A broken pipeline spewed oil down a storm drain and into the ocean for several hours in Santa Barbara, California on Tuesday. Before it was shut off, however, more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil spilled into the ocean and covered what were once pristine beaches. Clean up crews have been working to remove the hazardous oil slick offshore and the sticky coating of oil along the coast. The Santa Barbara beaches are home to dense kelp forests, marine mammals and tremendous marine biodiversity, which are all threatened by the effects of the spill.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press
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BONUS: Aerial view of Santa Barbara oil spill