The opening of that area is open to the ocean many many months of the year, I don't remember how many, but most. During the dry season, winter, when the tides are often lower, the entrance gets blocked and the water isn't free flowing. Periodically either the little sand bar opens naturally or someone opens it. Then the water that has been trapped flows out into the ocean. A natural cycle. It's not sewage or anything manmade. Mother nature doing her thing.

We are here now first visit in 10 years. It’s cleaner more vibrant prettier than 10 years ago. Local told us they have the Marines here and we did see them last night patrolling the town. Which was packed with maybe 100 restaurants teaming with primarily But not only Mexican tourists. Peaceful calm wonderful.

One alarming thing was a big stinky dump. Came out of that creek on la Ropa Beach where the alligator lives.
It’s not very bad, but couldn’t tell if it was super coon lagoon, overflow or sewage. Anybody know?

No alligators here, only crocodiles.

Unfortunately, what used to be a large and quite beautiful lagoon and wetland area has been filled in and invaded by one construction after another until almost nothing is left, all permitted by shortsighted municipal politicians. And then to make matters worse, the barely functioning woefully inadequate wastewater treatment plant in La Ropa discharges its "gray water" into what remains of the lagoon. Lagoons and estuaries tend to emit odors anyway that some people find unpleasant due to decaying biological material in them, mostly leaves, but the addition of the wastewater discharge doesn't help. We have a similar problem with Laguna Las Salinas in downtown Zihuatanejo. I don't expect the problem to be attended to by the current municipal administration, but they could surprise me, and I wish they would.

One alarming thing was a big stinky dump. Came out of that creek on la Ropa Beach where the alligator lives.
It’s not very bad, but couldn’t tell if it was super coon lagoon, overflow or sewage. Anybody know?

I have not been to Zihua/Troncones in several years, but have always had a safe and delightful visit. This mornings' New York Times has an article about the shooting of a father, 14 year old son, and an uncle in Durango state. The state of Guerrero is on the US State Department's Do Not Travel list. I think this has been the case during past times that I've visited. Can someone address the current safety and risks of violence relative to the past? I'm planning to be there in a month or so....I'll spend a couple of nights in Zihua, then head up to Troncones. Thanks, in advance!

Days after two mass murder terrorist events in the USA, I know I feel MUCH safer here in Mexico. It's a tragedy about the U.S. citizens of Mexican descent who were shot and killed, but apparently they weren't warned by locals to stay off a particular road after dark, from what I've heard of the incident, owing to ongoing cartel/gang wars in their area. Simply a matter of wrong place-wrong time. We have no ongoing open wars among cartels or gangs here in Zihuatanejo. But we do have an army and a navy base along with hundreds of elements of the Guardia Nacional and state police. Their presence is much appreciated by folks who've lived here a while.

During those almost 30 years I remember one gringo’s handgun (illegally being possessed) being stolen, one gringo being shot in the butt. And one local person being killed. I don’t know whether the first two were connected. I believe the latter was a love triangle.

I sleep with my door unlocked most nights. I leave my house unattended and unlocked for hours at a time. I left a car in the driveway with keys nearby for five months. I wonder how many gringos feel that safe where they live.

When I worked in a corrections facility, one of our “guests” told me, “Locks only keep out honest people.” It might help as well that all of my neighbours are more wealthy than me.

During this time two items have been stolen from my house… my favourite corkscrew and a jar of salsa. I don’t think the cartels wanted either one.