thelog.com
Water Board green lights Marina del Rey Harbor cleanup
By Parimal M. Rohit
LOS ANGELES — An amended plan outlining the preliminary steps for Marina del Rey Harbor to be cleaned of toxic pollutants and help the man- made water venue to achieve high water quality standards was approved Sept. 9 by the State Water Resources Control Board. Based upon new data claiming
Marina del Rey Harbor is home to the worst copper pollution amongst California’s marinas, state officials approved an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region and established the Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL. With potentially adverse impacts on harbor marine life, the approved amended plan would allow state, regional, and county officials to estab- lish a cap on how many pollutants could be permitted to exist within the harbor’s waters. As a result, Marina del Rey Harbor would be regulated to controlling the amounts of seven toxic pollutants found within its waters every day, including lead, zinc copper, chlordane and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), among others. To get below the TMDL threshold, county officials who govern Marina del Rey must significantly reduce the amount of certain toxic pollutants with- in the harbor. The new TMDL requirements essen- tially means Marina del Rey boat own- ers will no longer be allowed to use copper-based paint on their respective hulls. “Marina del Rey is the world’s largest man-made small craft harbor, and is used by boaters, anglers, swimmers, paddle boarders and bird watchers,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Board. “This amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan is an impor- tant step to help improve the water quality in the harbor.” The Los Angeles Regional Water
Quality Control Board developed the amendment and, according to a State Water Resources Control Board state- ment, “addresses pollution of both the harbor water and sediment, and con- siders all pollution sources, including storm water, historic activities, and boating-related sources.” Under the new TMDL requirement, Los Angeles County officials, boat own- ers, and individual anchorages must address the source of copper pollution during the next 10 years. Carol Baker of the Los Angeles
County Department of Beaches and Harbors said achieving the TMDL goals within 10 years is easier said than done. With about 4,700 vessels in the
Marina del Rey Harbor, Baker said it would take at least 30 years for the
waterfront’s two boatyards to service every single boat that needs to change its respective hull paint to become compliant with the new TMDL require- ments. “The timeline is unrealistic in terms of boaters being able to change their hull paint to non-copper-based paint,” Baker said. Mike Leneman, a former oceanogra-
phy professor who also has experience in building and racing boats, said the state’s new policy requiring reductions in copper use with the marina unfairly applies to recreational boaters and not larger boats operated by the military that possibly emit large amount of cop- per into the water.
Leneman, who has a boat in Marina
del Rey, added he recalls when the har- bor was built in the 1960s and is not sure whether a TMDL requirement is necessary. “It seems a little bit over the top,” he
said. “The marina has been around for 50 years. Marine life has never been in better shape than now.” On that note, Baker said that the basin of the harbor has never been dredged and it could cost millions of dollars to clean out illegal high levels of sentiment. Just how much cleaning needs to be done is not yet known, Baker added, as officials still need to conduct studies of the water’s condition. “It is the largest recreational marina
in the United States and [dredging] could be quite costly,” Baker said. According to the State Water
Resources Control Board, TMDL is a regulatory term defined in the U.S. Clean Water Act as “a value of the maxi- mum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards.” “These pollutants are toxic to marine life and birds. Several of them are car- cinogens that impact humans who con- sume contaminated fish,” the State Water Resources Control Board said in a statement. Specifically, the State Water
Resources Control Board cited tests conducted in the Marina del Rey Harbor to demonstrate the impacts of its water’s apparently high toxicity. The results, according to the state board, demon- strated the harbor water, which possibly included unsafe levels of copper, would have a domino effect on the food chain. “These toxic impacts to smaller ani- mals at the bottom of the food chain affect other species in the harbor and in the adjacent ocean,” a State Water Resources Control Board statement said, adding the high level of copper probably results from boat owners using copper-based antifouling paint applied to the bottom of their respec- tive boats to prevent organism from growing on the hulls.
Completely revamped, The Harbor at Marina Bay hosts some of the most state-of-the-art dock features available with amenities that put what you want well within your reach. Located minutes away from LAX, Hollywood and multiple entertainment venues throughout L.A., you’ll find your perfect fit at The Harbor at Marina Bay.
One Month Free on Select Slips - Visit Today!*
Now Leasing Brand New Boat Slips FEATURES & AMENITIES
NOT JUST ANY MARINA
— Dedicated Marina bathroom/showers — Boater laundry room
— Surfaces with beautiful patterned stamped concrete
— Convenient parking available — Pump out station at every dock — Rounded finger ends — New dock boxes with innovative features
— Updated electric/sewer systems and fire safety stations
— Free WiFi
— Slips accommodate boats from 22 feet to 46 feet
THEHARBORATMARINABAY.COM Marina Leasing Office: 310.821.2542
— Eleven end ties to accommodate yachts from 50 feet to 90 feet in length
HarboratMarinaBay@AvalonBay.com 14015 WEST TAHITI WAY, MARINA DEL REY, CA 90292
The Harbor at Marina Bay offers 100% ADA-compliant boat slips available for persons with disabilities. *Subject to change.
The Log • Sept. 26 - Oct. 9, 2014 • 15
License #0E32738
R
MARINE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
“Your Marine Insurance Specialists”
7 Marina Plaza • Antioch, CA 94509 • At The Antioch Marina Latitude 38° 01’ 10” N – Longitude 121° 49’ 10” W – Buoy 4 Red - On the San Joaquin River
• Shop Your Renewal & $ave – Flexible Survey Requirements
• Broad Navigation Areas • Liveaboards • Classic Yacht Coverage • Agreed Value Policies • Fuel Spill Liability • Get a Quote Online
Your Twin Rivers
Policy Comes With an Agent
Bob Gary West Coast • Hawaii • Mexico • East Coast tH ii M i
Marine Insurance made simple, affordable and effective. Years of unbeatable experience to match your needs to the right product.
www.BoatInsuranceOnly.com (800) 259-5701 Representing…
ace seguros
Commercial Marine Insurance • CALL DOUG for a QUOTE • Piers & Docks
• Shoreside Property • General Liability • Worker’s Comp • Protection/Indemnity • Equipment
• Business Interruption • Jones Act / Crew • Directors/Offi cers Liability • Yacht Clubs
Doug Rader Your Commercial Marine Specialist • Members:
Affi liate Member
Direct 209-334-2858
S
T
W
E
I
V
N
I
R
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60