Bird Poop Could Contribute To Bacteria Warnings At LA Beaches

MARINA DEL REY, CA — Public health officials have warned people for months about bacteria levels exceeding state standards at several Los Angeles beaches, including family-friendly Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey and Inner Cabrillo in San Pedro.

So what's the culprit? According to county officials, it could actually be bird poop and lack of waves. But it could be more complicated than that — and local leaders are demanding answers following the Hyperion sewage spill on July 11. The spill dumped 17 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Santa Monica Bay and went unreported for hours, causing a foul smell for locals living nearby. It could be months before the full extent of the damage is known.

"It is our conclusion that the unplanned discharge of approximately 17 million gallons of
untreated wastewater into Santa Monica Bay through the 1-Mile Outfall on July 11 and 12, 2021
was caused by inundation of the Headworks barscreens with quantities of unexpected debris," according to a 30-day report from the Los Angeles Department of Public Works LA Sanitation and Environment.

At Mother's Beach, the water quality has become such a problem that it's prompted officials to bring back "bird wire," Spectrum1 reports. The wire aims to stop seagulls, pigeons and other birds from leaving droppings in the water.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health releases daily water quality reports, cautioning swimmers and surfers before hitting the waters and local beaches where testing shows conditions could be unsafe. For months, several beaches have made the warning list, including Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

Both Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro have a similar problem, Nicole Mooradian from the County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors told Patch.

"In both places, bird feces have been identified as potential sources of bacteria," Mooradian said.

But it's not just bird fecal matter. It also has to do with the lack of movement in the water.

Bird poop, boat emissions, and poor circulation or little waves can contribute to the bacteria levels.

Human fecal matter can also contribute to poor water quality in waters, Luke Ginger, water quality scientist at Heal the Bay, told Spectrum1.

“Fecal matter from birds does pose a health risk to humans, but not as much as human fecal matter,” Ginger said.

When swimmers wear leaky diapers or when beaches are located in developed areas, including areas like Santa Monica Pier, those locations often have worse water grades compared to beaches in more natural areas.

“This suggests to me that birds aren’t the sole driver of water quality at beaches across the state — the inputs from the watershed are," he said.

Read the full Spectrum1 report.

Editor's Note: This story was updated throughout with additional information at 9:53 p.m.

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