Marsh May Be Source of Bacteria Off O.C. Beach

Early indications from a new study of last year’s mysteriously high bacteria levels off Huntington Beach support suspicions that Talbert Marsh, contaminated with urban runoff, is the culprit, researchers said Monday.

Workers began an experiment Monday, pumping 150 liters of magenta dye into the water at the mouth of the marsh and the nearby Santa Ana River. Researchers plan to watch over coming days to see if the dye concentrates in areas where high bacteria readings have been found, confirming that one--or both--are sources of contamination that closed the shoreline for two months last summer.

The beach closure dealt a stinging blow to the city’s economy and image as a premiere beach town, and officials are scrambling to solve the problem before it can recur. Bacteria levels have been escalating along stretches of the city’s shoreline since late March, and swimmers Monday were advised to avoid two 300-foot stretches around Beach Boulevard and Magnolia Street because of high bacteria levels.

Though Monday’s observations were preliminary, they support earlier findings from a UC Irvine study.

“The dye released at Talbert Marsh seemed to move up and sit in an area of concern: Newland Avenue,” said Burt Jones, a USC researcher. “The dye from the release at the Santa Ana River . . . hasn’t done a lot.”

“It certainly says [runoff] can come from Talbert Marsh. I won’t say it doesn’t come from the Santa Ana River too,” Jones said.

Officials hope the study of the dye’s dilution over the next few days will help “explain the dynamic of what’s going on,” said Rich Barnard, deputy city administrator. “Until we understand it, we’re not in a position to address it in any significant way.”

The cause of the two-month closure last summer, which hurt the coastal city’s economy during the height of tourist season, remains unknown despite millions of dollars spent on studies. Officials suspect the culprit is urban runoff, the brew of chemicals, metals and bacteria washed off lawns and streets into storm drains, and eventually into area waterways and the ocean--from Talbert Marsh and the Santa Ana River.

Talbert Marsh, located on the inland side of Pacific Coast Highway at Brookhurst Street, is a 25-acre wetland that attracts thousands of migratory birds and other wildlife each year. It drains 12 square miles of Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.

The San Ana River begins 100 miles away in the San Bernardino Mountains. Its watershed includes more than 2,650 square miles in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties.

On Monday, researchers also lobbed 70 numbered oranges into the river mouth and 70 numbered grapefruits into the marsh entrance to see where they wash up on shore.

Preliminary results of the tests are expected soon.

Huntington State Beach, which was closed from the Santa Ana River to Newland Street, is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. today.

Part of a $90,000 study, Monday’s test is tentatively scheduled to be conducted again May 10 but more runoff will be allowed to flow into the waterways. The beach will again be closed for the day.