Fighting Beach Bacteria with Sand

Fluctuating ocean bacteria levels at Huntington Beach, CA. have puzzled officials and frustrated tourists and businesses. Officials have a plan to mitigate high bacteria levels. They propose a sand berm in the mouth of Talbert Marsh suspected of beingresponsible for the bacteria. As the marsh is an environmentally sensitive area, officialshave to wait for permission from five agencies. The city has spent nearly $2 million on studying the problem and the county has spent at least $2 million.