Oxnard Beach Called Area’s Most Polluted

This was one contest no beach wanted to win.

But a winner there was: Oxnard’s “Kiddie Beach” on Wednesday was named the most polluted in Southern California by a regional environmental group.

The “Beach Bummer” award was bestowed upon the stretch of coastline--more formally known as Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park--in Heal the Bay’s 10th annual report card, which grades water quality at beaches based on bacteria level.

The organization graded 250 beaches in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties using bacteria levels supplied by the counties. Kiddie Beach, one of 53 Ventura locations tested, was contaminated on 71% of the monitoring days, far above the next most contaminated beach, the group said.

This is the first year Ventura County has been included in the rankings.

“The irony about this is that Ventura County had the cleanest beaches overall,” said Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay.

He said 75% of Ventura County’s beaches received an A, meaning they had no contamination for most days of the year.

The grades were based on three types of bacteria that could cause human illness, not on the amount of trash or toxins found at the beach, he said.

County officials were not surprised by the high levels of pollution, saying tests have been going on for nine months to determine the cause of problems at that beach and Hobie Beach next door.

Situated at the south end of Channel Islands Harbor, where Hollywood Boulevard meets Victoria Avenue, the beach boasts calm waters ideal for children.

In October, the county rerouted storm drain runoff to the sewer system to reduce pollution, said Lyn Krieger, director of the Harbor Department. But it made no difference, she said.

“We have no idea what it is,” she said. “We’ve done testing of sewer and storm lines. We’ve run a camera through the sewer line to see if it’s leakage from the restroom. And we’re trying to reduce the feral cat population.”

Krieger said the problems might stem from fecal matter from sea gulls or other birds, but said the county needs to do more tests.

Gold said the pollution problem might be unsolvable.

“The lack of water circulation could be the biggest problem,” he said. “It’s like a sink--it just stays there. Contamination hugs the shore and it turns into a big bathtub.”

Gold said bird waste is a likely problem in stagnant water. “Swimming in bird waste is no picnic, and it’s certainly not healthy,” he said.

Oxnard resident Elaine Myers had taken her two grandchildren, who were visiting from Las Vegas to swim at Kiddie Beach on Wednesday. “Last time they were here they were able to wade out into the water,” said Myers, 81.

But seeing the signs posted when they arrived, Myers kept the 9- and 10-year-old away from the surf, only allowing them to climb on the rocks. “I’m afraid if they get into the water, they will get whatever it is that bacteria causes,” she said.

The pollution could cause stomach flu, sinus infection, skin rashes and upper respiratory infections, according to Gold.

To help solve water contamination problems, Gold recommended that cities maintain the infrastructure necessary to handle the sewer output. “There was a major spill in Thousand Oaks that maybe could have been avoided with the right infrastructure,” he said.

He also said people should clean up after their animals. “With livestock or horse corrals, they need to make sure that runoff does not flow into streams or storm drains.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Bottom 10

These 10 beaches, which recorded the poorest dry weather water quality last year, were deemed Southern California’s “Beach Bummer” locations by environmental group Heal the Bay:

1. Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park (Kiddie Beach), Oxnard

2. Cabrillo Beach, harborside at lifeguard tower, San Pedro

3. Arroyo Quemada, Santa Barbara

4. Avalon Beach at the pier, Catalina Island

5. San Juan Creek, Dana Point

6. Doheny Beach, Dana Point

7. North Doheny Beach, Dana Point

8. East Beach at Mission Creek, Santa Barbara

9. Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County

10. Surfrider Beach, Malibu