Alamitos Bay area photo credit: Peninsula resident Roger Carroll

(June 5, 2005, midafternoon update following earlier posts, note subsequent coverage below) -- LB's Alamitos Bay area beaches -- Marine Stadium, Mother's Beach and vicinity -- will remain closed as a precaution until at least midday Monday...although initial lab results received Sunday afternoon (June 5) tested OK following a June 4th sewage spill (believed linked to a malfunctionin L.A. County facility on Studebaker Rd.) that sent raw sewage into the Los Cerritos Channel.

Because the Los Cerritos Channel empties into the Marina Pacifica area, LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services moved Saturday (June 4th) to close beaches in the Alamitos Bay area -- Marine Stadium and Mother's Beach and vicinity.

However other LB beaches (including those starting at 72d Place) are not closed.

[June 5th afternoon update] Steve Nakauchi, Registered Environmental Health Specialist with LB's Dept. of Health & Human Services tells LBReport.com that the first test results on Bay area waters (from samples taken June 4th) tested OK...BUT as a precaution, the Bay area beaches will remain closed until at least Monday (June 6th) about midday when tests on samples taken today (June 5) are completed and the LB Health Dept. can assess the situation.

Mr. Nakauchi said all lab test results received Sunday were OK, apparently including those from 72d Place and eastern beach areas which were not closed but were tested as a precaution (five or six samples covering roughly a quarter mile taken to confirm that the eastern beach waters were clear.)

Earlier today, Nelson Kerr, Manager for LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services Water Program, told LBReport.com that at about 4:30 a.m. on June 4th, LB's Water Dept. received a citizen complaint of sewage flowing down Studebaker Rd. and into the Los Cerritos channel. This was substantiated and although the exact amount isn't known it could be up to 100,000 gallons of sewage. At this point, LB officials believe the sewage spill is linked to a malfunction at an L.A. County pump station near Studebaker Rd.

Mr. Kerr said that because the Los Cerritos Channel empties into the Marina Pacifica area, LB's Health Dept. chose to close beaches in the Marine Stadium, Mother's Beach and Alamitos Bay areas.

Other beaches were not closed because LB's Health Dept. inspector reasoned that the way the water was flowing was heading away from other beaches, plus there is a jetty in the area which would presumably block the pollution from getting to the beach.

The signs posted in the Alamitos Bay area state:

"BEACH CLOSED. KEEP OUT. SEWAGE CONTAMINATED WATER, OCEAN WATER MAY CAUSE ILLNESS BY ORDER OF HEALTH OFFICER, CITY OF LONG BEACH DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES."

At midmorning Sunday (June 5), the Bay area beaches were deserted.

Alamitos Bay area photo credit: Peninsula resident Roger Carroll

Subsequent coverage: