LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District is preparing to release a draft report recommending restoration of aquatic habitat within East San Pedro Bay. The City of Long Beach is the local sponsor.
The report identifies a Tentatively Selected Plan, which would be the Corps’ first open-ocean ecosystem restoration project in the nation. The plan would provide near-shore and off-shore rocky reefs, kelp reefs and eelgrass beds, and is referred to as the Reef Restoration Plan.
“The Corps’ LA District is excited about the release of the tentatively selected plan,” said Col. Aaron Barta, commander of the Corps’ LA District. “We look forward to public input on the plan to help restore the unique underwater ecosystem environment of East San Pedro Bay.”
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report — which documents the analysis of alternatives and the proposed Tentatively Selected Plan — will be released Nov. 29 for public comment before a final decision is made.
Other plans that will be presented in the report include two alternatives – a smaller-scale plan that would restore kelp and eelgrass beds in the bay and a larger-scale plan that would restore more types of habitat, including coastal wetlands, sandy islands and oyster reefs.
“The Corps of Engineers has a unique opportunity to study the restoration of imperiled coastal habitat types, such as rocky reef, kelp and eelgrass beds within East San Pedro Bay,” said Eileen Takata, lead planner for the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study. “These productive habitat types would support ocean biodiversity within the Southern California region.”
The public is invited to attend two meetings to learn more about the plan and provide comments from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach.
“This is the culmination of a 14-year project to use science and data to present potential solutions to ecosystem restoration and water quality,” said Tom Modica, acting city manager, Long Beach. “We thank the Army Corps for working with the city to study this critically important question, and encourage the community to review the scientific study and participate in the public comment period.”
The public comment period is open from Nov. 29, 2019, to Jan. 27, 2020. The draft Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report can be found at: https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-Studies/East-San-Pedro-Bay-Ecosystem-Restoration-Study/.
The Draft Integrated Feasibility Report also is available for review, beginning Nov. 29, at the following locations:
Long Beach City Hall
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Billie Jean King Main Library
200 W. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
Port of Long Beach Administration Building
Environmental Planning Division, 7th Floor
415 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Wilmington Branch Library
1300 North Avalon Blvd.
Wilmington, CA 90744
San Pedro Regional Branch Library
931 Gaffey St.
San Pedro, CA 90731