(Oct. 29, 2008) -- The second of three Breakwater Community Workshops takes place tonight (Weds. Oct. 29) at the LB Gas & Oil Dept., 2400 E. Spring St. from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Image source: City of LB

It's an interactive event, inviting input and ideas on the Breakwater along with participation in small group discussions facilitated by Moffatt & Nichol.

City management has background info on the Breakwater Reconnaissance Study on a new website page. Click here to access.

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.

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 the implication of another local website which ran a front-page graphic with a large wave breaking in connection with his report, Mr. Johnson has acknowledged that 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. However he argues that it would basically let surface water move across the reconfigured area twice a day, flushing pollution out twice a day.

On June 17, 2008 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.

As reported by LBReport.com in July, Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D., Carson-LB) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D., CA) separately requested inclusion of roughly $30,000 to fund a Breakwater reconfiguration reconnaissance study as Appropriations bills came to respective House and Senate committees and ouncilmembers, Patrick O'Donnell and Rae Gabelich (both Dems) 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), whose party is in the minority in both Houses of Congress and thus doesn't control most outcomes, didn't seek the City Hall requested earmark.

The net result leaves current House and Senate versions of spending bills without federal funding for the City Hall-sought Breakwater study earmark.

City management has said it will renew its funding request when a new Congress is sworn in starting Jan. 2009.