By snoadmin
Is it time to sink the breakwater?
This big question has plagued Long Beach residents for years.
Built in the 1940s for World War II purposes and to prevent wave action in the Port of Long Beach, the breakwater also damages the local surf and ecosystem in Long Beach.
In 2005, the Long Beach Surfrider foundation gained support from the Long Beach City Council for a $100,000 reconnaissance study.
Following the conclusion of the study and many negotiations later, the city came to a deal with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan of feasibility for taking down or modifying the breakwater.
There are many reasons to take down the breakwater. First, it would allow for better waves to return to Long Beach’s shores. The two-and-a-half-mile-long rock wall has eliminated nearly all waves from crashing Long Beach shores.
Without the waves, water circulation is poor in the space between the rock wall and the beach. Bacteria runs rampant in the water, and it has changed the ecosystem. It is difficult for certain species to survive in the water.
If the breakwater was lifted, it would clean up the water and allow for a new ecosystem to rebuild. The current animals able to survive now would be taken over my new species that are re-introduced.
There are concerns, however, of the erosion of the peninsula at the southeast end of Ocean Boulevard that would occur should the breakwater be removed. However, this erosion has been occurring even with the breakwater’s presence, and the city has had to move sand to this area to keep houses from sinking or flooding. This would continue regardless if the rock wall comes down.
Another issue is that removing the breakwater would cause problems for the Port of Long Beach because waves will disrupt shipping lanes.
The Daily 49er editorial board has never weighed in on the breakwater discussion, but we feel this is such a big issue for the city that it needs to be discussed.
We want to see what would happen if the breakwater was modified to allow for better water circulation and waves in Long Beach.
Let’s face it, our beaches our pretty gross. For a school that prides itself on being “The Beach,” our beaches are not something we can be proud of.
If our beaches are cleaned up by the modification to the breakwater, then it would also make Long Beach a more desirable vacation spot. It would bring in more tourism to boost the city’s economy. Also, for people who own property near the beach, a cleaner shoreline would only boost their property value.
If the Army Corps of Engineers can come up with a good proposal to fix the breakwater problem, we will support it. Long Beach residents deserve a better beach.
