Heal the Bay Blog

Solving the Santa Monica Pier’s Water Quality Mystery for a Cleaner Future at One of L.A.’s Most Iconic Shorelines

For decades, Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card has identified the Santa Monica Pier as one of Los Angeles County’s most persistent water quality challenges. Year after year, our scientists have detected elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria at one of Southern California’s most iconic and heavily visited coastal destinations. Those elevated bacteria levels signal the potential presence of pathogens that can pose a risk to swimmers, surfers, and beachgoers. Although there have been periods of improvement, bacterial pollution has repeatedly returned, revealing just how complex this issue is. That is finally beginning to change. 

In partnership with the City of Santa Monica, Heal the Bay is leading the new Santa Monica Pier Water Quality Task Force, a coordinated, science-driven effort to better understand the persistent bacterial pollution at the Pier and develop real, actionable solutions. The Task Force represents a major step forward for public health, coastal protection, and accountability at a shoreline that millions of people visit, enjoy, and depend on each year. 

The Santa Monica Pier is more than a landmark. It is a gateway to the Bay, a public gathering place, a driver of the local economy, and a symbol of Southern California’s connection to the coast. 

The Santa Monica Pier is more than a landmark. It is a gateway to the Bay, a public gathering place, a driver of the local economy, and a symbol of Southern California’s connection to the coast. In 2023, Santa Monica welcomed an estimated 4.6 million visitors, generating approximately $938 million in economic activity¹. But beneath the Pier, the water quality tells a troubling story. Persistent bacterial pollution continues to threaten public health and raises urgent questions about what is entering the water, where it is coming from, and how to stop it. 

¹ Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. 2023 Economic Impact Report.

Why the Pier Matters 

Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card has tracked coastal water quality for decades, giving the public clear, science-based information about where it is safe to swim. The Santa Monica Pier has remained one of the most persistent problem areas in Los Angeles County, with poor grades during both wet and dry weather.  

That matters. 

When beaches experience poor water quality after rain, stormwater runoff is often the obvious culprit. Rain washes bacteria, trash, chemicals, and other pollutants from streets and storm drains into the ocean. At the Santa Monica Pier, however, elevated bacteria levels often occur even when it has not rained, suggesting that rain is not the only factor affecting water quality and that another persistent source of pollution may be contributing to the problem. This is particularly concerning because dry weather also brings the highest number of beachgoers into the water, increasing the potential for public exposure. 

Without knowing the source, solutions remain reactive. The Task Force is designed to change that by bringing the right people, data, and tools together to identify the problem and move toward long-term fixes. 

Why This Matters for Public Health 

Fecal indicator bacteria are not just numbers in a report. They signal the possible presence of pathogens that can cause illness, including stomach flu, ear infections, skin rashes, and respiratory issues. Families, swimmers, surfers, anglers, tourists, and coastal workers all deserve clear information and clean water. 

Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card and River Report Card were created to help people understand water quality risks and make informed decisions about where and when to get in the water. The Santa Monica Pier Task Force builds on that foundation by going beyond monitoring and public notification. It asks the next critical question: what is causing the pollution, and how do we fix it? 

That is the kind of work coastal communities need more of. Monitoring tells us where there is a problem. Source identification helps us solve it. 

A Different Kind of Collaboration 

The Santa Monica Pier Water Quality Task Force brings together partners who do not always sit at the same table. Heal the Bay is leading this effort in collaboration with the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, with support and coordination from scientific experts, public agencies, environmental partners, local businesses, and community stakeholders. 

The goal is simple but ambitious: use better science, transparent collaboration, and shared responsibility to identify the sources of bacterial pollution and develop a practical action plan. 

Key partners include Heal the Bay, the City of Santa Monica, academic and scientific experts from local institutions (including UCLA and USC), the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, community and nonprofit partners such as Save the Waves Coalition and the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, and coordination with the LA County Safe Clean Water Program. Pier businesses, local hotels, and community members will also be important voices in the process to ensure that recommendations are practical, visible, and rooted in the needs of the people who live, work, and recreate along the coast. 

This is not another study meant to sit on a shelf. The Task Force is being built around investigation, analysis, public communication, and action. 

