Breakwater meeting...Wednesday 10/8.

There was no wind to speak of yesterday, or today.

There was one kiter at Belmont just in case there was wind....but NO.

On my way to the meeting about the breakwater I caught this shot from the pier. It was a beautiful evening

The meeting was held at the Belmont Plaza Pool Banquet Room.

Tom Modica opened the meeting by explaining the directive from the city about spending $100,000 for the breakwater study.

Russ Boudreau presented what his company, Moffat & Nicholls, is planning. You can see his power point presentation at http://www.lbpost.com/images/breakwater100808.pdf

I was amazed how the breakwater was built back in the '40's. Quite an engineering feat.

Mr. Boudreau explained that the cities goal was to present our "best idea" to the U.S. Corp of Engineers. Only then could it go to the next step...Government approval.

These 6 points were the most important to consider.

The 60 or so attendees were broken into sub-groups.

This group, that includes Mark Sandoval on the extreme left, discussed their ideas with Russ.

Our group leader wrote down this groups ideas too.

Russ showed a computer model that Moffat & Nicholls had created that depicted what the bay would be if the breakwater wall was not there. I don't believe that will ever happen.

My presentation was to widen the current opening so that there would be more tidal action, especially during the summer months. My reasoning is that the East side of the breakwater would never be removed because it could possibly create more problems for the peninsula residents. And reducing the height to the high tide water level in the middle could cause boat accidents. So widening the current opening was the most cost effective. The most bang for the buck.

There are two more meetings planned, on Oct.29 and Nov 19. Go to http://www.lbpost.com/specialreport.php?id=1&where=#1635 for info. You can also read more from the Long Beach Post at , http://www.lbpost.com/specialreport.php?id=1, or from the L.A. Times at, www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-breakwater10-2008oct10,0,65589.story.
If you have any ideas PLEASE present them.