Poisoning The Pacific : POLLUTION STREAMS DOWN VENTURA COUNTY WATERWAYS

Swept away by storm waters, a blend of bacteria and toxic chemicals races down creeks and rivers to the sea. Heavy runoff often breaks sewer lines, unleashing raw sewage into storm drains or waterways. Rains flush chemicals from cities, pesticides from farmland and animal waste from both. All of this flows into Ventura County’s coastal waters, threatening human health and a healthy environment.

Bacteria and viruses pose a threat to surfers, swimmers, divers and others involved in ocean recreation. Pesticides and other toxic chemicals endanger wildlife that feed in coastal waters.

Environmental officials have mounted a campaign to clean up the waste water discharged from sewage-treatment plants over the past two decades. Now the focus has shifted to urban runoff, the largest source of unchecked pollution flowing to the ocean.

RECENT SEWAGE SPILLS

Every winter, rainwater washes out main sewer lines or causes sewage to backup in pipelines and overflow into storm drains.

Gallons Spilled: When and Where

10 million--March 10, 1995: Arroyo Conejo, Thousand Oaks

3.4 million--Feb. 12, 1992: Hitch Boulevard and Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark

2 million--Jan. 10, 1995: Creek Road, Ojai

425,000--Jan. 10, 1995: Arroyo Conejo, Thousand Oaks

200,000--Nov. 14, 1994: Hitch Boulevard and Arroyo Simi, Moorpark

120,000--Jan. 20, 1995: 1247 Petit Ave., Ventura

50,000--Jan. 4, 1995: Pleasant Valley and Ventura roads, Port Hueneme

40,000--Dec. 7, 1992: 6001 S. Perkins Road, Oxnard

20,000-30,000--March 13, 1995: Near Seacliff

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Source: Ventura County Environmental Health Division

BACTERIAL POLLUTION

High coliform counts can indicate human feces, animal waste or decaying plants flushed into the ocean. Surfer and divers blame bacteria and viruses for ear and sinus infections, skin rashes and flu-like ailments.

(see newspaper for graphs)

BROKEN SEWER LINE

In January, 2 million gallons of raw sewage gushed into San Antonio Creek, which feeds into the Ventura River. Ocean currents swept the bacteria-laden river water past the Ventura Pier and the city’s most popular surfing and swimming beaches.

TOXIC IMPORTS

The Santa Clara River carries urban pollution from as far away as Los Angeles County, picking up pesticide runoff, industrial chemicals and animal waste along the way.

MARINE PAINTS

Ventura Harbor has high levels of toxic copper and zinc used to prevent corrosion on boats. The marina also contains DDT, pesticides and PCBs.

OIL SPILL

A ruptured pipe released 84,000 gallons of black crude into McGrath Lake and the ocean during Christmas, 1993, coating the beaches and hundreds of birds.

HEAVY METALS

The deep-water port contains extremely high levels of deadly marine-paint residues, pesticides, toxic oil and grease residues and cancer-causing PCBs.

TOXIC HOT SPOTS

Calleguas Creek, Revlon Slough and Mugu Lagoon contain some of the highest levels of pesticides in the state. DDT and other long-outlawed pesticides linger in the sediment, endangering birds and other wildlife.

SEWAGE SPILL

A pipeline washout in Thousand Oaks this winter unleashed 10 million gallons of raw sewage down Arroyo Conejo, Calleguas Creek and through Mugu Lagoon to the ocean.

ENDANGERED BIRDS

State and federal officials have identified six species of birds perched close to extinction. Wildlife biologists worry about pollution threatening their survival along this stretch of coastline.

Peregrine falcon Light-footed Clapper Rail Snowy Plover Beldings Savannah Sparrow California Least Tern Brown Pelican

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Sources: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency, Oxnard Public Works Department, Ventura Public Works Department, Surfrider Foundation

Researched by KENNETH R. WEISS / Los Angeles Times