Bacteria advisory at Monterey beach

The Monterey County Health Department is issuing an advisory at San Carlos Beach “due to high indicator bacteria.”

They advise to not have contact with the ocean water there.

The Health Department says the bacteria was found Monday in samples taken at the Monterey beach. The advisory will be posted until samples show indicator bacteria “are at a safe level for recreational water contact according to state guidelines.”

If you have information on the Monterey Peninsula’s beaches, call the county’s hotline at ​​​​​​​831-755-4599 or visit www.mtyhd.org/beaches.

More from the health department release:

“Higher levels of bacteria have been associated with the increased potential risk of illness. Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations Section 7958 establishes bacterial standards for ocean water at beaches that are 1) visited by more than 50,000 people annually; 2) located adjacent to a storm drain (i.e. culvert, creek, or stream etc.) that flows during the summer. Therefore, when bacterial levels exceed bacterial standards an advisory is issued and beaches are posted with an advisory notice.

There are various sources of bacteria such as marine life (i.e. seals, otters, and birds) and other animals; rainfall runoff; storm drains; and human activity. Rainfall is associated with increased bacterial levels due to runoff particularly in the area of man-made and natural storm drains such as culverts, streams and rivers”