Sewage Spill Closes Beach in Laguna

A stretch of sand in Laguna Beach remained closed to surfers and swimmers Monday after a spill Sunday that released 1,200 gallons of sewage into the ocean.

County health officials closed 2,000 feet of Bluebird Canyon Beach from Cress to Diamond streets as a result of the spill, caused by roots that blocked a main line on Rim Rock Road, said Lloy Thompson, senior sewer service supervisor.

The spill was reported at 2 p.m. Sunday and was ended by 3 p.m., Thompson said.

Although Laguna Beach received nearly an inch of rain Sunday, city workers say the incident was not storm-related.

“Some roots or debris came down the line and plugged it,” Thompson said. “It is very frustrating.”

The beach closure was the fifth this year in Laguna Beach caused by sewage spills, said Monica Mazur, a county Health Care Agency spokeswoman.

Resident James Pribram, a professional surfer, said he had to cancel surfing lessons Monday afternoon because of the closure.

“I was supposed to teach this little girl, and the waves were pretty good,” he said. “But then we saw contaminated water signs. She sort of looked at me like, ‘What’s going on?’ She was really bummed.”

Down the coast, at Doheny State Beach, another 2,000 feet of shoreline remained closed Monday because of a sewage spill last week, Mazur said.

That spill, also caused by a blocked line, sent 500 gallons of raw sewage into Oso Creek. It occurred Thursday morning at Navalosa and Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo.

The beaches will remain closed until bacteria levels meet health standards, Mazur said.

“The rain’s not helping,” she said, noting that the bacteria levels also were elevated because heavy rainfall flushes sediment, urban runoff and other pollutants into the ocean.

Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report.