Beach Closures

Twenty-one spots at Ventura County’s beaches have been posted with warning signs because of excessive bacteria in the surf, the county Environmental Health Division announced Thursday.

Heavy rainfall this week flushed pollution from farms, cities and businesses into the ocean.

Warning signs have been posted at the following locations: all portions of Rincon Beach, including south of the creek mouth, near the flagpole and at the end of the footpath to the beach; Oil Piers Beach; Rincon Parkway North; Surfers Point; Promenade Park in Ventura, at Figueroa Street, the Redwood Apartments and California Street; San Buenaventura State Beach, south of the drain at the end of Kalorama Street; Peninsula Beach; Surfers Knoll; McGrath State Beach, north of Gonzales Road, at Gonzales and to the south end of McGrath Lake; Port Hueneme Beach Park; Ormond Beach; Point Mugu Beach and County Line Beach.

Hobie Beach and Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park, which have had problems since September, remain closed.

Tests conducted this week revealed excessive amounts of disease-causing bacteria in surf at those locations. Swimmers, waders and surfers should stay at least 50 yards away from each side of the signs, officials advise.

Health officials urge people to keep away from surf and storm drains for 72 hours whenever storms drop more than one-fifth of an inch of rain.

Weekly water testing occurs at 53 locations in Ventura County and results can be obtained by calling the county ocean water quality hotline at (805) 662-6555 or visiting the Web site at www.ventura.org/env_hlth/ocean.htm.