City of Santa Monica, CA
09/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2026 16:51
Santa Monica Bay Turns Pink Again for Ocean Science
September 25, 2026 3:32 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2026) - Researchers from UCLA Samueli School of Engineering's Coastal Flood Lab, in partnership with The Bay Foundation, will release a temporary, nontoxic pink dye into the ocean on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to better understand water circulation around the breakwater and the Santa Monica Pier.
Weather permitting, the dye release will take place at approximately 11 a.m. Three additional dye releases are planned throughout October.
The dye is a harmless, EPA-approved fluorescent tracer dye that will allow researchers to track the water's movements and wave-driven circulation. Researchers will monitor the bright pink plume with drones, a camera mounted on the pier mast, a remote-controlled survey boat that measures dye concentration, and instruments placed on the seafloor.
The researchers conducted four similar dye releases last fall as part of the ongoing study to better understand how the breakwater shapes currents, water quality, and the shoreline. Details on last year's dye tracer experiment can be found here, along with an FAQ.
The experiment builds on years-long efforts by the city of Santa Monica and its partners to address ocean water quality beneath the Pier.
Members of the public may be able to see the pink dye from the Pier and/or shore for a couple of hours following the release.
Find more information on UCLA's Coastal Flood Lab projects and methods here. For more information on The Bay Foundation, visit their website.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
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City of Santa Monica, CA published this content on September 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 25, 2026 at 22:52 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]