Critics believe breakwater harms beach

There's not much love for this boat

Local environmental groups are sharply criticizing the location of a project that would build a Carnival Cruise Line terminal next to the Queen Mary that they say will result in the construction of new breakwaters and continue to destroy the beach.

"People come to Long Beach to live and walk on the beach and see dolphins and seals and fish," said Bruce Monroe, chair of the Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club.  "This project threatens all that."

Long Beach would replace San Pedro as the home port for Carnival in Southern California.  The results of an environmental impact report are pending.

"So far, another breakwater is not indicated as part of the project," said Geraldine Knatz, managing director for the Port of Long Beach.

Knatz said cargo ships need breakwaters to keep the water calm because cranes are used to unload the ships.  A cruise ship does not need water that calm.

The terminal is expected to take 12 to 18 months to build and will cost about $25 million.  A 1,000-foot dock and 1,500-car parking structure will be built to accommodate the ship and its passengers.  Other financial details have not been disclosed.

Completion of the facility is scheduled for early 2001.

Environmental groups led by Diana Mann, chairwoman of ECO~Link, are trying to have the project moved west of the proposed location near the Spruce Goose Dome.  ECO~ Link is an environmental umbrella group that includes nine organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Surfrider Foundation.

"The President of the Queen Mary wants it to be close to the Queen Mary so that people can get off one cruise ship and onto an old one to buy stuff," said Robert Palmer, chair of the Long Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

More breakwaters would result in a disruption to the marine environment by causing the ocean water to stagnate, according to Palmer, whose organization wants to remove all of Long Beach's breakwaters.  He believes tourists can be attracted to Long Beach the same way they are to Huntington Beach and Seal Beach ­ by the beach, with its waves and marine life.

"The water at the mouth of the L.A. River is most polluted because the breakwater stagnates the water," he said.  "If we get circulation back in here we can revitalize the beach.

"We have enough cranes and docks here.  Whatever happened to the beach being the icon of Long Beach?"

Project proponents say there will be minimal environmental impact.

"Surfrider is only concerned with getting the breakwater down," said Travis Montgomery, the project coordinator.  "That seems to be their major motivation."

Long Beach City Councilwoman Jackie Kell said the cruise ship would aid tourism at the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village.

"I think it would bring a tremendous amount of tourists to the area," she said. "Since tourism is one of the main pegs holding up our economy, I think it would be a successful endeavor."

"The good that it's going to do for the city outweighs the bad that it will do to the environment," said Long Beach resident Mike Zilliox.  "Standing in the way of progress is usually a futile effort.  The water is bad already.  It's not like it's going to get any worse."

But the team of environmentalists won't give up.

"We don't need to add more trash to an already polluted water," Palmer said.  "It's time for us to tell City Hall that we want our beach back.  We don't want more docks."