Safe to Swim Maps
Monitoring beach water quality and implementing effective pollution prevention measures are essential for safeguarding beachgoers from waterborne diseases at coastal beaches, estuaries, streams, rivers, and lakes. Public health agencies, publicly owned sewage treatment plants, various dischargers, environmental organizations, and numerous citizen-monitoring groups carry out this monitoring.
Coastal Beach Notifications Dashboard Map
The Beach Advisories and Closures Dashboard shows beach status updates by county health departments to the State Water Board. Advisories and closures are posted when bacteria levels exceed state standards.
The dataset is available for download on the California Open Data Portal: Beach Advisories (Postings and Closures) and Beach Water Quality Monitoring Dataset.
Safe to Swim Map
The Safe to Swim map showcases bacterial sampling data for coastal and inland monitoring locations over time. It compares this data and the six-week geometric mean against the statewide water quality objectives for E. coli and enterococci. * Want to explore where it's safe to swim? Check out the Safe to Swim map. * Want to learn more? Read about the State Water Board's Bacterial objectives.
California Swim Guide
The California Swim Guide helps you find nearby beaches and shows which ones are safe for swimming. Use it as a resource, but remember the information may vary in quality and isn't for regulatory purposes. * Are you interested in finding a swimming spot? Check out the California Swim Guide! * Want to learn more? Read about Canada's Swim Guide program.
Impaired Waters
The Integrated Report identifies waters that are impaired and not supporting designated beneficial uses. To view a map showing waters unsafe for swimming and the pollutants involved, access the current Integrated Report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Swim at My Coastal Beach? California's waters are generally open for recreational use. However, there are times when it is not safe to swim due to bacterial contamination. To get the most up-to-date information on beach postings and closures, it is advisable to check the websites of local county health agencies. How are We Improving Swimming Safety? Several programs are in place to address water quality issues and enhance swimming safety. One such initiative is the Clean Beaches Initiative Grant Projects, which aims to protect and improve beaches along the California coast. Since its inception in 2001, California has invested $100 million in Clean Beaches Initiative grants to fund local efforts that reduce bacterial contamination along these beaches. The state has also supported research to develop more rapid methods for detecting when beaches should be posted, tracking sources of contamination, and studying the relationship between bacterial indicators and instances of disease. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is a regulation created to improve water quality by controlling the amount of pollutants entering a water body. Under the federal Clean Water Act, every impaired water body listed on the 303(d) list must have a TMDL established to help bring it back into compliance with water quality standards. Statewide Campaigns Save Our Water Related websites State Water Resources Control Board CalEPA Resources Email Us Monitoring Council Home Mailing Lists