May 2010 Archives

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association  announced Monday that Seal Beach is one of only four projects nationwide to receive a 2010 Best Restored Beach Award.

The association -- founded in 1926 -- promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the national coasts.

The Seal Beach project involved nourishing a popular but eroding beach east of its pier, using 74,000 cubic yards of offshore dredged material, It was funded by the city at nearly $2 million.

 The widened beach offers improved storm wave protection to shorefront residences and has increased the recreational beachfront.

"We feel we have laid the groundwork for future actions to protect one of our most precious assets, the beach," said.Mayor Pro Tem Michael Levitt. "We're humbled to have these efforts recognized by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association."

"This is a clear case of many hands make light work. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our fine City Manager and his staff, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and especially the efforts of Mr. Kim Sterrett of the state Department of Boating and Waterways." said Councilman Charles Antos, whose 1st District includes the shoreline area.

Said Seal Beach City Manager David Carmany "Seal Beach is one of the nicest beaches in California, so restoring and keeping the beach in good order is a big part of the job description for our Public Works Department. And it's obvious that this was a truly a labor of love for our consultant engineer Moffatt and Nichol. There's no better firm in this arena." The effort played a significant role in mitigating flood damage as a result of the recent El Nino pattern which saw high tide and wave run up at East Seal Beach.

 the re-nourishment of the beach benefits all of us through improved access, a better visitor experience and a desire to revisit and spend in our community."

For the Seal Beach project, cooperation between local, state and federal governments allowed an unconventional contracting process to succeed within a tight timeframe and budget.

 Dredging was conducted by Manson Construction as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Stage 12 Surfside/Sunset project. The Department of Boating and Waterways was also instrumental in the project's launch.

Permit procurement, final engineering and construction support services for the project were provided by the engineering Moffatt & Nichol firm.

The governors of California, Oregon and Washington released eight issue-specific work plans Thursday to improve and sustain the health of the three states' shared coastal and ocean resources.

 With $500,000 in new funding from the federal government, projects funded by existing federal and state investments will be able to continue and the three states will begin to look at which projects to start next.

"We are moving from planning to action with the release of these implementation plans," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Together we made a commitment to address climate change, combat ocean garbage, reduce water pollution, protect our marine habitats, and to unlock the mysteries of our offshore waters by mapping the seafloor off all three states. Today we are taking a bold new step in fulfilling that commitment."

In 2006, the three govenors -- including Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire -- launched the effort. In July 2008, the three released a West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health (WCGA) Action Plan that identified management priorities. The regional agreement was the first of its kind on the West Coast and also aligns well with federal planning efforts currently under way under the Obama Administration's Ocean Policy Task Force established in 2009.

The eight issue areas are climate change, polluted runoff,  marine debris, spartina eradication,  renewable ocean energy, ocean awareness and literacy,  seafloor mapping and sediment management. The issue areas represent the need to clean up the ocean, protect it from future damage and the importance of balancing new uses of the ocean with existing practices such as fishing and habitat protection.

"The best way to protect the interests of coastal communities is to preserve our existing ocean resources and identify new economic development opportunities," Kulongoski said. "One example is wave energy. We can tap our ocean as a new source of green power in a way that protects the traditional uses of our ocean."

The implementation plans were developed by experts in their fields -- in tri-state Action Coordination Teams (ACTs), comprised of federal, state, local, tribal and stakeholders.

 "Now we must turn our full attention to getting plans transformed into real, on-the-ground work," said  Gregoire. 

To read the full text of the work plans or to learn more about the WCGA, visit www.westcoastoceans.gov..

Give your bike a second life through the Recycle Your Bicycle Program.

Long Beach officials, Waste Management staffers, and the H.U.B. Bike Co-op volunteers have launched the program to collect and refurbish bikes, and redistribute them to local youths -- all in celebration of National Bike Month.

"This innovative program is an excellent way to help Long Beach be even more sustainable as well as benefiting our youth," Mayor Bob Foster said in a prepared statement. "We are encouraging alternative transportation, healthy lifestyles and recycling though one amazing community enrichment program."

Starting Saturday, and continuing for the following three Saturdays (May 29, June 5, and June 12), residents can bring bicycles in any condition for donation from 12 to 4 p.m. to El Dorado Park West, 2800 Studebaker Road; Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.; Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.; McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Ave.; and Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st St.

Bikes in salvageable condition will be repaired by the local bike community non-profit, the H.U.B Bike Co-op, through their mentorship program, and then redistributed to local youth. Bikes beyond repair will be recycled as scrap metal by Waste Management.

