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Department of Beaches and Harbors’ Closures and Impacts Due to SEIU 721 Strike 150 150 Beaches & Harbors

Department of Beaches and Harbors’ Closures and Impacts Due to SEIU 721 Strike

Department of Beaches and Harbors’ Closures and Impacts Due to SEIU 721 Strike

April 29, 2025—SEIU 721, which represents thousands of County of Los Angeles employees, including roughly 70 percent of the Department of Beaches and Harbors’ (DBH) workforce, is holding a County-wide strike from 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, through 6:59 p.m. Wednesday, April 30. DBH remains committed to maintaining safe, accessible public spaces for all; however, visitors to County beaches and Marina del Rey during the strike period should be aware of the following impacts due to limited staff:

  • Public restrooms at Dockweiler State Beach are closed. Portable toilets and handwashing stations are available.
  • Beach maintenance services, including sand cleanup, trash pickup and wildfire debris cleanup, are limited.
  • Marina del Rey maintenance services are limited.

The following facilities are open:

  • Beach and Marina del Rey public parking lots
  • Dockweiler RV Park
  • Dockweiler Youth Center
  • Marina del Rey Visitor Center
  • Burton W. Chace Park
  • Transient Vessel Docks at Chace Park
  • Anchorage 47

DBH offices will also remain open; however, walk-in services may have longer processing times. Some same-day services may not be available.

Facilities and maintenance services are expected to reopen and resume the morning of Thursday, May 1.

DBH appreciates the public’s patience and understanding during this time. We will continue to prioritize essential operations to support a positive experience for all who visit our beaches and coastal spaces.

For more information about strike impacts on other L.A. County Departments, please visit Countywide Closures and Impacts Due to SEIU 721 Strike.

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Dark Sediment on Beaches Does Not Pose Risk to Human Health 150 150 Beaches & Harbors

Dark Sediment on Beaches Does Not Pose Risk to Human Health

Dark Sediment on Beaches Does Not Pose Risk to Human Health

Beachgoers still advised to avoid fire debris in water and on shore

LOS ANGELES—April 9, 2025—The dark, ashy sediment appearing on Los Angeles-area beaches does not appear to contain chemicals related to wildfires at levels that are dangerous to human health.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health based this conclusion on results from beach sand and sediment testing conducted by the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) at the end of February.

Samples from nearly a dozen beaches along the L.A. County coastline were tested for metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are chemicals that may be found in runoff after wildfires. These results were compared to California and U.S. environmental standards for residential soil, and all results were below those values or within background concentrations.

The LARWQCB plans to conduct another round of sediment sampling before Memorial Day.

There are no plans to remove the sediment. Attempting to scrape it from rocks and sand would destroy marine habitats, erode the shoreline, and cause long-term environmental damage. Instead, natural tides and weather will gradually break down and wash away the sediment, allowing the ecosystem to recover naturally.

Public Health lifts fire-related ocean water quality advisory

Based on water quality results from the LARWQCB, Public Health has also lifted the ocean water quality advisory for fire-impacted beaches. Periodic water quality testing from the end of January through mid-March found no wildfire-related substances at levels dangerous to human health.

Public Health will continue to monitor ocean water quality and issue advisories when the ocean water exceeds State bacterial limits. For more information, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach.

Debris removal continues

Crews from the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) and the City of Santa Monica continue to remove debris that waves wash onto the sand. This debris comes from both discharging waterways and burned or destroyed properties along the coast. During high tides, waves sweep the debris from the shore and into the ocean, where the current carries the debris to other beaches.

Beachgoers should still avoid fire debris, whether in the water or on the shore. This debris includes tangled branches, twisted metals, charred building materials, and even the dark sediment. While the sediment itself is not hazardous, its dark color can hide rusty nails, shards of glass and other sharp objects that may cause injury. Dangerous pieces of large debris on the sand should be reported to the nearest lifeguard or beach maintenance crews.

Stay Informed

Beachgoers should check with the nearest open lifeguard tower for the latest information on beach conditions. Other places to stay up to date include:

  • Public Health Ocean Water Quality Hotline: 800-525-5662
  • Public Health Ocean Water Advisories: publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach
  • Wildfire-Related Beach Impacts: beaches.lacounty.gov/wildfires
  • Social media accounts: DBH (@lacdbh), Public Health (@lapublichealth), Public Works (@lacopublicworks), L.A. County Lifeguards (@lacolifeguards)

Unsafe beach conditions should be reported to the nearest lifeguard.

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