Countywide : Warmer Water Brings Red Tide

A red tide--thousands of microorganisms nurtured by warm ocean water and fall weather--has invaded the Ventura County coast.

The tide, which shines red during the day and glows green at night, started in small patches several days ago. By Tuesday, the microorganisms called dinoflagellates spanned from the coast of Ventura to Oxnard.

Although some red tides poison shellfish, officials said the tide Tuesday appears to pose no health risk.

“It’s a naturally occurring phenomenon that occurs during the warm periods of the year,” Reed Smith of the state Department of Fish and Game said.

“Occasionally, it can create problems with shellfish, but for years the tides have not reached high enough concentrations to be harmful in Southern California.”

Steve White, district lifeguard supervisor, said the Ventura County shore gets about a dozen red tides a year.

He said this tide, which could be seen clearly from the Ventura Pier, is the largest one this fall.

“There will be some beautiful wave viewing at night,” White said. “It makes a greenish, luminescent glow. And sometimes, if you walk along the beach, your footprints will glow.”