East Beach Still Closed Following Sewage Spill Near Mission Creek

East Beach near Mission Creek continues to remain off limits to the public weeks after a sewage spill following holiday rainstorms prompted the closure, Santa Barbara County Health Department announced on January 15.

The closure followed a spill of approximately 4,500 gallons of untreated sewage that occurred during a late-December storm, according to the Santa Barbara County Health Department’s notice issued on December 24, 2025.

Officials said at the time that the spill resulted from a pump bypass failure near the 2700 block of De La Vina Street, allowing sewage to enter Mission Creek and flow downstream into ocean waters at East Beach.

The Santa Barbara County Health Department has not announced when the beach will reopen, and no timeline has been provided.

🌊Beaches are open
⚠️ Refugio and Leadbetter Beaches under warning status
🚩East Beach at Mission Creek is closed🚩

More info: https://t.co/h5VkW1oo8m

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🌊Las playas están abiertas
⚠️ Las playas Refugio y Leadbetter están bajo alerta
🚩East Beach en Mission Creek CERRADA🚩 pic.twitter.com/cNc6uUO38h

— County of Santa Barbara Health Department (@SBCountyHealth) January 16, 2026

East Beach will remain closed until water samples show bacteria levels meet state health standards. Environmental Health Services will continue monitoring water quality in affected areas to determine when conditions are safe.

While East Beach remains closed, other beaches across Santa Barbara County are under warning status, including Leadbetter Beach.

Being under warning status means bacteria levels are above recommended health limits, making ocean water unsafe. Under these conditions, the public is advised to stay at least 50 yards away from creek mouths or storm drains.

Additionally, several other beaches are listed under rain advisory conditions but are not closed. These include Carpinteria State Beach, Summerland Beach, Hammonds Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach, East Beach at Sycamore Creek, Butterfly Beach, Hope Ranch Beach, Goleta Beach, Sands Beach at Coal Oil Point, El Capitan State Beach, Gaviota State Beach, Jalama Beach, and Guadalupe Dunes.

Officials continue to warn the public about risks associated with sewage-contaminated water and stormwater runoff. Contact with affected water may increase the risk of illness, including rashes, fever, chills, ear infections, vomiting, and diarrhea.

To reduce health risks, Santa Barbara County advises residents to avoid swimming, surfing, or playing in ocean and creek waters during rainfall and for at least three days afterward.

Officials also remind residents to avoid creek and lagoon water at all times, as testing has shown high bacteria levels.