20 of the County's 20 sampling spots from Torrey Pines to Carlsbad have a posting: Los Peñasquitos Lagoon (Torrey Pines): advisory; 15th St. Near Outlet (Del Mar): advisory; San Dieguito River Outlet (Del Mar): advisory; Fletcher Cove Outlet (Solana Beach): advisory; Tide Beach Park (Solana Beach): advisory; Seaside State Park (Cardiff): advisory; Las Olas (Georges) (Cardiff): advisory; Charthouse Parking (Cardiff): advisory; San Elijo Lagoon Outlet (Cardiff): advisory; Stairs Near Main Entrance (Cardiff): advisory; Pipes (Encinitas): advisory; Swami's (Encinitas): advisory; Cottonwood Creek Outlet (Encinitas): advisory; Batiquitos Lagoon Outlet (Carlsbad): advisory; Poinsettia Lane (Carlsbad): advisory; Ponto Drive (Carlsbad): advisory; Encina Creek outlet (Carlsbad): advisory; Palomar Airport (Carlsbad): advisory; Cerezo Drive (Carlsbad): advisory; Tamarack Ave (Carlsbad): advisory. The rest are open.
Right after the storm: the rain ended Monday; the County advises staying out of the ocean 72 hours after 0.2 inch or more, so give it until about Thursday, Oct 15, even at spots marked open below.
From the County of San Diego's beach water map, last updated Monday Oct 12, 5:17PM. Rebuilt every morning and twice during the day; the County's sdbeachinfo.com is the final word.
Every sampling spot from Torrey Pines to Carlsbad
| Spot | Town | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Los Peñasquitos Lagoon | Torrey Pines | advisory |
| 15th St. Near Outlet | Del Mar | advisory |
| San Dieguito River Outlet | Del Mar | advisory |
| Fletcher Cove Outlet | Solana Beach | advisory |
| Tide Beach Park | Solana Beach | advisory |
| Seaside State Park | Cardiff | advisory |
| Las Olas (Georges) | Cardiff | advisory |
| Charthouse Parking | Cardiff | advisory |
| San Elijo Lagoon Outlet | Cardiff | advisory |
| Stairs Near Main Entrance | Cardiff | advisory |
| Pipes | Encinitas | advisory |
| Swami's | Encinitas | advisory |
| Cottonwood Creek Outlet | Encinitas | advisory |
| Batiquitos Lagoon Outlet | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Poinsettia Lane | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Ponto Drive | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Encina Creek outlet | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Palomar Airport | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Cerezo Drive | Carlsbad | advisory |
| Tamarack Ave | Carlsbad | advisory |
South to north. Outlets are where creeks and lagoons meet the beach; they're the first to go bad after rain.
What the signs mean
- Advisory: a water sample came back above the State's health standard for bacteria. State law requires the County to post it.
- Closure: a known untreated sewage release has reached the water, or is right next to the beach. Stay out.
- After rain: runoff carries bacteria from streets and creeks to the beach. The County's rule of thumb is 72 hours out of the water after 0.2 inch of rain.
Elsewhere in the county today:
- 60 advisories: 1000 ft South of Scripps Pier (La Jolla), 250 ft South of Scripps Pier (La Jolla), 500 ft N of Loma Alta Outlet (Oceanside), 500 ft North of Scripps Pier (La Jolla), Ave De La Playa (La Jolla), Avenida Lunar (Coronado), Bayside Park (J Street) (Coronado), Belmont Park (Mission Bay), Bermuda Ave (Mission Bay), Black's Beach (La Jolla), Bonair (La Jolla), Bonita Cove North End (Mission Bay), Buena Vista Lagoon Outlet (Oceanside), Campland Swim Area (Mission Bay), Cassidy Street (Oceanside), Children's Pool (La Jolla), Comfort Station - N of Leisure Lagoon (Mission Bay), Coronado Main Lifeguard Tower (Coronado), Coronado North Beach (Coronado), Crown Point Drain (Mission Bay), Del Oro (La Jolla), El Paseo Grande (La Jolla), Enchanted Cove (Mission Bay), Fanuel Park (Mission Bay), Fiesta Island - NW Shore (Mission Bay), Forster Street (Oceanside), Glorietta Bay (Coronado), Grand Ave. (Mission Bay), Harbor Beach (Oceanside), La Jolla Cove (La Jolla), Ladera Street (Coronado), Lawrence St. Outlet (Coronado), Loma Alta Creek Outlet (Oceanside), Mission Point Park (Mission Bay), Newport Ave (Mission Bay), North Cove Vacation Isle (Mission Bay), North of Lighthouse (Coronado), O.B. Pier @ Narrangaset (Mission Bay), Oceanside Pier (Oceanside), Palomar (La Jolla), Playa Del Norte (La Jolla), Point Loma Treatment Plant (Coronado), Ravina South Nicholson Pt (La Jolla), San Diego River Outlet - Dog Beach (Mission Bay), San Luis Rey River Outlet (Oceanside), Santa Clara Cove, S End (Mission Bay), Shelter Island Shoreline Park (Coronado), Silver Strand - Bayside (Coronado), South Casa Beach (La Jolla), South Mission Beach Jetty (Mission Bay), St. Malo Beach (Oceanside), Stub Jetty South Side (Mission Bay), Swim Area - 1st Drain East (Mission Bay), Tecolote Shores Swim Area (Mission Bay), Tidelands Park (Coronado), Tourmaline Drain Outlet (Mission Bay), Tyson Street (Oceanside), Vallecitos (La Jolla), Ventura Cove (Mission Bay), Vista De La Playa (La Jolla).
- 10 closures: 3/4 mi. N of TJ River (Imperial Beach), Border Fence N Side (Imperial Beach), Carnation Ave. (Imperial Beach), Cortez Ave (Imperial Beach), End of Seacoast Dr (Imperial Beach), Imperial Beach Pier (Imperial Beach), Monument Rd. (Imperial Beach), Silver Strand - Guard Shack (Coronado), Silver Strand N End (Ocean) (Coronado), Tijuana Estuary mouth (Imperial Beach).
Other stretches: La Jolla · Del Mar · Encinitas and Cardiff · Carlsbad.
Source: County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality, Beach and Bay Water Quality Program, (619) 338-2073.
Dry-sand day instead? Beach day today (tides, UV, surf) · dog-friendly beaches · storm prep · parking: Solana Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad.
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Questions people ask
How long should you stay out of the ocean after rain in San Diego?
The County advises 72 hours after 0.2 inch of rain or more, longest near storm drains, creeks and lagoon mouths, because runoff carries bacteria to the beach.
Is the water clean at Fletcher Cove Outlet in Solana Beach today?
As of the County's Oct 12 update, its Fletcher Cove Outlet sampling spot is under an advisory. After rain, wait 72 hours anyway.
Is the water clean at Swami's in Encinitas today?
As of the County's Oct 12 update, its Swami's sampling spot is under an advisory. After rain, wait 72 hours anyway.
Why are Imperial Beach and the Tijuana River beaches closed so often?
Cross-border sewage flows from the Tijuana River Valley; the County samples the south county beaches every day and closes them when sewage reaches the water.
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