Last week's storms left Southland beaches littered with trash. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / January 24, 2010) |
SEAL BEACH -- Last week's powerful storms may have blown out of the area but they left behind an ugly reminder; debris and garbage strewn across many Southern California beaches.
Shopping carts, bicycle tires, tennis shoes and thousands of plastic cups and bottles have collected along Seal Beach. The trash traveled along the 75-mile-long San Gabriel River, which begins in the Angeles National Forest, runs through the Santa Fe Flood Control Basin and empties into the Pacific Ocean.
In Long Beach, the garbage is also piled high courtesy of the Los Angeles River that flows through the San Fernando Valley and Santa Susana Mountains.
Sewage-strewn beaches often appear after Southern California is pummeled by storms, with those near river mouths hit especially hard. The rain and wind pull debris and garbage into riverbeds that eventually spit everything out into the ocean.
The city's Department of Public Works is busy clearing the garbage. Swimmers are also being warned to keep out of the water.
After rainstorms, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions people to stay away from ocean waters near storm drains, creeks and rivers to avoid bacteria and chemicals that may have contaminated the area.
But diehard surfers decided to brave the waves anyway saying they just couldn't resist riding the waves under clear blue skies.
Meantime, crews are working in the foothill communities to clear storm debris basins that filled in last week's downpours.
Bob Spencer of the Department of Public Works says crews have been working 12-hour shifts to remove mud, tree limbs and other debris from 28 basins in foothill areas scarred by last year's massive Station wildfire.
Last week's storms dumped up to 6 inches of rain in some areas and another storm is expected to hit the Los Angeles area Tuesday afternoon.
Shopping carts, bicycle tires, tennis shoes and thousands of plastic cups and bottles have collected along Seal Beach. The trash traveled along the 75-mile-long San Gabriel River, which begins in the Angeles National Forest, runs through the Santa Fe Flood Control Basin and empties into the Pacific Ocean.
In Long Beach, the garbage is also piled high courtesy of the Los Angeles River that flows through the San Fernando Valley and Santa Susana Mountains.
Sewage-strewn beaches often appear after Southern California is pummeled by storms, with those near river mouths hit especially hard. The rain and wind pull debris and garbage into riverbeds that eventually spit everything out into the ocean.
The city's Department of Public Works is busy clearing the garbage. Swimmers are also being warned to keep out of the water.
After rainstorms, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions people to stay away from ocean waters near storm drains, creeks and rivers to avoid bacteria and chemicals that may have contaminated the area.
But diehard surfers decided to brave the waves anyway saying they just couldn't resist riding the waves under clear blue skies.
Meantime, crews are working in the foothill communities to clear storm debris basins that filled in last week's downpours.
Bob Spencer of the Department of Public Works says crews have been working 12-hour shifts to remove mud, tree limbs and other debris from 28 basins in foothill areas scarred by last year's massive Station wildfire.
Last week's storms dumped up to 6 inches of rain in some areas and another storm is expected to hit the Los Angeles area Tuesday afternoon.
