City of los angeles general plan

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

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before they reached the ocean reduced replenishment of ocean sediments

and modified natural erosion and sedimentation patterns. 

Harbor dredging and other development created and eroded beaches by

changing tidal patterns or adding sand that created new beaches or

replenished existing beaches. For example, in 1928 more than one

million cubic yards of sand was dredged from the harbor and used to

create what became Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

In the 1930s, the engineering bureau's hydraulic research laboratory

evaluated sand migration in order to identify causes of erosion which

were damaging roads and public systems. The study concluded that the

primary cause of beach erosion was breakwaters and other army corps

projects that had modified wave action along the coast. Flood control

and drainage projects blocked the natural discharge of sediments into

the ocean, virtually eliminating the natural replenishment of beach

sands. Dredging removed sediments from the migration stream. Mitigation

of beach erosion eventually was recognized by the federal government as

being beyond the expertise, resources and authority of local

jurisdictions. 

Beach erosion management. An Act For the Improvement and Protection of

the Beaches Along the Shores of the United States was enacted by

Congress in 1936. It provided funding for federal construction of

facilities to prevent coastal erosion in areas where federal interests

were involved. The 1946 the Shore Protection Cost Sharing Act (Public

Law 79-727) provided for up to one-third federal cost sharing for

construction of shore protection projects on publicly-owned lands. But

more was needed. By 1956 beach erosion was so endemic to large bodies

of water within the United States that Congress placed the army corps

in charge of beach erosion management in an effort to establish more

comprehensive oversight. In 1962 the River and Harbor and Flood Control

Act (PL 87-874) provided for the federal government to pay up to 70% of

the beach erosion and shore protection construction costs. 

The 1986 Water Resources Development Act (WARDA; PL 99-662) recognized

hurricane and storm damage reduction and recreation as the primary

purposes of beach erosion control projects. A 1996 amendment to WARDA

added environmental restoration. WARDA is reenacted every two years. It

delegates beach erosion management, in part, to the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers. WARDA provides federal cost sharing up to 65% and provides

federal participation in periodic renourishment projects for up to 50

years, when protective dunes or sacrificial sand is employed to protect

against storm and wave damage. 

With reduction of beach renourishment funding in the mid-1990s, the

beach erosion management program was severely curtailed. Migration of

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

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sand and lack of sand replenishment has resulted in the virtual

disappearance of some beaches in California. To address the issue, the

American Coastal Coalition was formed to lobby for fund reinstatement

and acceleration of beach renourishment programs. The coalition is

comprised of representatives of coastal jurisdictions, including the

Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department, and interested

groups throughout the nation. The county has initiated efforts to

involve local jurisdictions in coalition activities which will help

protect and renourish local beaches.

Conclusion. Although the city does not have primary jurisdiction over

beach management, it has primary responsibility over dredging and

construction in the harbor and land use actions on shore that can

affect sedimentation patterns and result in erosion or replenishment of

beaches. In addition, the city can lobby for state and federal

legislation and programs that will protect beaches.

Continuing issues: 

N

 Erosion of hillsides resulting in loss of natural watershed and

features, flooding and endangerment to structures and people.

N

 Loss of beach sands resulting in loss of beaches; undermining or loss

of natural features and endangerment to structures and people.

Erosion objective, policies and programs (for landslide and flood, see

the Safety Element):

Objective: protect the coastline and watershed from erosion and

inappropriate sedimentation that may or has resulted from human

actions.

Policy 1: support legislation and efforts to secure and retain federal

funding for Pacific coast beach protection and renourishment programs.

Program: include beach protection and renourishment in the city's

federal and state legislative (lobbying) programs.

Responsibility: *Mayor and *City Council (and City

Legislative Analyst). 

Policy 2: continue to prevent or reduce erosion that will damage the

watershed or beaches or will result in harmful sedimentation that might

damage beaches or natural areas. 

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CITY OF LOS ANGELES CONSERVATION ELEMENT

Adopted September 2001

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Program 1: permit processing and enforcement, especially

mitigation of potential beach and soil erosion and protection of

hillside and coastal terrain.

Responsibility: departments of *Building and Safety, City

Planning and/or *any city agencies that have responsibility

for planning, construction or maintenance of projects that

could affect beach sediments and erosion.

Program 2: community plan land use provisions, especially

protection of hillsides, watershed, beaches and the coastline.

Responsibility: *Department of City Planning.

Program 3: information dissemination about erosion abatement and

landscaping.

Responsibility: departments of *Building and Safety, *City

Planning, *Public Works, and *Water and Power.

Program 4: researching and continuing to improve Municipal Code

regulations regarding soil stability and erosion abatement.

Responsibility: *Department of Building and Safety.

For related information see:

N

 Ocean Section (contamination and cleanup);

N

 "Infrastructure Systems Element" (wastewater discharge into the

ocean), Los Angeles City General Plan (under preparation); and

N

 "Safety Element" (flood hazard, erosion), Los Angeles City General

Plan, Los Angeles Department of City Planning, 1996.

SECTION 9: FISHERIES

A fishery is a water body containing a population or populations of

fish, including shellfish. The only fisheries in the city are ocean

fisheries. All lakes within the city are reservoirs. Most natural water

courses are contained within flood control channels, which do not

contain significant fish populations. Completion of the Donald C.

Tillman Reclamation Plant in the Sepulveda Dam basin resulted in

continuous discharge of treated water down the river, creating the

first year-round Los Angeles River flow since the 1930s. Regeneration

of the river environment due to the flow can support fish along the

natural bottom stretches of the river, which now are rich in plant

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