October 3rd, 2012
Our Vice Mayor Robert Garcia has a newsletter that gives a great recap and status of the Breakwater project. We’ve included the newsletter below and a link to a recent Editorial: Time to get ball rolling on breakwater. Read on…
Dear Friend:
Since joining the City Council, I have been strongly advocating for Long Beach to study Breakwater reconfiguration. We made significant progress by funding the Breakwater Reconnaissance Study, and then we even set aside $4 million to complete the next phase of the study, which was expected to cost $8 million, with the Federal government responsible for funding the remaining $4 million. Well, we never got the funding support from Congress.
However, there is now good news to report. As you may have read in the Press-Telegram, the Army Corps of Engineers now estimates that the study may only cost $3 million, and be completed within the next 3 years. This is incredibly great news for those of us who believe that reconfiguration could lead to a positive transformation of our shoreline, our downtown, and our economy.
I strongly believe that reconfiguration would be an economic boon to Long Beach. We would see our shoreline full of beach goers, surfers, visitors and local residents enjoying the surf and sand. Businesses would see the benefit of more tourists, and home values along the shore would continue to rise. Most importantly, we would be restoring a natural habitat that existed for many years before the Federal government built the breakwater.
The study is important because we need to ensure the complete protection of coastal homes and other properties on the peninsula and along our entire shoreline. We can only reconfigure the Breakwater if we are able to protect coastal properties, as well as our economic assets like the Port of Long Beach. As a city, we deserve a definitive answer to this question. Can we reconfigure the Breakwater, bring back wave activity, and restore an ecosystem, while protecting Long Beach homes? I hope the answer is YES.
We need to answer this question as soon as possible, and I am looking forward to this issue coming back to the City Council in the next few months. The progress on the Breakwater would not have been possible with the leadership of our Mayor, Councilman Patrick O’Donnell, our city team, and the advocacy of the Surfrider Foundation. In addition, I hope you had a chance to read Thursday’s Press-Telegram editorial on the Long Beach Breakwater. They argue that it is time to move forward on the reconfiguration study, and I couldn’t agree more. Here’s the link.
Go Long Beach!
Robert Garcia
June 8th, 2012
 This year, we are pre-celebrating International Surfing Day on June 16, 10am-12pm at Granada Ave. Beach (1 Granada Ave., Long Beach, CA)! Schedule is below:
10 am: Beach cleanup with Justin Rudd’s 30-min beach cleanup
10:30am: National Anthem Singing Contest
11am: Hula Dance
11:15am: Paddle Out in Memory of the Waves (1st of three Breakwater Awareness Month events); bring your board and paddle out with us! Co-sponsored by Long Beach City Council members, Robert Garcia, Suja Lowenthal, Patrick O’Donnell, James Johnson, and Rae Gabelich.
Fist 20 people who mention “ISD” at the Surfrider booth will receive a free ISD marchandise!
On the actual day of Internation Surfing Day, June 20, Wednesday, Surfrider Foundation is hosting a live web-a-thon, in conjunction with our membership drive. The web-a-thon will begin at 9am PST and will conclude at 5pm PST. The web-a-thon will feature a variety of guests, including pro surfers, celebrities and environmental heroes, as well as musical performances, a bikini fashion show, and dispatches from various activations around the world. So you can celebrate ISD at your work desk! For more detail on the web-a-thon, click here.
May 29th, 2012
 Port, a new retail store on the Retro Raw, is the newest supporter of the “Sink the Breakwater” campaign! The Port “SINK THE WALL” Campaign was started to raise funds to help support the Long Beach Surfrider chapter in the efforts to “Sink the Breakwater”. Support the cause by purchasing a Port “Sink the Wall” Tank Tops or T-shirt. All proceeds will go the Surfrider Foundation Long Beach Chapter in efforts to keep the Breakwater removal project moving!
