That study wrapped up late last year, and came up with six different options (you can read about all of them, Both the city and the Army Corps of Engineers are expected to select the option they prefer sometime this summer, though officials will present an update, But environmentalists argue that it does that job a little. Most of it comes directly from the LA River, which funnels tons of debris downstream. Result of surveys about air pollution, water pollution, greens and parks satisfaction, light and noise pollution, etc. have fought for years to bring down the breakwater and return Long Beach to its former glory, they also argue that it's contributing to the city's ongoing pollution and trash problem. Essentially, they boil down to three approaches: leave the breakwater as it is, create deep notches to allow some waves through, or plant marine vegetation to help clean up the water. A few surfers paddled out last October to take advantage of a rare window of swell generated by the remnants of Hurricane Sergio. But the barrier also led to widespread trash and pollution along the beaches, fueling an ongoing debate about the environmental costs of development. Trash-collecting booms have been in place at the mouth of the river since the 1990s, but according to. Judging from historical data and archival photographs, waves that once reached Long Beach could swell up to six feet high, comparable to some areas farther down the coast in Orange County. The report estimated that 43.3 percent of the American population lives in counties with unhealthy ozone and/or particle pollution levels. One option in the breakwater plan calls for planting kelp and eelgrass beds, along with installing artificial reefs for oysters and other bivalves.
Whatever the city and Army Corps decide could have a profound impact on L.A. County's second largest city as it strives to become greener, sustainable, and more resilient to the effects of climate change. Long Beach Air Quality Index (AQI) is now Moderate. Surfrider argues that it's actually an enhancement of the breakwater — something the Army Corps of Engineers is not allowed to do (they're only allowed to do repairs and restoration) — and told us that if this scenario comes to pass they might consider legal action. State water officials have also found traces of pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals in sediment in the city's inner harbor area. Get real-time, historical and forecast PM2.5 and weather data. As Many Angelenos Stayed Home, LA County Saw A Spike In Coronavirus Among Latinos. And it's that detail that's made some environmentalists skeptical about the kelp and reef restoration options. has similar properties, and it's also proven useful for stabilizing shorelines and clarifying water. You can hear those segments by clicking the links below. Los Angeles-Long Beach has been ranked the worst area in the nation for ozone pollution for 19 of the 20 years the Lung Association has produced the annual “State of the Air” report. "We have to be guided by the science of it," Mayor Robert Garcia told us in April, "Not just by what we want, or what we think is best.". Biologists consider these organisms "ecosystem engineers" because of the way they can modify or maintain the surrounding environment. This story also aired on 89.3 KPCC. “High ozone days and spikes in particle pollution zoomed, putting millions more people at risk and adding challenges to the work cities are doing across the nation to clean up.”. While many areas of Long Beach regularly receive A or B grades for water quality from the environmental watch group Heal the Bay, that's because those tests only look for fecal indicator bacteria and other harmful organic substances. LONG BEACH, Calif. – At least every other day, Selene Zazueta has to tell her 8-year-old daughter that she can’t play outside with her friends. Eelgrass has similar properties, and it's also proven useful for stabilizing shorelines and clarifying water. Kelp, for instance, is a primary food source and habitat for many fish and invertebrate species, but it also acts as a carbon sink. That study wrapped up late last year, and came up with six different options (you can read about all of them here).

"The only thing that used to be here [in Long Beach]....was a sandy beach with waves," said Seamus Innes with the Long Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Here's Why. Estimation of perceptions about pollution in Long Beach, CA. "Before Huntington Beach was Surf City, Long Beach was Surf City," said Craig Hendricks with the Historical Society of Long Beach. ‘This is just the beginning’: AQMD ramps up investigation into ships causing foul coastal odors, Authors of the report wrote that the document “adds to the evidence that a changing climate is making it harder to protect human health.”, “The three years covered in this report ranked as the hottest years on record globally,” according to the report. "The city's nickname was 'Queen of the Beaches.'". in sediment in the city's inner harbor area.

