Beach Closures
People are urged to keep out of the water over the weekend at seven Ventura County beaches that failed to meet minimum health standards for bacteria pollution, the county Environmental Health Division announced Thursday.
Warning signs have been posted at Promenade Park, near Oak Street in Ventura; McGrath State Beach, half a mile north of Gonzales Road in Oxnard; Rincon Beach, at the end of the dirt path; Surfers Point, near the fairground stables; Solimar Beach, at the end of the east gate access road; Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park, and Hobie Beach in Oxnard.
Tests this week revealed excessive amounts of disease-causing bacteria in surf at those locations. Swimmers, waders and surfers should stay out of water that is at least 50 yards from either side of the signs, officials advise.
Storm runoff from streets, businesses and farms is a big source of ocean pollution. 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 beach testing occurs at 53 locations in Ventura County and results can be obtained by calling the county ocean water quality hotline at 662-6555 or visiting the Web site at www.ventura.org/env_hlth/ocean.htm.
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