from the international border to the Silver Strand and Coronado shorelines,” the department stated in April when the same water closure took place.
These closures are placed when the contamination coming from the Tijuana River carries over north of the coast.
"Tijuana River Associated Closures are issued whenever the Tijuana River is flowing, as river water is known to be impacted with sewage. When the Tijuana River is flowing, the extent of beach closures can range from the international border north to Coronado," San Diego County state on their website.
County officials have also released an advisory this week, suggesting that the public stay away from all ocean-related activities along San Diego Bay and Mission Bay at least 72 hours following the rains. The most recent rain in San Diego county occurred on Wednesday, December 29.
"Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff." The Department of Environmental Health and Quality states on their website.
