Category Archives: Los Angeles

Calif. city turns to birds of prey to solve problems

by William M. Welch, USA TODAY
AVALON, Calif. - For years, this island harbor town has had serious tourism problems: Its beaches were consistently rated among the most polluted on the West Coast, and its waterfront was crowded with aggressive gulls that harassed visitors and stole food off their plates. All that has changed, and leaders are giving much of the credit to a group of environmental enforcers they hired - Larry the hawk, Chin the falcon and Big Al the owl. Continue Reading......
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New boat show debuts at Harbor Island’s Sunroad Marina Jan. 28-31

by Nicole Sours Larson - SDNews.com When the San Diego Sunroad Boat Show opens at Sunroad Marina at the east end of Harbor Island on Jan. 28 for a four-day run, it will have more than a new venue name. Replacing the annual San Diego Convention Center boat show formerly held in early January, the new show will have a different look and approach. On-land exhibitors will display their wares under canopies and all but small trailerable boats will be at docks in the water. Continue Reading... ...
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Repairs to Cayucos Pier OK’d by panel

By Kathe Tanner — The Tribune (San Luis Obispo) - The Fresno Bee Work to stabilize the aging, rickety Cayucos Pier for the winter can begin as soon as November, the California Coastal Commission affirmed last week. The temporary additions, which can only be made above the waterline under the commission's agreement, are designed to keep the iconic pier intact through winter storms, rough seas, high winds and shifting tides. Continue Reading...
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Tropical Storm Octave strengthens off Mexico’s Baja Calif. coast

Reuters - Reporting by Elinor Comlay; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Leslie Gevirtz The storm, about 315 miles south of the peninsula's tip, was traveling north-northwest at about 13 miles per hour (20 kmph), Miami's National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Octave had maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 65 miles per hour (100 kmph) and its strength was expected to fluctuate overnight before gradually weakening on Monday, the NHC said. Continue Reading... ...
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Water Quality Advisory Issued; Beach Closed Near Tijuana River

By Michelle Mowad - Imperial Beach Patch  The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) issued a General Advisory Thursday for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. A water contact closure for the ocean shoreline south of Seacoast Drive to the U.S.-Mexico border was also announced Thursday morning due to sewage-contaminated flows from the Tijuana River, according to Kevin Spence with the DEH. Continue Reading... ...
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Waikiki of the West Coast: Sink the Long Beach Breakwater

By: Kelli Marie Koller - Easy Reader News On November 13, 1938 our country’s first National Surfing Championships were postponed until December due to lack of waves. Where was this surf contest to be held? Long Beach, California. One might think, “What? Long Beach, Ca? Well of course there were no waves. Long Beach never has waves. Why would a surf contest be held there?” The answer is simple. The Long Beach Breakwater had not yet been constructed. Long Beach had waves. Before the Southernmost third portion of the breakwater was constructed, Long Beach had waves much like the South Shore breaks of Honolulu perfect for pre-war surf equipment earning Long Beach the title, “Waikiki of the West Coast.” The Red Car catered to a thriving South California linking beach goers to the variety of hotels, on-shore entertainment, and attractions such as the Pike and the Plunge bathhouse. Continue Reading... ...
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California Coastal Commission approves Naples Island seawall repair

By Eric Bradley, Press-Telegram The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday approved Long Beach’s plan to repair a section of the Naples Island seawalls, which a 2009 engineering study found are in danger of collapsing during a moderate earthquake. Officials said they expect to award a contract by January and begin construction the following month. Continue Reading... ...
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Despite Fukushima, Scientists Say Eating West Coast Fish is Safe

David Suzuki - The Huffington Post Following Japan's devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, fear spread about risks of leaked radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant -- for the health of those living in or near Fukushima or involved in cleanup efforts, and for the planet and the potential impacts on our complex marine food web. Shunichi Tanaka, head of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, told reportersradioactive water has likely been leaking into the Pacific Ocean since the disaster hit. It's the largest single contribution of radionuclides to the marine environment ever observed, according to one report. With 300 tonnes of contaminated water pouring into the sea every day, Japan's government finally acknowledged the urgency of the situation in September. Continue Reading... ...
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Pepperdine withdraws field lights request in face of Coastal opposition

By Knowles Adkisson - Malibu Times Pepperdine University officials withdrew an application for stadium field lights at an intramural athletic field on its Malibu campus Wednesday after it became clear the California Coastal Commission would deny the coastal development permit, according to a tweet from the Pacific Legal Foundation. The university had proposed to add six 80-foot stadium light fixtures to replace four existing 28-foot fixtures at what is known as the Marie Canyon Field. Continue Reading... ...
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