Coastal communities across Southern California are preparing for another round of high tides and powerful surf expected Monday, as crews work to reinforce beaches and protect vulnerable homes.
In Long Beach, crews are working around the clock on an $11 million dredging project, moving sand from Alamitos Bay to the Peninsula to widen the beach and create a protective buffer against incoming waves.
It’s the first time Alamitos Bay has been dredged in 20 years. The project aims to widen the beach by 100 to 200 feet, but the work could take months to complete.
Weeks of pounding surf have already torn apart the historic boardwalk and damaged homes along the Peninsula, leaving seven structures red-tagged.
In neighboring Seal Beach, crews have built the seasonal sand berm a month earlier than usual in anticipation of the high tides. The barrier is also taller and longer than in previous years.
“I mean, it’s something that happens. it’s part of living by the beach. I used to live in long beach before this. you just get used to it and prepare for it,” said Farah Kletke, Seal Beach resident.
Residents say they don’t expect to see the same level of damage as neighboring Long Beach but want to be prepared.
“Sometimes when the water comes out to the parking lot, but i think they put the berm up really high, so i think we should be okay this year,” Juvencio Díaz, of Seal Beach.
Farther south in Newport Beach, the city has constructed a massive sand berm reaching 25 feet in some areas.
High surf flooded the area just weeks ago, prompting Newport Beach officials to declare a local state of emergency to quickly mobilize resources.
“We’re moving about 100,000 cubic yards of sand out of the Santa Ana River mouth which naturally produces that sand, and then we put it onto our beach, said Georgia Rios, Newport Beach public information officer.
The sand will replenish eroded beaches between 40th and 58th streets. While the project is conducted annually, extreme coastal conditions have prompted the city to begin work earlier than usual this season.
The approaching high tides are also disrupting public transportation.
Metrolink is preemptively suspending service along a portion of its Orange County Line beginning Monday.
Trains will not operate between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside stations through Friday, Oct. 30. No alternate transportation will be provided.
Meanwhile, back in Long Beach, dredging crews continue working around the clock, racing to move enough sand onto the Peninsula to help protect coastal homes before the next round of high tides arrives.
