Cowell Beach West of Wharf

Santa Cruz, California

This beach is near the Santa Cruz boardwalk and wharf. It is a popular surfing spot. Finding a parking spot can be difficult.

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time

  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 3th, 2023. Swim Guide - Main updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 9th, 2023 at 9:03 AM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
Current Weather
13°C
Cloudy
Monitoring Frequency

Cowell Beach West of Wharf is sampled weekly from January 1st to December 31st.

Source Information

Santa Cruz County’s department of Environmental Health Services provides recreational water quality to the public through their website and by calling 831-454-3188. Samples are collected and tested for the levels of 3 types of bacteria. Please refer to the monitoring frequency in the beach description as frequencies vary throughout the year. Swim Guide checks daily for the latest results.

Country standards for indicator bacteria are as follows:
Total Coliform > 10,000 MPN (Most Probable Number) / 100 ml of water
E.coli > 400 MPN / 100 ml
Enterocococcus > 104 MPN / 100 ml

A beach will be marked Green when all three levels of bacteria are below standards

A beach will be marked Red when 1 of the bacteria levels are above the standard

A beach will be marked Grey when there is no current or reliable information.

The county advises that you avoid swimming in areas at risk to storm water runoff for at least 3 days after heavy rain.

Read more
Water Quality Graph

Cowell Beach West of Wharf

Santa Cruz, California

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 3th, 2023. Swim Guide - Main updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 9th, 2023 at 9:03 AM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
Current Weather
13°C
Cloudy

This beach is near the Santa Cruz boardwalk and wharf. It is a popular surfing spot. Finding a parking spot can be difficult.

Monitoring Frequency

Cowell Beach West of Wharf is sampled weekly from January 1st to December 31st.

Source Information

Santa Cruz County’s department of Environmental Health Services provides recreational water quality to the public through their website and by calling 831-454-3188. Samples are collected and tested for the levels of 3 types of bacteria. Please refer to the monitoring frequency in the beach description as frequencies vary throughout the year. Swim Guide checks daily for the latest results.

Country standards for indicator bacteria are as follows:
Total Coliform > 10,000 MPN (Most Probable Number) / 100 ml of water
E.coli > 400 MPN / 100 ml
Enterocococcus > 104 MPN / 100 ml

A beach will be marked Green when all three levels of bacteria are below standards

A beach will be marked Red when 1 of the bacteria levels are above the standard

A beach will be marked Grey when there is no current or reliable information.

The county advises that you avoid swimming in areas at risk to storm water runoff for at least 3 days after heavy rain.

Read more
Water Quality Graph

  Beach Location Water Quality
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
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