South Santa Barbara County residents hoping to cool off after a hot week should be warned: There is currently a lot of tar and oil on local beaches.
Carpinteria city officials said Thursday that local beaches are “experiencing higher than normal rates” of tar and oil in the ocean and along the shoreline.
At Montecito’s Butterfly Beach, a sign posted at an entrance warns people of the present tar and oil.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response have determined that the source of the oil is natural seeps and “will not initiate a remediation response,” Carpinteria officials said.
Eric Laughlin, an OSPR spokesperson, told Noozhawk that a team recently went out to collect samples from a Carpinteria beach. Those samples were then taken to a chemistry laboratory near Sacramento to find a potential source match, he added.
“It’s an area known for high natural seepage, and so we can’t make any conclusions at this point,” Laughlin said.
The source is currently under investigation, he added.
Multiple residents have reported the presence of oil on local beaches, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
One person reported a stretch of tar along Miramar Beach and tar balls in the water, according to a Thursday report to the agency. Another reported seeing tar balls at a Carpinteria beach and was concerned for the wildlife.
Carpinteria officials advised beachgoers to be cautious and avoid the areas where oil and tar are present.
“The situation is dynamic and will be impacted by tides, currents and swell,” city representatives said.
Karina Johnston, executive director of Heal the Ocean, told Noozhawk that the nonprofit organization has received about 20 calls so far about the oil and tar.
“We have been getting a lot of reports both from members of the community, our field teams and partners about oil and heavy amounts of tar on the beach from Carpinteria as far north as Naples,” she said.
Ariana Katovich, executive director of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, said if residents have concerns about seabirds or other wildlife, they should call the organization’s helpline at 805.681.1080. Beachgoers should not touch oiled, dead or sick birds.
