Long Beach Breakwater Controversy

LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL APPROVES BREAKWATER STUDY

RESTORE THE SHORE

The Long Beach California Breakwater Is the largest man made breakwater in the world. Made of three gigantic walls of rock, it was completed in 1949 and extends about 2 1/2 miles in front of Long Beach's residential beaches. It's original objective was to thwart submarines and torpedoes during World War II. Sitting in about 50 feet of water the breakwater rises between 10 to 13 feet above the surface.

The breakwater is owned and maintained by the federal government, not by the City of Long Beach. Any changes to the breakwater will require federal support. The Long Beach City Council voted to ask the federal government to order the study back in 2005. The request fell on deaf ears in Washington. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who represents all the coastal area of Long Beach, told city officials he would not ask for the study. Neither of California's senators - Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer - would sponsor the measure either. This is an election year - right?

Many residents feel the breakwater no longer serves it's intended purpose and has ruined the natural waves depriving Long Beach of the cleansing action of the tides. The dirty water and flat surf have reduced beach usage. Some Long Beach residents believe removing part of the existing breakwater would restore the city's appeal to tourists. Some claim there is evidence that it has depressed Long Beach home values as well.

Read the rest of the story at the Long Beach Real Estate Home Blog