Laguna Beaches Close Due To Massive Oil Spill In Orange County

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The city of Laguna Beach announced the closure of all beaches for the foreseeable future as officials organized cleanup efforts from the enormous Orange County oil spill over the weekend.

In Laguna Beach, all city beaches are closed Monday, and all county beaches, including Aliso Beach, Laguna Royale, Tablerock Beach, Thousand Steps Beach and West Street Beach, are also closed.

Crystal Cove state beach is now closed as well, as the crude oil slick reached the area overnight.

Chief of Marine Safety, Kevin Snow, told the LA Times that oil on Laguna's beaches is the size of small coins and "particle-size droplets. Beach closures are needed to protect the health and safety of the public and to allow contractors to begin oil cleanup."

As of this report, Crystal Cove is not yet affected, though that could change throughout the day, Monday.

The oil spill was discovered off the coast of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, resulting in ocean closures, according to county spokeswoman Molly Nichelson.

Due to the toxicity of the spill, residents and visitors are advised to avoid contact with ocean water and oiled areas of the beaches, according to a report from Orange County Health Care.

As officials work to curtail the damage, the public is asked to avoid assisting with cleanup efforts for the time being.

Information on volunteering can be found at Cal Spill Watch, in the volunteer section.

If you encounter oiled wildlife, avoid contact but do call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 877-823-6926.