The H.U.B. Bike Co-op is seeking volunteer bike mechanics to assist with bike repairs. Anyone interested in volunteering should email the H.U.B at peddlemovement@gmail.com for more information.

For more details, contact Courtney Aguirre, Transportation programs planner, at 562.570.6667.

Want to salute Long Beach's former glory as a surf spot?

Councilman Patrick O'Donnell is scheduled to lead a paddle out on a surfboard at the beach on Saturday as part of  "Breakwater Awareness Month" festivities.

The 10 a.m. event -- titled "A Paddle Out in Memory of the Waves" -- is part of several planned events aimed at focusing attention on the city's  breakwater.

A brief ceremony and paddle out will take place in the Belmont Shore area at Ocean Boulevard and Granada Avenue. Light refreshments will be offered and attendees are asked to bring surfboards, if possible. All are welcome to either participate or observe the event.

"We will be paddling out in memory of what was once a great beach to surf," O'Donnell said. "I invite everyone to come and witness the paddle out, as a show of unity."

 

Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director John McCamman has announced that the agency will accept scientific comment on the final Pacific Fisher Status Review to May 28.

This decision was based on concerns from members of the Fish and Game Commission, the scientific review group for the draft review, and the public.

The full memo can be viewed at: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=19588.

The state Department of Fish and Game invites motivated adults who love the outdoors to participate in the Natural Resource Volunteer Program 

The volunteer program first began as the Senior Volunteer Program in Southern California in 2001, and it's now expanding statewide -- no longer restricted to senior participants.

In the Southern Enforcement District, 11 new volunteers participated in a recent volunteer academy, graduating on April 30. These volunteers will join other Fish & Game volunteers already working in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

The ideal volunteer can commit to serving at least 24 hours per month.

Volunteers could be assigned to a variety of tasks, including public education about preventing negative wildlife encounters, assisting biologists and environmental scientists perform field surveys, patrolling and monitoring state lands for evidence of poaching, pollution, illegal collecting and unlawful intrusion, assisting game wardens during season openers and at checkpoints, distributing fishing and hunting regulations, and transporting injured or orphaned wildlife to rehab centers.

Fish & Game is looking for volunteers with a variety of skills, including clerical, computer, grant writing, mechanical, public speaking and teaching.

For more details about the Southern California volunteer program, contact Lt. Kent Smirl at 714. 448-4215. More information is also available at www.dfg.ca.gov/volunteer.

 

 A free Summer Shuttle will make its weekend inaugural voyage Saturday with regular trips from City Hall to downtown pier area.

The shuttle will run through Sept. 5, making stops at the northwest corner of Main Street and Orange Avenue, and on Fifth Street at The Strand. It will operate on weekends from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The shuttle will also run on Memorial Day and Labor Day, but will not be in service on Independence Day.

Shuttle riders can take advantage of free parking in the City Hall parking lot, located at Main and Yorktown Avenue and board the shuttle at one of the two available stops in the lot.

The Summer Shuttle is a pilot program for 2010, and  funded by Air Quality Management District to help alleviate congestion.

For more details on the project, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov or call at (714) 536-5542.

<The next public tour of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge will be held May 29.

Reservations deadline for the free 8:30 a.m. tour is close of business day May 26.

The tour lasts for about three hours, allowing the public a chance to see such colorful species as the snowy egret and great blue heron, as well as the endangered light-footed clapper rail and the Belding's savannah sparrow.

The tour is given by the volunteer group Friends Of The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge in cooperation with the Department of the Navy and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 Reservations must be made in advance by contacting the refuge office at (562) 598-1024. All participants are encouraged to bring walking shoes, sunscreen and binoculars. Cameras, or any consumer devices containing cameras, will not be permitted.

For details, call 562.626-7215 or the Fish and Wildlife Service Nature Center at 562.598-1024, or visit http://www.cnic.navy.mil/SealBeach/index.htm.

The Long Beach Planning Commission unanimously decided Thursday night that no involved environmental impact review would be needed for a project upgrading the Naples Island canals.
A Mitigated Negative Declaration, which would not require a costly and time-consuming environmental impact review, was approved following a meeting that drew no critics of the project.

The Long Beach Planning Commission unanimously decided Thursday night that no involved environmental review would be needed to dismantle and remove large container tanks near Los Cerritos Wetlands.

The city's Development Services staff sought a limited environmental review, known as a Mitigated Negative Declaration, which would not require a costly and time-consuming environmental impact review.

Environmentalists and homeowners, however, pushed for an EIR, contending that contaminants might pose a danger to residents, school children and wetlands' wildlife.