The Science Is Already Underway 

The work has already begun. 

Before daybreak on January 27, 2026, Heal the Bay scientists launched an intensive 16-hour sampling effort at the Santa Monica Pier. From sunrise to sundown, our team walked more than 15 miles back and forth along the Pier collecting water samples every hour at three separate locations. Lab analysis continued late into the night and over the following two days. 

This kind of detailed, targeted sampling is essential because bacterial pollution can shift throughout the day and vary from one location to another. By collecting data across time and space, scientists can better understand patterns that routine monitoring may miss. 

The Task Force is building on decades of Beach Report Card data, previous investigations, and scientific research to better understand the factors contributing to poor water quality at the Santa Monica Pier. Using advanced microbial source tracking and other scientific tools, researchers can identify whether bacteria are more likely coming from human, bird, or other animal sources. Understanding where the bacteria originate is essential to developing targeted, science-based solutions that improve water quality and protect public health. 

What the Task Force Will Do 

Over the next five years, the Task Force will build upon decades of scientific monitoring, previous investigations, and infrastructure investments to better understand the persistent sources of bacterial pollution at the Santa Monica Pier and develop science-based recommendations for long-term improvement. 

The work will include: 

• Reviewing historical water quality data, past studies, and previous infrastructure improvements  

• Building on existing monitoring efforts with additional targeted water quality sampling  

• Evaluating historical and scientific data to better understand persistent pollution sources  

• Using advanced microbial source tracking and other scientific tools to identify likely sources of bacteria  

• Assessing the effectiveness of existing pollution control measures and identifying opportunities for improvement  

• Developing science-based recommendations to support long-term water quality improvements and protect public health 

The ultimate goal is to move from uncertainty to action. During Fall 2026, the Task Force is expected to release a comprehensive public report that outlines water quality trends, likely sources of pollution, and recommended solutions. Public health will remain the top priority. 

These findings will also inform Heal the Bay’s future Beach Report Cards and support long-term accountability at the Pier. 

A Stronger, More Accountable Future for the Pier 

The formation of the Santa Monica Pier Water Quality Task Force is an important organizational milestone for Heal the Bay and a major opportunity for the region. For decades, the Pier’s poor water quality has been a known problem. Now, there is a coordinated process to better understand the source of that pollution and build a plan for action. 

This effort reinforces Heal the Bay’s role as both a scientific authority and an environmental watchdog. We are bringing data, transparency, advocacy, and public communication together to protect public health and push for long-term solutions. 

The Santa Monica Pier belongs to all of us. It is a place where people fish, swim, surf, work, visit, and connect with the ocean. It should also be a place where clean water is expected, protected, and prioritized. 

The Task Force is a big step toward that future. 

Heal the Bay will continue to share updates as this work progresses. In the meantime, you can stay informed about current water quality conditions by visiting Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card website or downloading the Beach Report Card app, which provides the latest beach water quality grades and swim advisories to help you make informed decisions before heading to the coast. Together, these tools and the work of the Santa Monica Pier Water Quality Task Force support our ongoing commitment to protecting public health and improving water quality for everyone who enjoys our beaches. 

Inside the Effort to Protect Our Coastal Waters: A Visual Journey

Go behind the science with our team in this visual journal, documenting the research, collaboration, and ongoing efforts to better understand and protect Santa Monica Pier’s water quality.

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Want to learn more and stay connected? Support the frontline science, advocacy, and education that protect our coast, and follow along as we continue this important work.

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Our Science & Policy team has issued the following statement regarding water quality monitoring in the wake of the Lineage Logistics fire in Boyle Heights. 

Please take a moment to read the full statement. 

If you have questions about our monitoring, findings, or the River Report Card, feel free to contact us at science@healthebay.org. Our team will continue to monitor conditions and share updates as new information becomes available. 

Heal the Bay Statement on Water Quality Following the Lineage Logistics Fire 

Following the recent fire at the Lineage cold storage warehouse facility in Boyle Heights, and the resulting local state of emergency, many community members have expressed concerns about environmental and public health impacts from the smoke as well as the runoff from firefighting efforts.  

