Dear Editor,
I was excited to read the Culver City Crossroads coverage of LA County’s free beach access offer to commemorate Juneteenth (“County to Offer Free Access for Beaches and Museums to Commemorate Juneteenth”). Sadly, free beach access doesn’t guarantee a safe swim. Data from past years verifies that alarming rates of bacteria at local beaches that can make our swimmers sick. In 2022, 75 percent of California beaches tested had potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator bacteria on at least one day.
Fortunately, Representatives Julia Brownley, Salud Carbajal, and Adam Schiff are co-sponsoring the BEACH Act (HR 7203), which will enable communities to continue beach testing, allowing us to know when there is bacteria in the water. Surfers, swimmers and other beachgoers should urge other representatives to follow their lead. You can find more information about bacteria levels at your local beach in the Safe for Swimming? report on Environment California’s website.
Carly Cohen, Summer Associate
Environment California