The property, at 400 Studebaker Road, is owned by Tom Dean , of Studebaker LB, LLC. It was once earmarked for a Home Depot design center, but two legal challenges derailed the plans - after a judge agreed that the EIR was flawed.

The city staff initially sought the Mitigated Negative Declaration in February. However, after environmntalists raised the health issues and potential dangers to the wildlife, the commission sought a certified work plan on the project, along with a review of potential impacts on a pipeline system at the site, and more details on the site's subsoil.

The certified work plan would be provided by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Activists contend that the tanks have a long history of storing toxic substances and that the soil could also be highly contaminated.

The site contains six above-ground storage tanks , conveyance pipelines and containment berms, according to a city staff report.

In response to pressing concerns, the consultants for the project Thursday night said that dust generated by the work would be watered down and heavily monitored. If controls could not be maintained, due to windy weather, work would be discontinued for that day, the consultants said.

 

 

 

 

 

 The Environmental Law Institute on Monday named Huntington Beach wetlands advocate Dr. Jan Vandersloot posthumously as one of six 2010 National Wetlands Awards recipients for "exceptional and innovative contributions" to conservation.

 Vandersloot, who died last November, co-founded the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, organizing concerned citizens, mounting local political pressures and building coalitions--led a 17-year effort topreserve the 1,700-acre Bolsa Chica wetland ecosystem.
The late advocate was cited for wetlands community leadership.

 A fixture at state Coastal Commission meetings, Vandersloot demonstrated a keen understanding of the Coastal Act and the California Environmental Quality Act and passion for protecting both large and small wetlands resulted in significant protection for coastal wetlands across the state.

As part of the Bolsa Chica effort, the Land Trust sued the Coastal Commission over its vote allowing development in the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Their successful argument that the plan violated the Coastal Act provided important precedent for wetland protection.

Vandersloot's effort protected hundreds of acres of wetlands. A day after his sudden and unexpected passing in November, the CCC decided to raise the penalty for the destruction of wetlands and increase the stringency of restoration requirements.

The Washington,D.C.-based Environmental Law Institute aims to strengthen environmental protection through improving law and governance worldwide, by delivering  analysis to opinion makers, including government officials, environmental and business leaders and journalists. ELI is a clearinghouse and a town hall, providing common ground for debate on important environmental issues.

The six award winners have restored, researched, and protected thousands of acres of wetlands nationwide, according to ELI.

The other five award recipients this year are:

Jim Wilcox, Senior Project and Program Manager at Plumas Corporation for the Feather River Coordinated Resource Management group, has designed and built more than 40 projects that have restored 48 miles of stream channels and 3,400 acres of meadow floodplains and wetlands.

William Volkert, a wildlife educator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for providing more than 3,500 educational programs to 200,000 people, conducted more than 1,700 media interviews and programs, and provided training to 66 delegations of scientists from 41 countries.

The Laszlo Family, owners of Granger Ranches at the O'Dell Creek Headwaters in Montana's largest watershed, have permanently protected more than half of their 14,000-acre ranch and restored or enhanced 510 acres of wetlands and 35,000 feet of stream channel and riparian habitats.

Rebecca Sharitz, senior research ecologist at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, is a leading expert on the ecology of southeastern floodplain forests and Carolina bays. She has been invited to serve on four National Academy of Science committees and has published more than 160 papers or chapters in the scientific literature.

Michael Cain, a recently retired attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, has authored or co-authored all of Wisconsin's wetland protection laws during more than 30 years of service. His work has helped slow the state's wetland loss from 1,400 acres annually in 1991 to an average of 250 acres per year currently.

<CF12> The ELI said that the collective impact of the award recipients' work is enormous, mainly because their "expertise, experience, and examples have profoundly shaped the landscape of wetlands conservation."

</CF>"These winners truly embody the spirit of the National Wetland Awards Program as they inspire our collective endeavors to increase the quantity and improve the quality of our nation's aquatic resources," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Peter S. Silva. "Their extraordinary dedication to coastal and inland wetland conservation across the country evokes deep gratitude and merits the highest of praise."

The awards program is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Federal Highway Administration, the USDA Forest Service, and the George and Miriam Martin Foundation.

"Wetlands play a vital role in protecting our communities from flooding, improving water quality and providing vital habitat for aquatic species," said Acting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Rowan Gould. "The organizations and individuals being recognized are true leaders in our collective effort to protect and restore our nation's wetlands for the benefit of all Americans."

For more details about awards program, call 202.939-3829 or visit wetlandsawards@eli.org. Information is also available online at www.nationalwetlandsawards.org.