It transformed the area from a sleepy beach suburb — and surfer's paradise — to a bustling port city. The region ranked seventh-worst in the nation for unhealthy particle pollution days between 2015-17, and fifth worst for annual particle pollution. According to the report, the average number of unhealthy ozone days increased in Los Angeles-Long Beach in this year’s report, compared to last year’s. The breakwater is also a prime spot for marine vegetation. To give you an idea of how fast they can work, here's a time-lapse video of some oysters in action: Before the breakwater was built, the East San Pedro Bay wasn't a hot spot for many species of marine life. “More must be done to address climate change and to protect communities from the growing risks to public health,” according to the report. The same was true for 16 other cities listed among those with the worst ozone pollution in the country, including New York, Chicago, San Diego and Denver. Help us keep hyperlocal news alive in Long Beach. The structure gives this wildlife a place to feed, breed, and rest, and is now home to a variety of seabirds, fish, and invertebrate species. Mulholland, PCH, Arroyo Parkway: LA, What's Your Favorite Street To Drive And Why? There's a 2-mile rock wall off the coast of Long Beach that's been one of the most important — and controversial — pieces of infrastructure in Southern California for the past 70 years. While groups like the Surfrider Foundation have fought for years to bring down the breakwater and return Long Beach to its former glory, they also argue that it's contributing to the city's ongoing pollution and trash problem. "It's not necessarily restoration to put in a Disneyland-type, non-native habitat," said Orange County Coastkeeper senior staff attorney Colin Kelly, who is also a member of the Long Beach Marine Advisory Board. That’s why we’re asking readers like you to support our independent, fact-based journalism. "Many of these animals wouldn't be here if it weren't for the breakwater," said Sandy Trautwein, vice president of husbandry at the Aquarium of the Pacific. But environmentalists argue that it does that job a little too well. The barrier is a breakwater, and it was designed primarily to stop treacherous ocean waves from regularly flooding the city's coastline and destroying property. Hyperlocal news is an essential force in our democracy, but it costs money to keep an organization like this one alive, and we can’t rely on advertiser support alone.
Trash-collecting booms have been in place at the mouth of the river since the 1990s, but according to the latest city budget, maintenance crews raked up over 2100 tons of trash from the city's beaches in 2017 alone. But those grades become D's or F's when it rains, or when there's a sewage spill somewhere upriver. Nevertheless, stopping wave action allowed development to continue in seaside communities like the Alamitos Peninsula, and the breakwater continues to protect billions of dollars worth of private and city property from the ocean's destructive power. And in this case, they act as a sort of underwater clean-up crew. We know you like it—that’s why you’re here. In 2016, the city of Long Beach and the Army Corps of Engineers — the agency that has jurisdiction over the breakwater — commissioned a study to determine whether it would be feasible to modify the breakwater in some way.

The region ranked seventh-worst in the nation for unhealthy particle pollution days between 2015-17, and fifth worst for annual particle pollution. The major environmental problem in Long Beach is related to the air pollution. Read the air pollution in Long Beach, Washington with AirVisual. It also found that 141.1 million people were exposed to unhealthy air during the study period, up from 133.9 million in last year’s report and 125 million in 2017’s document. “This year’s report covered the three warmest years in modern history and demonstrates the increased risk of harm from air pollution that comes despite other protective measures being in place.”. The abundance of life here makes it a popular spot for, Aquarium staff make frequent trips to the structure to collect kelp and algae, which they use to feed many of their exhibit animals - including the broodstock of their, Kelp, for instance, is a primary food source and habitat for many fish and invertebrate species, but it also acts as a, In other words, it can absorb and recycle dissolved carbon dioxide, which causes. "They're filter feeders, which means they feed through taking in water," said Katie Nichols with Orange County Coastkeeper, an environmental group that conducts similar restoration plans. of the breakwater — something the Army Corps of Engineers is not allowed to do (they're only allowed to do repairs and restoration) — and told us that if this scenario comes to pass they might consider legal action. Facts about Long Beach … In other words, it can absorb and recycle dissolved carbon dioxide, which causes ocean acidification. Aquarium staff make frequent trips to the structure to collect kelp and algae, which they use to feed many of their exhibit animals - including the broodstock of their white abalone restoration project. The abundance of life here makes it a popular spot for local fishermen and freedivers during spiny lobster season. The ships, trailer trucks, and drayage trucks from the ports bring the air pollution. Despite its detrimental effects on the environment, the breakwater has gradually become a fixture in the local ecosystem. Both the city and the Army Corps of Engineers are expected to select the option they prefer sometime this summer, though officials will present an update on June 25th. Close to home: Climate change in Long Beach. Once the breakwater went up, the waves virtually vanished. The Long Beach breakwater, photographed on April 26, 2019 in Long Beach, California. Facts about Long Beach 5: the air pollution. In California, A Vocal Minority of Asian Parents Helped Defeat Affirmative Action Once Before. Bottom-dwellers and pelagic fish like mackerel may have been the only animals that lived here full-time. As upsetting as that is, the girl has asthma, and the family lives just off Interstate 710 in Long Beach, in an area known as “Asthma Alley.” “It’s a … But that fight is now coming to a head. of trash from the city's beaches in 2017 alone. Oysters are especially good at scrubbing out impurities. "So we fully support restoration of what was here - which was that. While many areas of Long Beach regularly receive. It now seems this vegetation could be key to restoring the local ecosystem, giving the breakwater a new role in the process. Los Angeles-Long Beach has been ranked the worst area in the nation for ozone pollution for 19 of the 20 years the Lung Association has produced the annual “State of the Air” report. Neighborhoods built close to the shoreline, especially the downtown area, were subject to flooding from storm surges. ", In other words, patches of kelp, eelgrass, and oyster beds, didn't occur here naturally, so technically, it might be a stretch to call it "restoration.". But whatever both sides choose, it will have to strike a balance between protecting property and revitalizing the local ecosystem.