In Laguna Beach, The Sands Are Open But Water Contact Is Off Limits To All For Now

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach residents can now hang out on the sand of Orange County-operated beaches, but city officials are asking people to stay away from the shoreline and water. The City of Laguna Beach announced Thursday that the beaches would partially reopen Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 a.m.

Residents were told to stay out of the water. Approaching the shoreline or entering the ocean water for any activity (swimming, surfing, wading, diving, SUP, skimboarding, kayaking) is NOT permitted at this time due to the oil spill, the city said.

Oil spill residue may be present in the coming days and weeks, they say. The city has promised to monitor the beaches over the next several weeks and could close sections of sand intermittently if more sign of oil appears.

"Future re-opening of the ocean water will be done in consultation with the US Coast Guard and Orange County Healthcare Agency, along with other partners, with the priority being the health and safety of the community," a city spokesperson said.

What To Do If You See Tarballs, Oil On The Beach:

Please use caution and avoid contact with any trace of oil. If you see oil contamination or oil tar balls on beaches, do not attempt to pick them up or touch them. Please call the Marine Safety non-emergency line at (949) 497-0310.

Laguna Beach's Mayor Bob Whalen discussed Friday's reopening after the days-long closure.

"I am very pleased that our City team has come up with a plan to open the sand so that our residents and visitors can walk and relax on our beautiful beaches," Whalen said. "The Coast Guard advises that we must keep the water closed for health reasons until the water quality can be fully analyzed. I ask everyone to cooperate with this restriction and stay out of the water. We will be working with state and federal officials to open the water as soon as it is safe."

The partial reopening applies to all city and county beaches within Laguna Beach, including Aliso Beach, Laguna Royale Beach, Table Rock Beach, Thousand Steps Beach and West Street Beach.

The parking lot at Aliso Beach remains closed for staging clean-up efforts, the city reported. Oil cleanup efforts on those beaches remain ongoing, said the city, after between 24,696 gallons and 131,000 gallons of oil seeped into Orange County waters last weekend off the coast of Huntington Beach.

How Was Crystal Cove State Beach Impacted By Oil:

As of Thursday morning, "there is a small area impacted by oil" at Crystal Cove State Beach, Kate Wheeler, CEO and president of the Crystal Cove State Beach told Patch. "There is a few feet of sand blackened with tar, tarballs likely spill-related."

Two oiled birds, both Western Grebes, were recovered and taken to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for treatment Thursday.

This soft opening for Laguna Beach beaches comes after other county-operated beaches, such as Salt Creek Beach and Strands Beach in Dana Point, reopened Thursday.

READ MORE ON THE SOUTHLAND OIL SPILL:

CA Oil Spill: 6 Days Later, Harbors Closed, Volunteers Wanted

Is Orange County Oil Spill Smaller Than Originally Thought?

Laguna Beaches Close Due To Massive Oil Spill In Orange County