As Sun Dries Southland, Most L.A. Beaches Reopen

The last few days of brilliant sunshine brought relief from more than drenching rains and gloomy skies: The dry weather also enabled Los Angeles County health officials to reopen all but one of the beaches that had been closed because of storm-related sewage spills.

Department of Health Services officials said only Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey remained closed Saturday. That beach, a sheltered swimming spot popular with families with small children, will remain closed “until water sample tests indicate that bacteria counts have returned to acceptable levels,” officials said in a statement.

All of the beaches bordering Santa Monica Bay were closed Tuesday after a series of storm-related sewage spills pushed bacteria levels to dangerous levels. Signs warned surfers and swimmers to stay out of the water. Last week’s closures involved the largest number of beaches during the rainy season.

In all, more than 70 million gallons of sewage from various spills poured into Santa Monica Bay beginning Feb. 3. The biggest single spill resulted from a burst sewer main in Ventura County, which released about 63 million gallons of sewage.

Also Saturday, state parks officials reopened Leo Carrillo Canyon campground. But nearby Leo Carrillo North Beach campground was so badly eroded that it may be closed for repairs for six months, officials said.

The aftermath from a month’s worth of punishing storms continued to be felt elsewhere.

In the Northern California community of Pacifica, officials said it probably would take until Monday to clear a huge wall of rocks and mud that had buried California 1 near Devil’s Slide.

Caltrans crews were working through the weekend to clear the debris, a spokesman said.

The sunshine was expected to last at least through Monday, weather forecasters said.