The fire, which began on June 17 and burned for 8 days, occurred during Heal the Bay’s regular summer water quality monitoring through our River Report Card program that helps track recreational water quality conditions to inform the public. We monitor water quality at six sites along the Lower Los Angeles River, including Riverfront Park, our monitoring site closest to the Lineage Fire and downstream of the affected area.  

Our weekly monitoring measures water clarity (turbidity), bacteria levels, water temperature, flow and other visual site conditions. While this monitoring helps us understand recreational water quality, we do not test heavy metals, PFAS, or other fire-related contaminants. 

Our data showed increased flows and turbidity, and a sharp increase in bacteria levels on June 24 & 25, compared to the pre-fire samples taken on June 11. In our most recent sampling on July 8 & 9, water clarity had recovered, and bacteria returned to normal for dry-weather conditions, though water remains unsafe for contact – typical conditions for this part of the watershed. 

We are also aware of reports that low pH levels were detected downstream of fire, possibly contributing to a fish die-off in the Los Angeles River and Dominguez Gap Wetlands.

While we cannot definitively attribute all of these water quality changes to the fire at this time, the elevated bacteria levels and other reported water quality concerns warrant caution. Heal the Bay added warnings to all River Report Card sites downstream of the fire. Until more is known, we recommend avoiding contact with river water in affected areas. 

We recognize and appreciate the work of local community organizations, scientists, and advocates who have been raising concerns about impacts to downstream communities. We share ongoing concerns about the large quantities of spoiled food that remain onsite, with potential impacts to surrounding communities and waterways. We are reaching out to local partners to learn more about ongoing community monitoring efforts and to identify ways we can support and help amplify community-led work. 

Heal the Bay will continue its regular River Report Card monitoring and provide updated water quality information as new data become available. 

Reshare the visual statement below.

Less than 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled.

The future isn’t recycling our way out of plastic pollution; it’s creating systems built around reuse and making them accessible, because reuse is a right.

Every July, millions of people around the world participate in Plastic Free July by choosing reusable products over single-use plastics. At Heal the Bay, we’ve spent 40 years working to stop plastic pollution before it reaches the ocean through science, advocacy, education, and community action. Today, that work includes advancing policies that reduce single-use plastics and make reuse easier for everyone.

That’s why this year for Plastic Free July, Heal the Bay is focused on one simple idea:

Reuse Is a Right

Everyone deserves access to safe, healthy, reusable options that create less waste and protect the places we love. Choosing reuse shouldn’t be difficult; it should be the norm.

At Heal the Bay, we believe stopping plastic pollution starts long before it reaches the ocean. Through science, education, advocacy, and community action, we work every day to protect our coastline and prevent plastic from entering our waterways.

This Plastic Free July, we’re asking you to start where you are and join the movement to create a future where reuse is accessible for everyone.

Sign the Petition for a Reusable Future

Choosing reuse is important, but lasting change requires better systems. That’s why Heal the Bay is calling on Los Angeles leaders to support policies that make reusable options accessible, affordable, and the easy choice for everyone.

Add your name to our Reusable LA petition and tell LA leaders it’s time to build a reusable future for Los Angeles ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

Sign the Petition

Plastic Pollution Doesn’t Start at the Beach

Most plastic pollution begins far from the ocean. A takeout container gets tossed away. A plastic bag blows down the street. A plastic bottle cap washes into a storm drain.

From there, trash travels through our neighborhoods, rivers, and watersheds until it reaches the ocean, where it can harm marine life, break down into microplastics, and even make its way back to us through the food chain.

The good news? We can stop it before it gets there, together.

Click here to jump to the 2026 Plastic Free July Guide and start where you are.

How Heal the Bay Is Fighting Plastic Pollution

Here’s how Heal the Bay is leading the fight for reuse, protecting our coast, and making a difference through science, advocacy, and education.

