(July 17, 2008) -- LBReport.com has learned that Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D., Carson-LB) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D., CA) both separately requested inclusion of roughly $30,000 to fund a Breakwater reconfiguration reconnaissance study as Appropriations bills came to respective House and Senate committees.

Two LB Councilmembers, Patrick O'Donnell and Rae Gabelich (both Dems), also sent supportive letters amplifying City Hall management's funding request.

But the net result was a Capitol Hill "no" although Dems control House and Senate floor and committee majorities.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R., HB-LB-PV), in whose district the Breakwater is but whose Party is currently in the minority in both Houses of Congress, didn't seek the City Hall requested earmark, LBReport.com has learned.

The net result leaves current House and Senate versions of spending bills without federal funding for the City Hall-sought Breakwater study earmark...and while it's technically possible that the local earmark could still be added via some subsequent amendment, it's rare.

If funding for the item isn't included by the current Congress (ends 2008), city management will definitely renew its funding request when a new Congress is sworn in (starting Jan. 2009), said LB City Hall's Government Affairs Manager Tom Modica.

As separately detailed on LBReport.com, retired engineer and LB native Bud Johnson has produced a detailed draft report indicating that the Port of LB's expansion of Pier J, plus LB's downtown waterfront landfill and developments, blocking previous circulation and constricting L.A. River outflow, are to blame for LB's poor downtown shoreline water quality.

His report's technical conclusions are consistent with testimony by locals at public hearings recalling downtown wave action as late as the 1960s...years after the federally built Breakwater was completed. LBReport.com has addded a feature link to our story on our front page, www.lbreport.com.

Although Mr. Johnson's report indicates the Breakwater isn't the source of the problem, it indicates that a relatively small change to the Breakwater could provide a solution to much of the problem.

Contrary to a local website (which ran a front-page graphic with a large wave breaking in connection with his report), Mr. Johnson says making a new Queens Gate opening about a quarter mile east of the existing Queens Gate, configured at what he calls zero tide level, wouldn't produce major waves but would basically let surface water move across the reconfigured area twice a day, gently flushing pollution out twice a day.

On June 17, the City Council voted (6-2, DeLong, Lerch dissenting, Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal absent) to approve spending up to $100,000 to support a study that could indicate [and possibly persuade the federally-funded Corps of Engineers] whether there's a federal interest in a reconfiguring the Breakwater to improve water quality while continuing to protect the coast.

"The goal of the study is to create a document that meets the standards and requirements of the Army Corps, and that can be reviewed by the Army Corps (at a minimum federal cost) for a determination of federal interest . Once the study is complete, the City will present the document to the Army Corps, who will then conduct their review . If the Army Corps determines that there is federal interest in reconfiguring the Breakwater, the next step would be to conduct a feasibility study," said a June 17 city staff report.

The City Hall funded study is currently being developed...and Mr. Johnson has urged incorporating his independent findings in that study. He told LBReport.com that earlier this year, he sent his draft study to 2nd district Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and received a positive, personal telephone response from her...and at her suggestion has circulated his draft study further at City Hall and the Port.