They even made a cool video!
http://vimeo.com/41462621
September 30th, 2011
Recently the breakwall and local water quality has gotten some attention in the newspaper. Looks like we had a great summer for swimming with water quality near the beaches and bay getting grades of A and A+. Recently as of May some areas were listed by Heal the Bay as ”beach bummers,” which denotes worst in the state. Hopefully these clean water reports will continue to hold.
Read the stories directly at the Press Telegrams website here and here.
Also an interesting story of where the surfboard rentals ended up after the Breakwall was constructed. Pretty sad to read where all those boards ended up. Check it out here.
Have a good weekend and enjoy the water.
May 4th, 2011
Join Long Beach Surfrider in some fun this month with movies, paddling, and pizza. Check out the flyer below to get the dates and times. Hope to see you there!
April 4th, 2011
We need your help in securing federal funding for the breakwater feasibility study. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, is making recommendations for funding in the fiscal year 2011 work plan. It is critical for us to get the breakwater project on the work plan so that the feasibility study can move forward.
Please write her a support letter that this is an important project for you. (see sample letter below). Also, we are using this opportunity to write to Colonel Mark Toy who is the LA District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers to show our local support for the breakwater project. (see Sample letter further below). Time is limited, so act now! Click the link to open your email client, copy and paste our message below or use your own. Thanks!
Subject Line: To Assistant Secretary Ellen-Jo Darcy
Date:
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington DC 20310-0108
Assistant Secretary Darcy:
It is an honor to write you regarding the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project, also known as the Long Beach Breakwater Study.
The study will examine the potential reconfiguration of the Federal Breakwater in the City of Long Beach. I am writing to respectfully request that this study be included in your recommendations for funding in the FY11 Workplan. This study is vitally important to the environmental health and economy of our region, and has the support of the full Long Beach City Council, regional leaders and the community.
The City of Long Beach has entered into a partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake the feasibility study. This project has the potential for ecosystem restoration, improved water quality and increased recreation
Your consideration of this feasibility study into your recommendations for funding is greatly appreciated by all stakeholders.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Mailing address
Date:
Colonel Mark Toy
Los Angeles District Commander
United States Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 532711
Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325
Colonel Toy:
Thank you for your past support of the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project, also known as the Long Beach Breakwater Study.
I am writing to respectfully request that the feasibility portion of the study be included in the Army Corps of Engineers’ fiscal year 2011 Workplan. This study is vitally important to the environmental health and economy of our region, and has the support of the full Long Beach City Council, regional leaders and the community.
As you are aware, the City of Long Beach has entered into a partnership with the Army Corps to undertake the feasibility study. This effort has the potential to improve water quality, increase recreation, and provide an economic boost to the region.
Your consideration of inclusion of the Breakwater Feasibility Study into the Army Corps of Engineers workplan is greatly appreciated by all stakeholders.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your Mailing address
March 2nd, 2011
A good report on a couple of Long Beaches Councilmen helping Long Beach get funds for cleaning up our water and a quick recap of the Feasibility Study.
“Councilmen Robert Garcia and Gary DeLong are back in Washington this week lobbying for funds to help clean up the Colorado Lagoon and continue breakwater restoration efforts.
DeLong and Garcia made a similar trip in February 2010, gaining an agreement with the feds to help fund an $8 million study on the impact of altering the 2.5-mile rock seawall.”
Read the full article at presstelegram.com
My personal favorite excerpt:
“The Corps noted in a preliminary report that the harbor remains a cesspool of stagnant, polluted water unsuitable for many types of marine life – and possibly humans.”
December 7th, 2010
It was another beautiful day in Long Beach for the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem signing ceremony (aka – Waves in Long Beach Breakwater Study). This signing is the official agreement between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Long Beach to conduct a feasibility study of the East San Pedro Bay. Pictures are of Mayor Bob Foster, Colonel Mark Toy of the Army Corps, Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell and some familiar Long Beach Surfrider Chapter members. Thanks to all who made it to the event!
More pictures of the event after the jump.
November 11th, 2010
Read the most recent breakwater article at Truthout website!
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