Briefly in the news

-- Paul Clinton

The Orange County Health Care Agency posted warning signs about high

levels of bacteria at Corona del Mar State Beach on Wednesday.

The signs were placed in the sand at Big Corona, starting at the East

Jetty and dotting the coastline for 300 feet southward.

The area registered higher than acceptable levels of bacteria caused

by human or animal waste. The agency recommends the beach not be used by

swimmers or surfers. However, it isn’t closed.

That area of the beach is typically not a bacteria hot spot because

there are no storm drains, lots of waves and good currents.

Urban runoff from the drains is the leading cause of beach closures in

Newport Harbor and other coastal areas.