High Bacteria Levels Along Coast Alarm Huntington Beach

High bacteria levels along the coast have prompted officials to advise against swimming in several popular spots over the last month, causing fear that last summer’s beach closures, which devastated the city’s tourist season, may occur again.

“It raises a level of concern that we’re starting to see the same thing we did last year,” said Monica Mazur, spokeswoman for the Orange County Health Care Agency.

With the discovery in recent weeks of escalating bacteria levels, swimmers and surfers are urged to avoid 300 feet of coastline near Magnolia Street, where certain bacteria levels are nearly double the legal limit. The bacteria, which are found in human and animal waste, soil and decaying vegetation, indicate that disease-causing agents may be present, Mazur said.

Since March 19, the county has recorded unhealthful bacteria levels at least 11 times along Huntington Beach coast.

The levels are not high enough to warrant closing, though health officials are worried because they made similar bacteria findings before last summer’s two-month closing of much of Huntington Beach.

Despite millions of dollars in studies over the last 10 months, the source of last summer’s bacteria has not been found, though urban runoff and decaying plants from a nearby marsh are suspected. Studies are continuing.

City officials said the latest county warnings underscore the need to find the source of the pollution.

“Naturally, we’re very worried. . . . We want no one swimming in waters with any pollution whatsoever,” said City Councilwoman Shirley S. Dettloff. “From Day 1, we’ve said . . . there’s a problem and we’ve got to resolve it. That’s still the marching order.”

Beach goers--and the people who rely on their money--were worried Wednesday.

Jack Clapp, owner of Dwight’s concession stand, said he lost 90% of his business selling burgers and fries and renting in-line skates and boogie boards during last summer’s closing.

“My fear is we’re going to have the same thing this year,” he said.

Two summers in a row could kill Surf City’s image among tourists, he added. “They’re already suspicious about what’s going on. It could be devastating.”

Signs warning of high bacteria levels are posted at parking lots and on the backs of lifeguard towers.

Swimming in water contaminated by sewage or urban runoff can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, as well as eye, ear, nose and throat infections. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible.

Environmentalists said pollution flowing onto Orange County’s picturesque 42-mile coastline is a persistent problem that must be stopped.

“This is a harbinger of the way things are going on the West Coast of the United States,” said Christopher J. Evans, executive director of the Surfrider Foundation, which is based in San Clemente.

“There’s many reasons why we should take better care of Mother Earth and Mother Ocean: One, it’s inherently the right thing to do. Two, the coast is a $17-billion to $18-billion economic engine that this kind of persistent loss of recreation is going to slow down.”

About 20 miles south of Huntington Beach, another beach was closed Wednesday after being fouled by a sewage spill. About 600 feet of coast surrounding Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point was closed after 300 gallons leaked from a nearby sewer line blocked by roots and rags, said Larry Honeybourne, program chief of the county Health Care Agency’s water quality section. The beach will be closed until at least Saturday.

A section of Seal Beach also remains closed after being polluted Sunday with at least 21,000 gallons of untreated waste.

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No Swimming, Again

A sewage spill has forced the closure of a stretch of Seal Beach, the third closure along the city’s coastline this year.

Source: Orange County Health Care Agency