Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey listed under county water warning after elevated bacteria readings

Los Angeles County Public Health listed Marina del Rey’s Mother’s Beach under an ocean-water-use warning in a July 31, 2026 notice, advising people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the water after recent samples showed bacterial levels above state health standards.

The county also listed the warning in its July 30 notice. The latest notice verified for this article is dated July 31, 2026; readers should check the county’s current beach-water-quality information before entering the water.

The entire swim area is affected

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health identified Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey and said the warning applies to the entire swim area. It is not limited in the notice to a small section near a storm drain or another isolated point.

This is an ocean-water-use warning, not a description of a full beach closure. The county notices do not say that the beach sand, nearby businesses or all Marina del Rey Harbor waters are closed or affected. They also do not identify a specific source of the elevated bacteria.

What beach users should do

County health officials advised people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in the water covered by the warning. That guidance applies directly to families with young children, swimmers, kayakers and others who may enter or come into close contact with the water.

The county said recent water samples showed bacterial levels exceeding health standards, which may increase the risk of illness. The notices do not report illness cases connected to the warning.

Why the warning matters at Mother’s Beach

Marina Beach, locally called Mother’s Beach, is a county beach facility in Marina del Rey at 4101 Admiralty Way, adjacent to Admiralty Way and Via Marina. Los Angeles County describes it as a family- and kid-friendly beach with a swimming area, playground, picnic facilities, restrooms, showers, an ADA ramp to the water, and access for activities such as kayaking and windsurfing.

Those amenities make the warning especially relevant to parents, caregivers and recreational users planning visits. The warning concerns water contact in the identified swim area; it does not by itself state that the entire facility is closed. Visitors should follow posted signs and avoid entering the affected water.

How to check for clearance

Los Angeles County Public Health says its beach-water-quality map is updated as conditions change. The county and partner agencies resample locations that exceed state bacteria standards, and the public is notified through the county’s website, telephone hotline and signs posted at affected beaches.

Before entering the water, check county beach-water-quality information and posted signs or call the 24-hour beach conditions hotline at 1-800-525-5662. The July 31 notice is the latest county warning verified for this article, and conditions may change after that date.

Sources

• Los Angeles County Public Health warning dated July 31, 2026
• Los Angeles County Public Health beach-water-quality information
• Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors, Marina Beach / Mother’s Beach