Oil Slick Fouls North County Beaches

KGTV, 10News.com – San Diego,CA,USA
ENCINITAS, Calif. — Beachgoers are being advised to steer clear of
a stretch of North County shoreline due to a possible diesel spill in the
ocean. …

ENCINITAS, Calif. — The surf remained off limits Saturday to swimmers along some North County beaches because of the worst fuel spill there in 20 years, but a Coast Guard official said the water could be deemed safe Sunday.

A 2 1/2-mile section of coastline, including the Grandview, Beacons, Stone Steps, Moonlight and D Street beaches, will remain closed to swimming and surfing until Sunday, when county environmental officials will reevaluate the potential risk.

A fuel slick of 500-1,000 gallons of what appears to be diesel turned a surf competition into a beach party and kept swimmers on the shore Saturday.

The fuel, believed to have come from a cargo ship, was reported Thursday morning. Investigators are inspecting vessels in other ports to see if a chemical analysis of the spill matches, said Lt. Jereme Altendorf of the U.S. Coast Guard.

“We’re working on several different leads. Even though the cleanup action has stopped, we’re continuing the investigation. It’s still early,” he said.

The Coast Guard is also working with the U.S. Navy on the investigation, he said.

Considered the worst spill off Encinitas in two decades, the slick was contained and mostly removed by cleanup crews Friday.

An early morning helicopter inspection showed some residual “sheening” concentrated among kelp beds.

Health officials driving the span of the beach Saturday found no affected wildlife, Altendorf said.

“We’re looking very good right now if the sun stays out a little longer,” he said. “With the sun, wind and wave action, we should see the problem take care of itself in the next day or so.”

The spill caused the cancellation of today’s Switchfoot Pro-Am surf competition at Moonlight Beach, which was expected to draw 6,000 fans to raise money for Care House, an agency that help teens in crisis. Organizers said they would instead bring in live bands and have dodgeball games.

Anyone who finds oil-soiled marine animals can call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 530-979-7561