County closes four Coastside beaches due to sewer overflows; not all beaches have signs posted; surf

San Mateo County Health Department has closed four Coastside beaches because of sewer overflows:

• Pacifica State Beach at Linda Mar
• Surfers Beach near the southern Pillar Point break water
• Moss Beach access to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
• the area adjacent to Mirada Road in Half Moon Bay

 

Additionally, the county closed the Bayside mouth of Colma Creek, and advisories have been issued for Gray Whale Cove, Montara State Beach, Pillar Point Harbor, and Half Moon Bay State Beach.

"Our lab is telling us that they have never seen bacteria levels this high," said Dean Peterson, with the San Mateo County Office of Environmental Health.  "Last year did exceed levels during El Niño and this year exceeded last year."

Peterson says, "The waves should clean the beaches remarkably fast. Salt water is not a friendly environment to these bacteria, and the beaches should clear up within five days."

There is an interactive map showing sampling locations and water status at earth911.org.

In a press release, Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County Health Officer, said: "I recommend that people avoid all ocean and bay recreational water contact at this time.  The water is highly contaminated and likely to cause illness.  Anyone becoming ill after contact with these waters should consult their physician."

UPDATE: About 2:00 this afternoon, I drove by Surfers Beach to get some pictures of the signs that the County had put up. There were none.  Dean Peterson from the County tells me that they were put up, but that it’s common for people to take them down, either property owners wanting to avoid stigma, or people not wanting them to interfere with their use of the beach. I talked to one surfer at the beach who had no idea that the water was contaminated. I did find a sign down the road at Miramar.

There are some pictures of surfers enjoying the closed beach at Linda Mar posted on Montara.com.