Joe Segura, a staff writer for the Long Beach Press Telegram, wrote an article on September 27 after Heal the Bay released the 2007 Report Card. Although Long Beach's ratings improved since last year, they failed to receive anything higher than a C. The only reason the grades seemed to improve was due to a record drought this year as well as stopping untreated runoff into Alamitos Bay. It is believed that surrounding cities would receive higher scores if they were not near Long Beach and Catalina. Due to high bacteria levels Seal Beach just posted advisories. Long Beach continues to be one of the dirtiest beaches in the state, and the results are a source of data which might be used in the debate of removing the breakwater. The lack of water circulation in Long Beach due to the breakwater may be the cause of poor water quality.
I feel that this data is another sufficient piece of evidence in how the breakwater is affecting Long Beach and surrounding beaches. Long Beach has continually received low scores in water quality, and although they improved slightly this year, they are still one of the lowest in the state. I am glad that the city is finally connecting this issue with the idea of possibly removing the breakwater. If you look up and down the coast, the rest of the cities seem to have As except for Long Beach and others adjacent. Hopefully this study will continue, and we will find out more information soon in order to improve Long Beach.
To view the complete Heal the Bay report card for California follow the link below:
2007 California Summer Beach Report Card
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2 comments:
I just moved here for college and am not acustomed to beach life- but i do know that i don't take it for granted and it makes me angry to see how poorly taken care of it is. I can understand, through your research, how you are passionate about this as a frequent surfer. Have there been a lot of people that have gone on strike on site for this? Im sure a lot of people in the area are pushing for action. I hope to hear more...good job...you got me all fired up!
Definitely. There are heaps of people fighting for this concern, but we still need more support. Luckily, more and more people are realizing that the Long Beach Breakwater is having an effect on the environment and want to see changes. The Long Beach Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is still fighting hard to make a difference. Their main objective as a chapter is addressing their concerns for the breakwater and trying to reconfigure it. I appreciate your respect for the beach and hope I can inform you more about this topic.
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