Plans to truck sand from Manhattan Beach to the eroding Broad Beach in Malibu has been a hot topic of discussion among city officials, but with the California State Lands Commission extending the deadline for public comment to Dec. 21, community members are still welcome to participate in the dialogue.
The Broad Beach Restoration Project, as the proposal is officially known, is headed by a group of 124 homeowners living along the beach. It intends to protect existing homes from ongoing coastal erosion and provide a “wide sandy beach” for both public and private use, according to a commission document.
The proposal, currently under evaluation by the commission, calls for about 600,000 cubic yards of sand to be imported to Broad Beach from a site about a half-mile off the Manhattan Beach coastline. The project is slated to cost about $20 million.
Manhattan Beach City Council has voiced its opposition in a letter to the commission, citing concern for erosion.
To be considered at the commission’s meeting early next year, comments should be emailed to Jason.Ramos@slc.ca.gov with “Broad Beach Restoration Project Comments” in the subject line by 5 p.m. on Dec. 21, or by postal mail to Jason Ramos, environmental scientist, California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Ave., Suite 100-South, Sacramento, CA 95825.
