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Mysterious Ocean Discoloration Has People In Oxnard Area Upset; Local Agencies Investigating

It’s a mystery which has a growing number of people upset. Something is turning the ocean around parts of Oxnard mud brown, and the problem doesn’t seem to be going away on its own. Officials say they simply don’t know at this point what’s behind it.

Marilyn Miller is the Director of Harbor Planning and Redevelopment for Ventura County’s Harbor Department. She says it’s possible it’s a natural problem, but says if it is, it’s not following usual patterns.

Some people have another question. Could it have something to do with the shoutdown of a power plant at Mandalay Beach? The plant used ocean water for cooling. But, that plant has been shut down for more than four months. When asked about it, here is the statement released by plant owner NRG Energy: “The Mandalay plant was retired on February 5, 2018 and remains in an environmentally and physically safe status, in compliance with its permits and regulations.”

Oxnard’s Interim City Manager, Jesus Nava, says among the areas they’re testing is a canal by the plant. Nava says if there are problems stemming from the shutter power plant, there are resources available to deal with them.

Oxnard and Ventura County officials emphasize they are doing special testing to try to solve the mystery, and if it is man-made, to look at possible solution. But, they say it’s going to be a few more days before we have answers.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.