CITYSCAPE

Paul Clinton

In a survey of beach postings and closings last year, the city

finished second only to Newport Beach in sheer numbers.

The city saw repeated postings, and some closings, at Bolsa Chica

State Beach, Huntington State Beach, Huntington City Beach and Huntington

Harbour.

During 2000, there were 49 such incidents in the city, compared with

73 in Newport Beach. Laguna Beach came in third in the county with 19.

“I think it’s an alarming number,” said Bob Winchell, an

environmentalist and geologist. “It’s a tremendous concern to the

Huntington Beach economy.”

The report was released by the Natural Resources Defense Council

earlier this month.

Postings countywide jumped 75% from the year before to 881 in 2000.

The postings are usually caused by water containing bacteria found in

animal and human waste. It is usually contained in urban runoff but can

also get into the water bodies via sewage spills.

The jump in postings is largely attributable to increased testing,

city officials said.

“The staggering number of closings and advisories confirms that when

it comes to beach pollution, the more you look, the more you find,” said

David Beckman, a defense council senior attorney.

Last year, the city’s worst trouble spot for postings was Magnolia

Street at Huntington State Beach. It was posted 106 days of the year, or

29.28% of the time. Brookhurst Street logged 60 postings.

Last year, Bolsa Chica’s State Lifeguard Tower #23 clocked 13 posted

days during the year.

In the harbor, Peter’s Landing Marina beat out 11th Street by a hair,

with 52 postings compared with 51.

“Huntington Harbour is a source of continuing problems,” Winchell

said. “Who knows what the people in the boats are doing.”