The city of Manhattan Beach wants to hold its ground—literally—against a Malibu project to dredge sand.
Mayor Wayne Powell sent a letter to the State Lands Commission three weeks ago stating the council does not want Malibu to dredge Manhattan Beach sand.
The project would involve removing 600,000 cubic yards of sand from off of the Manhattan Beach coast and relocating it to expand the eroding Broad Beach in Malibu. The city of Malibu has already collected samples of Manhattan Beach sand and is examining it to see if it would be a match for Broad Beach.
The fact that the city is still not sure how the dredging will affect its coastline is one of the main reasons the council disapproves of the idea, said Director of Community Development Richard Thompson.
“There’s just a lack of info,” Thompson said. “And we just are not fully aware of what benefits there are to the city to approve it.”
He said that there are likely other beaches in the state being considered for the project as well.
“They came and talked to us and said they have contacted other cities and they are looking up and down the California coast for possible matches,” Thompson said. “So Manhattan Beach is not the only one.”
Broad Beach, an area that famously houses several celebrities, has been narrowing over the years, leading residents to build a rock barrier as their homes become increasingly nearer to the shoreline.
Thompson said the project at this point is being run by a self-funded assessment district made up of property owners. The $20 million proposal will need to be signed off on by several government agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Powell said that he encourages Manhattan Beach residents to contact the State Lands Commission and voice their opinions on the issue. He said that media coverage of the proposed dredging has inspired many locals to come forward with their concerns, and that he has received “dozens of e-mails” so far.
“At least at this point it’s important just to be on the record that there are people opposed to it,” Powell said. “Later we will do the legal things where we will state the reasons.”
He said that he would like to see other options for excavating sand explored including dredging sand from the desert, which he said could be a viable although more costly option, for Broad Beach.
Additionally, he said he would also like to know exactly how the excavation might affect Manhattan Beach, with research backed by scientists, before the project is approved.
“What I would like to see done first, at the very minimum, is before they approve everything, tell us what they’re going to do,” he said. “And let’s have scientists look at it.”
