From: The Orange County Register
BY LAYLAN CONNELLY AND DEEPA BHARATH / STAFF WRITERS
This sealed insulin needle was part of the junk that washed ashore near the mouth of the Santa Ana River between Newport and
Huntington Beaches on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. (Photo by Mindy Schauer,Orange County Register/SCNG)
NEWPORT BEACH – The sandy beach area at the mouth of the Santa Ana River where Costa Mesa resident Angel Le lets her dog roam is usually “an oasis.”
But on Tuesday, the West Newport area was a landfill-like mess with trash washed up from recent storms. And while the Styrofoam, plastic bottles and cigarette butts were unsightly, it was the needle she found that really caused concern.
“I just feel so unsafe coming out here with my dogs. I have to watch his every move and follow him around,” said Le, 23. “It’s so dangerous. They could be anywhere on the beach.”
County workers Tuesday afternoon were investigating an area in West Newport adjacent to the Santa Ana riverbed where beachgoers, including dog owners, reported scores of hypodermic syringes were washing up after the weekend’s rain.