After more than 15 years of advocacy by the City of Long Beach and community groups, a study will soon be underway to determine if reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater is possible.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Brig. Gen. Mark Toy met at the Army Corps of Engineers’ South Pacific Division Headquarters in San Francisco on Nov. 12 to discuss the study, the purpose of which is to examine the state of the ecosystem in San Pedro Bay and the Long Beach Harbor to establish what, if anything, can be done to improve it.
One possibility is to alter or remove some part of the structure of the breakwater, which was constructed decades ago in part to protect the Navy fleet stationed in Long Beach but has dramatically changed the local ecosystem, including water circulation and tidal flow, according to Garcia.
The mayor said the Army Corps will determine if ecosystem restoration is possible without damaging existing properties, including the port and coastal residences.
Long Beach and the Army Corps will share the costs of the project, named the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study, which is expected to begin in early 2016 and take three years to complete. The cost-share agreement will be signed at a special ceremony in Long Beach in coming weeks, according to city officials.
“I can’t thank the Army Corps enough for working with us to start this important and groundbreaking study,” Garcia said. “Improving the coastal experience and ecosystem in our city is a win for residents [and] visitors and will be a boost to the Long Beach economy.”
The study will focus primarily on restoring the aquatic ecosystem. Officials will evaluate opportunities for kelp, eelgrass and wetlands restoration within the East San Pedro Bay and make a strong push to increase water circulation, which could lead to increased wave activity, according to city officials.
In the last five years, obtaining federal funding to begin the project has been a challenge, even after the Army Corps determined that there was a “federal interest” in moving forward with it.
The undertaking will be the first open-ocean ecosystem restoration study to utilize the Army Corps’ new 3x3x3 feasibility study model, and it could become a model for Army Corps ecosystem restoration studies nationwide, according to city officials. It is being performed in parallel with a proposed joint land-use study (JLUS) for Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (Weapons Station), which will allow the Department of Defense and local communities to cooperatively develop land-use strategies to limit encroachment on the Weapons Station’s mission, city officials said.
The JLUS will also be used to avoid mission impact to the Weapons Station’s explosives anchorages in the East San Pedro Bay relative to potential aquatic ecosystem restoration alternatives, officials said.
“At the same time, the Army Corps and Port of Long Beach are conducting a feasibility study on navigation as part of a future planning effort that will keep the Port of Long Beach on the cutting edge of the trade and goods movement industry,” according to a city press release.
In an emailed statement, Garcia acknowledged the work and support of a number of elected officials.
“I especially want to thank: Congressman Alan Lowenthal, who was critical in supporting us from Washington D.C.; Mayor Bob Foster and Vice Mayor Suja Lownenthal for spearheading this effort the last eight years; Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell for his consistent advocacy; and the current and former city councilmembers who supported and advocated for this project,” Garcia wrote. “In addition, thanks to all the community groups, especially Surfrider, for their continued support and advocacy.”
In an emailed response to the Signal Tribune this week, 70th District Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell expressed enthusiasm about the study.
“After more than 12 years of advocating to bring cleaner water and more recreation to our shores, I am thrilled that the Army Corps of Engineers is moving forward to conduct Phase II of the breakwater study,” O’Donnell said. “I am pleased many of the original skeptics of this plan are now supporters.
This effort is about our environment and our local economy. A big congratulation goes to Long Beach Surfrider and all the local activists who continue to put in hundreds of hours to make this dream a reality. While more work lies ahead, we can all celebrate this important step toward attracting tourists and residents to our beaches.”
In the City’s press release announcing the agreement, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal emphasized the importance of cooperative involvement and said she is “excited about the prospect of improving the ecosystem along our beautiful coastline.”
“The agreement is very encouraging for stakeholders in Long Beach because it enables the discussion to move forward with respect to improving our water quality and coastal ecosystem,” she said in an emailed response to the Signal Tribune this week.
Garcia indicated that the study will involve some of the best coastal engineers and marine biologists. However, he also stressed that it will be an inclusive process that engages the community.
“It took many years and a great deal of hard work to get here, and we still have a long way to go before we see the final results,” he said. “And to be clear, we intend to launch a robust and inclusive community process with all stakeholders and interested groups— especially coastal homeowners.”
The three-year study is expected to start in early 2016 and will involve stakeholder input, wave modeling and ecosystem restoration evaluations. To get involved, people can sign up for updates atlongbeach.gov/linkLB; look for “Bay Ecosystem Study.”
