Germs Close More Huntington Shoreline

Another mile of bacteria-tainted Huntington Beach shoreline was closed by health officials Tuesday, extending to three miles the stretch of popular oceanfront now off-limits to swimmers and surfers at the peak of the season.

After ocean water samples showed bacteria levels at three times the state limit, the Orange County Health Care Agency declared an expanded area of contamination, from the mouth of the Santa Ana River jetty north to Huntington Beach Pier.

For distressed city officials, the situation is reminiscent of 1990, when the same stretch of beach was closed after the tanker American Trader spilled 416,000 gallons of oil, Orange County’s worst environmental disaster.

Huntington Beach Mayor Peter M. Green called the situation a tragedy. “We want a clean beach that everybody can enjoy,” he said. “We have 11 million visitors each year. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the state.”

Beach regulars also are frustrated.

“I’m pretty bummed,” said surfer Ryan Skutvik, 17. “Everybody’s life here revolves around surfing. For it to be taken away is tragic.”

The source of the contamination has eluded health and water agencies for nearly two months. Elevated bacteria levels were found during routine ocean water sampling July 1 at Huntington State Beach north of Newland Street. Authorities have used video cameras, offshore boats equipped with sonar and even ground-penetrating radar, but have not found the source of the pollution.

Tuesday’s closure came after samples of enterococcus, an indicator of raw sewage and fecal material from warm-blooded animals, exceeded the state standard of 104 bacteria per hundred milliliters, said Larry W. Honeybourne, chief of the Water Quality Section of the county Health Care Agency.

People can still walk along the beaches and the pier, and use the bike trails, city spokesman Richard Barnard said. Anyone who ignores posted signs and goes in the water, however, can be fined as much as $500 and even sentenced to three months in jail.

“They have to understand we’re doing this for their health and safety,” Barnard said.

Businesses remain open, but the situation does not bode well for restaurants and shops just two weeks before the busy Labor Day weekend.

Brett Barnes, a manager at Duke’s restaurant on the pier, said, “We had fewer diners last night than the previous Monday. But I think once they clear this thing up, people will come back. This is such a popular area.”

His business may take a hit over Labor Day weekend, he said. “I think the locals will come and eat here, but the inland visitors will go to another beach.”

Times graphic artist Paul Duginski contributed to this report.

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Bacteria Beach

The Orange County Health Care Agency late Tuesday extended its closure of beaches to all of Huntington State Beach and Huntington City Beach south of the pier.