CA Oil Spill: Beaches Open, Wildlife Rehab, Oil Recedes

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA —Surfers took to the waves in Huntington Beach on the eve of a high surf advisory. For the past week, there has been no swimming, surfing, or wading onshore due to the large-scale oil spill that wrecked the coastline. The only beachgoers: apocalyptic looking sight of hazmat dressed workers freeing globs of tar and filtering oiled sand from area shores.

It has been over one week since crude oil flowed from an offshore pipeline, sending foamy oil, oiled sands and sticky tarballs onto the Orange County coast.

The exact amount of oil that leaked from the pipeline off drilling station Elly has yet to be determined. Officials say they have collected about 5,500 gallons of crude oil, 13 barrels of tarballs and 172,500 pounds of oiled sand, the Unified Cleanup Command said Friday. Meanwhile, crews surveyed and cleaned beaches up and down the coast and deployed more than 14,000 feet of containment boom to keep oil in the water from reaching the shore.

"The public may encounter tarballs when visiting San Diego and Orange County Beaches," officials said Monday. If you see tarballs, do not pick them up. Report them to tarballreports@wildlife.ca.gov.

On Monday, Huntington Beach reopened their city and state beaches to swimming and beach activities after water quality tests showed no toxins from oil in the water. That level of testing will continue for the next several weeks.

Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach were all affected by the oil spill, though residents were allowed to return to the sand by Friday.

SEE: 16 Photos That Show The Devastation Of CA's Massive Oil Spill

No Fishing.

Fishing from the pier, boats and the shore is still not recommended as of Monday.

Fishing is closed in waters off the coast from Seal Beach to Camp Pendleton. The spill has disrupted sport fishing and lobster fishing off the coast as well.

As of Thursday night, uncounted numbers of dead fish had washed up on shore, primarily bottom feeders, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching told Patch.

Closed Businesses.

Beach closures have hurt businesses both on the pier and along the strand as visitors dried up in the already slowing "offseason."

In Laguna Beach, a family has filed a lawsuit against Amplify Energy, the company that owns the oil pipeline thought to be responsible for the oil spill in Orange County.

Read: 1st Came Oil Spill, Next Come Lawsuits: Laguna Beach Couple Sues

A Huntington Beach surf school also filed suit against the energy company. The proposed class-action lawsuit on behalf of Orange County businesses seeks unspecified damages related to the oil spill.

The AP reports that Zack's shopowner Mike Ali says that he closed three of his four locations and reduced his worker's hours during this time.

The USA Surf Competition was delayed over the weekend, however, it is not yet known when that will be rescheduled.

Read More About The Southland Oil Spill:

• CA Oil Spill: How To Help OC's Marine Wildlife After Disaster
• Oil Spill: Wildlife Impact Still Uncertain As Tar Balls Wash Up
• CA Oil Spill: 6 Days Later, Harbors Closed, Volunteers Wanted
• 1st Came Oil Spill, Next Come Lawsuits: Laguna Beach Couple Sues Amplify Over Damages
• Is Orange County Oil Spill Smaller Than Originally Thought?
• Dana Point Beaches Reopen, Harbor Remains Closed Amid Oil Spill
• Huntington Beach Closed Due To 'Disastrous' 126K Oil Spill
• Oil Spill Cleanup Underway, Laguna Beach Cautiously Optimistic
• Should Huntington Beach High School Change Its Mascot, 'Oil Man'?
• Orange County Oil Spill: Photos As Cleanup Ensues
• Orange County Oil Spill: Seal Beach Spared From Damage
• Orange County Beaches Closed Due To 'Disastrous' 126K Oil Spill
• Newport Beach Harbor Closed Due To 'Disastrous' 126K Oil Spill
• Orange County Oil Spill: Seal Beach Spared From Damage
• Orange County Beaches Closed Due To 'Disastrous' 126K Oil Spill

The Associated Press, City News Service and Patch staffers Kat Schuster, Miranda Ceja and Paige Austin contributed to this report.