Surfrider Beach Reopens After Runoff Subsides

Malibu’s Surfrider Beach, which one environmental group often ranks as one of the most polluted beaches in Los Angeles County, reopened Monday after being shut down over the weekend. The closure was at least the second of the year.

Nick Steers, area supervisor for the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division, called the beach’s closure “precautionary” following “unusually high runoff” in Malibu Creek.

The runoff caused septic tanks to back up and overflow into adjacent Malibu Lagoon, homes and a shopping center.

Although Steers had not received any reports of sickness after the closure, James Alamillo, an official with Heal the Bay, said that “swimming near storm water can cause respiratory, sinus and gastrointestinal problems. And the nature of surfers is that if the waves are good, they’ll go in, regardless.”