BEACH BACTERIA REPORT TO TRACE TOXIC SOURCES.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Results of a study into the cause of bacterial contamination at Kiddie and Hobie beaches in the Channel Islands Harbor is expected to be ready for public review in March, officials said Thursday.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors last August hired Larry Walker and Associates of Thousand Oaks to do the study.

The consultant has completed the technical portions of the study - testing the sand for contaminants, looking to see whether tides have an impact and surveying the watersheds that drain into the area, said Vicki Musgrove, manager of storm-water quality for the county Flood Control District.

``From what I saw and (am) hearing from them is we have many diverse sources and there's very little circulation of the water around that beach,'' she said, a common situation with beaches protected by harbors.

In the meantime, the public is reminded to obey the warning signs posted last year at the beach advising against contact with the ocean water, which is tested weekly.

``The bacterial counts are indicators that there may be problems,'' Musgrove said. ``They are not necessarily saying yes you have pathogens in the beach that could affect human health.''

The report will include recommendations on solving the problem, she said.