Breakwater Proposals

To help people understand some of the proposals for reconfiguring the Long Beach Breakwater, Surfrider has come up with simplified cross-sections of the current breakwater configuration, extending 13' above the water at low tide and 50-60' below the water to the bottom. They are still trying to get the money to research what should be done to reconfigure the breakwater, but these are previous proposals that have been set up as examples of ways it can be removed in any scenario.


Proposal 1: Remove the top 20-30 feet of rock and spread excess boulders

This underwater marine sanctuary will allow ocean currents and boats to continue to go in and out of Alamitos Bay by simply removing the top 20-30 feet of rock and spreading excess boulders flat along the ocean floor around the existing breakwater.


Proposal 2: Gather boulders from the top 20-30 feet of the breakwater to create an island

This island would serve as a submerged and above-ground habitat for marine life and a bird sanctuary by gathering boulders from the top 20-30 feet of the breakwater and creating an island sround what already exists.


Proposal 3: Redeploy boulders from the top 20-30 feet of the breakwater to other breakwater projects

Redeploying this material within the harbor would significantly reduce the costs of projects planned or underway. Since the Port of Long Beach currently has other breakwater projects underway or being considered, the top 20-20 feet of the existing Long Beach can be redeployed.

As Surfrider states, "It is firmly believed that if the Long Beach breakwater did not exist today, it would not be built today. As has already been noted, despite the existence of this structure, erosion and flooding is still a concern in parts of the community. The lack of tourism, the decline in property values, the loss of natural resource and the environmental devastation linked with the breakwater cannot justify the "calm waters" which appears to be the only residual benefit the structure offers today to a limited number of pleasure craft and an occasional commercial vessel awaiting clearance into port."

These proposals are meant to be a guide in ways to reconfigure the breakwater, however there has not been a single approach that has been decided. The "Long Beach" portion of the breakwater is the easternmost edge of Alamitos Bay, bordered by Queen's Way Gate to the west, a primary entrance to the Port of Long Beach, and the Alamitos Channel to the east, the entrance to Naples Island. The western portions of the breakwater extend as far as San Pedro Bay and are not effected by this project which is considered to protect the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles and vital to their operation. Environmental restoration along Long Beach's shores is being carefully evaluated in cooperation with the Port operations.

The Long Beach Peninsula is going to face erosion and flooding concerns with or without the breakwater. Although a solution must be made to help them, there is no reason to keep the breakwater because it is not a solution. Long Beach, along with many California beaches, face severe erosion problems. If the breakwater is removed, natural waves will return. There will probably be a need for some type of sand replenishment, however this is already happening in many beaches along the California Coast. There are so many benefits in removing the Long Beach Breakwater, yet so far there has been no significant benefits identified. It has outlived its purpose, and it is time that we start funding the campaign to Sink the Breakwater and consider the future of Long Beach.

Proposals for Sinking the Breakwater