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Obama Signs Bill That Includes Funding For Breakwater Study by Ryan ZumMallen | Archive | 10.29.09 |
+ President Obama has signed a bill that includes $90,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to review an independently-produced study that outlines options for altering or removing the Long Beach Breakwater. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill was signed by the President on Wednesday. A press release from the City of Long Beach today thanked Congresswoman Laura Richardson and Senator Dianne Feinstein for including the funding in the bill. The breakwater's fate ultimately rests in the hands of the Corps, since the breakwater is federally-owned. They will study whether it is feasible and cost-effective to alter the structure, and what benefits would be derived from such an undertaking. The study that the Corps will review is the independently-produced report commissioned by the City of Long Beach and carried out by local engineering firm Moffat & Nicholl. Click here to read a brief report on the study's contents, and here for a more detailed analysis. A press release from Tom Modica, Long Beach Manager of Government Affairs, indicates that the Corps' study will take several months, and that the City will work closely with them to determine a course of action. Advocates for alteration or removal of the breakwater have pointed to promises of improved water quality, new tourism revenue, and possibly even the return of waves. The structure was built in the 1940's to protect Navy ships and boats that docked along the coast.
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lbresident Fricking outstanding!!! dk I think the C-17 funding piece is a bigger story! SURF LB The Moffit and Nichol report failed to take into account information of a report done by Surfline.com see link. http://www.surfline.com/surfline/forecasts4/forecast_blog_entry.cfm?id=27901 Also, all those people on the peninsula, I am tired of paying to move sand in front of your house. You moved there and know the risk. one solution i have never heard, is to drege the harbor and pump the sand to the peninsula and widen the beach 50-100 yards. Problem solved. Pam Yippeee!! I think Surf LB's suggestion to widen the beach in the peninsula is a great idea! And, yes, the C-17 funding piece is a big story, but the breakwater will be such a boost to our city and to tourism. Imagine, swimming or diving in our very own beach! Dave in Alamitos Beach When we were picking the most powerful person in Long Beach, I didn't nominate the person I really think is the most powerful person: the person at the Army Corps of Engineers who votes yay or nay on breakwater reconfiguration! CHARLIE It's good to know we have friends in DC, but don't mess with our Port or do anything that will hinder its safety and activities! lbresident Dave in Alamitos Beach, I think you're right about the Corps. But I also think we need to be dilligent with our council and mayor. Their lobbying will go a long way with the Corps' decision making process. Anyway, this is great news. Capster 1. There are numerous ports world-wide without breakwaters that survive the ravages of nature quite nicely. We ought to be able to alter ours and gain SOME waves and water cleanliness while still providing a more protected anchorage than most areas have the luxury of, so the ports can maintain safe operations. 2. Sure the C17 is a big story, but a city with great commerce and no or reduced quality and enjoyment of life is still a sucky city. To have the amount of beach front we have, but no one using the ocean due to dirty water and no waves is ridiculous, period. If we wish to weather various economic storms better than we have, we better start building up our revenues from ALL possible sources, and the ocean is one of them. Let's not keep giving so much of the tourist dollars to Seal Beach, Huntington beach, etc. 3. I respect the owners on the peninsula, but as noted, they CHOSE to live there, they should bear the brunt of the cost of the natural risks of doing so. I don't want one nickel of my taxes going to protect their homes from the ocean more than my home is protected from the ocean. And extending the beach is not a bad idea, though it too would have to be redone from time to time, so assess those homeowners the costs of doing so that isn't covered by the federal dredging budget. And yes, it is pretty darn good news after years of no news at all! Bob Some times you have to be careful what you wish for, the breakwater is one of those times. It has served a wonderful purpose protecting Belmont Shore, Naples and the Peninsula. These areas could be at great risk to storms, rough seas, etc. Also the breakwater has created a tremendous habitat for sealife. It would be a shame to destroy what has been created over all of these years. LBLIfer $90000 to review the study? Really? Kill the C-17 program. The Pentagon doesn't want or need it. Use that money to reconfigure the breakwater that will ultimately bring in more jobs and tax revenue via more tourism. The currently C-17 can be re-used by another large company or redevoped for more jobs and tax revenue. lbresident Bob, that debate is over. The study conducted last year proved changes to the breakwater could be made without endangering coastal properties. The question is not whether we should reconfigure, but rather how. It's time to bring back our beach. ObamaTearDownThisWall This is great news, but only $90,000? That seems like the annual salary of one civil engineer. Is this just a couple Corps' engineers reviewing the existing studies? Is there any news sources that provide more details on how long the Corps' study is estimated to take. If they do approve a modification, how long would it take to implement this? Thanks to Surf LB for the surfline link, http://www.surfline.com/surfline/forecasts4/forecast_blog_entry.cfm?id=27901 . Anyone concerned about the southeastern shoreline should take a look at this study. Also a good read for anyone excited about one day seeing waves in Long Beach on a regular basis. lbresident The 90k is for the Army Corp to review the study already completed last year. However, the Army Corp likely will add new analysis as well. This review should take up to a year. If the Corp decides there is benefit to reconfiguration then there will be a final more detailed study called a feasibility study. This will be the study that includes the specific plans for what will be done. This study will be about $5M and non-federal money will be needed for half the cost. This could come from state grants, private grants, the port, tidelands funding, etc. After that final study is completed which could take 2 years then work can begin. So in summary, if funding is in place quickly, work could begin in a best case scenario in 3 years or so. Let your councilmember, Mayor Foster, Senator Feinstein and Boxer and Congressperson know that you want reconfiguration prioritized. Their support is critical. Make it a campaign issue for 2010.
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LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.
Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.
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