BEACH ACCESS UNCERTAIN

Hot weather is helping dissipate remnants of a weekend spill of

raw sewage that closed three beaches along a four-mile stretch of Clear Lake's

southeastern shore, but it's uncertain when public access will be restored.

Clearlake city officials had hoped to re-open two public beaches at Redbud

and Austin parks today, but whether they will depends on results of the most

recent test samples, which will be reviewed by local and state officials this

morning.

''The city may decide to just open up recreational areas in the parks, but

cordon off the beaches,'' said Caroline Constable of the county's Office of

Emergency Services.

A third undeveloped city-owned beach near the spill site is not likely to

open soon because of continued high levels of contamination, Constable said.

Two water companies in the area have added chlorine to their systems as a

precaution.

Three separate fire-related electrical failures caused 30,000 gallons of

raw sewage to spill into Clear Lake early Saturday afternoon.