Leading for Reuse

• Co-founded the Reusable LA Coalition (30+ nonprofits)
• Launched ‘Hold the Plastic Please,’ giving LA residents and businesses easy access to reusable dining laws
• One of only 2 non-profits (working to represent dozens of environmental groups) on the LA28 Sustainability Committee to help make the 2028 Olympics a model for sustainability

Changing Laws and shaping local policy

• Advocated for California’s landmark plastic reduction law (SB 54)
• Helped close loopholes in the state’s plastic bag ban and advance LA’s Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program
• Pushing for transformative local policies that other cities can follow

Protecting Our Beaches

• Over 6 million peice of trash removed from the coastline
• Monthly cleanups like Nothin’ But Sand, Adopt-a-Beach, and Suits on the Sand
• Built one of Southern California’s longest-running marine debris datasets over two decades of work

Inspiring the Next Generation

• Educated 280,000+ children at the Heal the Bay Aquarium
• Empowering future ocean advocates through hands-on science

Join the Movement

Plastic Free July Isn’t About Being Perfect

It’s about making small choices that add up to a healthier ocean.

Every reusable bottle, shopping bag, or refillable cup helps reduce the amount of plastic that can end up in our neighborhoods, storm drains, rivers, and, ultimately, our ocean.

This Plastic Free July, protect where you live and where you play by choosing to reuse whenever you can. At Heal the Bay, we believe reuse is a right. Everyone deserves access to simple, affordable reusable options that create less waste and help keep our communities and coastline clean.

Small actions may seem insignificant on their own, but together they create cleaner neighborhoods, healthier beaches, and a stronger future for our coastal waters.

Start where you are. Choose reuse. Protect what you love.

Because the fight against plastic pollution doesn’t start at the beach.

It starts where you are.

Sign the Petition

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Still looking for a way to start where you are this Plastic-Free July? Shop reusables that create real change!

Watch Now!

Small choices. Big change. We’ll show you how. 

Plastic pollution can feel overwhelming.

But real change starts with small, everyday choices.

In this webinar, Heal the Bay Senior Marine Scientist and Circular Economy Fellow Emily Parker breaks down where plastic pollution really begins, how it became a part of daily life, and what it takes to turn the tide.

Then, Associate Director of Science and Policy, Annelisa Moe joins Emily to answer your most important questions about plastics.

From the rise of “single-use” culture to the policies and systems shaping our environment today, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the problem.

Celebrate Earth Day with simple, practical actions you can take right now to reduce plastic in your own life and help create lasting change.

Because protecting our ocean doesn’t require perfection—it starts with participation.

You don’t have to be an expert.
You just have to start.

Watch In-disposable

More In-disposable Information

Plastics. A simple word that seems synonymous with everyday life for any Californian. But you may be wondering, how did we find ourselves here? Join Senior Scientist and plastic pollution expert Emily Parker to explore the history and impacts of plastic pollution and learn how you can start where you are to reduce plastics in your own life and help us reshape the system that created this mess in the first place. From miraculous invention to trash, we will explore the real story of plastics and uncover how “single-use” products became so popular, leading to the modern waste crisis. We will also empower attendees with tools and actions they can take immediately to make a big difference.  

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Meet the Scientist

Emily Parker,

Senior Marine Scientist and Circular Economy Fellow,Heal the Bay

Emily works to keep our oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong ocean conservation policies both locally and statewide. She focuses primarily on plastic pollution reduction efforts and on co-leading the Reusable LA coalition to promote reuse and refill across the Los Angeles region. Before arriving at Heal the Bay, Emily earned a Master’s of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where she conducted research on sea turtle conservation in El Salvador.

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Thank you to our water partners at Open Water for supporting our events this Earth Month

The Road Ahead  

Building a stronger, safer coastline for LA: As rising seas, toxic algal blooms, and climate change threaten public and coastal ecosystems, Heal the Bay scientists are advancing critical research and pushing for science-driven policies that protect people, wildlife, and coastlines. 

Stopping plastic pollution at the source: Plastic waste is more than an eyesore. It shows up in our air, our food, and our ocean. Heal the Bay is confronting the problem upstream by strengthening bans on single-use plastics, partnering with the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games to promote reusable solutions, and holding plastic polluters accountable.  

Turning awareness into action: From beach cleanups to climate education, we’re empowering Angelenos with hands-on tools to advocate for our coast and helping educators inspire the next generation of ocean stewards. 

Your support makes this work possible. If you’re inspired by what we accomplished together in 2025, consider making a year-end gift to help us continue defending clean oceans and healthy coastlines for all. 

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