Two Santa Barbara County beaches have been deemed safe for surfing and swimming, public health officials announced Friday. Test results from ocean water at Hope Ranch Beach and Leadbetter Beach show the bacteria counts no longer exceed harmful levels.
Since the devastating January 9 Montectio storm, several other beaches remain officially closed to swimmers and surfers: Arroyo Burro, Carpinteria, El Capitan State Beach, Goleta Beach, Summerland Beach, and Hammond Beach. Testing by the county’s Public Health department on Monday showed bacteria in the ocean water at these locations topped normal amounts. (See the chart.)
It is, however, safe to jump in the water at many county beaches, including Gaviota, Refugio, East Beach, Butterfly Beach, and Sands Beach at Coal Oil Point, according to county officials.