Oil Polluters Need Swift Justice

One hundred or 200 gallons of waste oil might not seem like much, but the harm it caused to birds at the Bolsa Chica preserve should serve as another reminder of the fragility of the ecosystem in Orange County.

The oil spill was discovered Dec. 13. It took several days to trace it to the point of origin, a Garden Grove public works yard. Meanwhile, dozens of birds had died.

Garden Grove officials say the city was not involved in dumping the oil and does not know who was. The oil spilled into a storm channel, and some leaked out of the channel and into the wetlands.

Bolsa Chica is the largest wetlands left in Southern California and one of the largest gathering places for birds. How much of the tract around the ecological reserve will be developed for housing is a matter that is still before the courts.

Because so much development has reduced the natural area available to wildlife, including waterfowl, the tiny islands of hospitality become crowded refuges. That makes the birds that flock together in a small area especially vulnerable to even 100 gallons of waste oil.

The oil gets on the feathers of a bird, stopping it from flying and letting water penetrate the natural covering. The bird becomes wet and cold, especially in the chilly weather that prevailed toward the end of last month.

More than 50 birds were known to have died in the week after the discovery of the spill, but scientists said that might have been just a small fraction of the actual death toll. Dozens more were taken to a Huntington Beach wildlife center, and some of those died as well.

The dead coots, grebes and ducks provided concrete evidence that Southern California has to take better care of its natural resources, track down polluters and mete out swift and appropriate punishment.