While OC beaches reopen after oil spill, questions linger about environmental effects, prevention

Chapman faculty and local advocates remain concerned about Orange County habitats and a lack of long-term public awareness. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer and Photo Editor

Following a recent oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach, the reopened shores of Orange County and San Diego County may be a welcome sight for locals and tourists alike. But, for scientists like William Wright, a biology professor at Chapman University, the lasting ecological effects of an oil spill aren’t so easily resolved.

“The (impact on the) beach is one thing, but the (ecology is) way more rich in the wetlands and the lagoons around Huntington Beach,” Wright told The Panther in an Oct. 6 interview, predicting that the spill would have dire consequences for wildlife in those environments.

An Oct. 17 report by the Oiled Wildlife Care Network appears to exemplify these consequences. So far, 99 wild birds have been recovered from the spill, 67 of which were dead. Additionally, four out of five recovered mammals have died from the oil spill’s effects.

A white crane flies over a tracking buoy used to stop oil from entering the Bolsa Chica Preserve. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer and Photo Editor

While these numbers reflect the spill’s damage to local habitats, Orange County Supervisor Laura Bartlett stated Oct. 7 the amount of affected wildlife indicates a smaller oil spill than the original estimates of 120,000 gallons or more. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the spill is likely closer to 25,000 gallons of crude oil.

Regardless, Wright told the Panther estuaries and wetlands should be a priority for recovery teams, as they are particularly fragile habitats in oil spills. The balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, Wright noted, could be quickly thrown off by the incident and harm large numbers of fish or birds.

The spill’s immediate effect on humans is comparably minimal. 

An Oct. 15 update from the Unified Command includes an assessment from its public health unit: water and sediment testing will continue, but the unit has not recently seen any abnormal results. Air-related tests have ceased, as readings have been consistently within common levels.

Wild birds in the aftermath of the oil spill. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer and Photo Editor

Orange County Health Officer Clayton Chau, who also functions as director of the OC Health Care Agency, still urges beachgoers to exercise caution when returning to the waters. In an Oct. 14 press release, Chau explained that there is still a concern about “contaminants being absorbed through the skin, inhalation, or ingestion.” The county also warns against picking up or touching tar balls, which contain hazardous materials.

It will take some time to understand the specific ways in which the spill has impacted local environments like marshes and wetlands, as even the 2015 Refugio oil spill’s ecological effects are only beginning to surface. 

“I think it’s too early to know if there’s anything different about this (spill),” Richelle Tanner, who teaches environmental science and policy at Chapman, told The Panther in an Oct. 6 interview. “We actually see this a lot, (especially in) environmental science and policy.”

For Tanner, incidents like the Huntington Beach spill don’t just have to be tragic. 

“It’s also an opportunity,” Tanner said. “Students can see the impact their education has. (The spill explains) why we’re taking action.”

Chapman’s proximity to the spill, Tanner noted, allows students to absorb the real, tangible effects of an environmental disaster. Just as the Fukushima nuclear disaster influenced her classes as an undergrad, it has become a priority for Tanner to integrate contemporary issues like the spill into her environmental science and policy curriculum. 

It’s Tanner’s hope that disasters like the recent spill will push the public to divest from fossil fuels and support renewable energy. While many are focused on the spill’s immediate effects, Tanner worries that the public will lose interest before meaningful actions can be taken to stop future disasters. 

“The first thing that I see as important is making sure the public understands what has happened and what the potential impacts could be,” Tanner said. “(The public should) understand they have a role in influencing policy decisions, so this never happens again.”