Do you smell that? What’s behind the stench along LA's coast

Published Oct 30, 2024 4:51 PM

Two people, a man and a woman, stand on a sandy beach in front of rolling waves. The waves are illuminated bright blue under the nearly black night sky.

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

Topline:

The bioluminescent waves that attracted people to the Los Angeles coastal region have also brought along a strong, deeply unpleasant odor.

Why it matters: Some people have been complaining about a rotten egg smell around town, and decomposing algae is to blame.

Why now: The scores of tiny phytoplankton that turn the water a reddish-brown color during the day, and a glowing blue light show at night, are dying off. The decomposition process can use up oxygen in the water and “give rise to some pretty horrible smells,” David Caron, a USC professor of biological sciences, told LAist.

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

The backstory: Southern California has seen similar algae bloom events several times in the past few years, including last fall and in 2020.

What's next: “The expectation is that with ocean water warming and global warming, you'll see more of these events moving into the future,” said John Ugoretz with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Possibly more harmful events where you have different species that can actually cause problems in marine creatures and humans.”

What you should know: It’s still safe to go into the ocean, despite the stench.