Briefly in the news

-- Paul Clinton

The Orange County Health Care Agency closed a section of Newport

Harbor on Monday after a sewage spill.

About 150 gallons of sewage drained into the water outside of Crow’s

Nest Marina along Mariners Mile about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

The spill was caused by a blocked city line near Riverside Drive and

Cliff Drive Park.

About 350 gallons of sludge burbled up through a manhole cover and

flowed into a storm drain leading to the harbor. City workers acted and

recovered about 200 gallons before the sewage reached the harbor.

The area remained closed to swimmers and divers throughout Monday. It

will be reopened when testing reveals bacteria levels at acceptable

levels.