The relentless march of climate change is leaving its mark on Long Beach, and the residents of the Long Beach Peninsula are feeling the brunt of it. High tides, once a rare occurrence, are now becoming the new normal, and the consequences are far-reaching. This is a story of resilience, adaptation, and the urgent need to address the impacts of rising sea levels.
The Long Beach Peninsula, a narrow stretch of homes on the sand between the ocean and Alamitos Bay, is a microcosm of the challenges posed by climate change. In mid-June, a combination of strong swell and high tides resulted in dramatic scenes of water splashing over sand berms, onto the boardwalk, and into streets. This week and last, tides topped 7 feet, a stark reminder of the forces at play.
Mark Merrifield, an oceanography professor at Scripps, explains that the recent tides have been high due to natural cycles related to the moon's position to Earth this time of year. It's also likely related to El Niño, a natural climate pattern that warms the Pacific Ocean. Warmer water takes up more space, leading to higher sea levels. This phenomenon tends to peak at the end of the year, which means winter, during the next high tide season, is likely to be even more "eventful."
The city of Long Beach's climate action plan estimates sea levels will rise as much as 2 feet by 2050 and nearly 7 feet by 2100. Merrifield warns that what is happening rarely now will happen almost at every high tide when we get to the end of the century. This is a stark reminder of the urgency of the situation.
The Long Beach Peninsula has been particularly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels. In just the last 10 years, the city has had to build sand berms to protect oceanfront properties from high tides and south swells. Six days a week, city workers truck sand from the wider, western side of the beachfront back to the peninsula to replenish the sand that gets sucked away by the water between the jetty and the breakwater down the beach. However, the city is running out of space to build the berms because they are not able to keep up with the sand movement.
The view from the peninsula is a stark reminder of the changes that are taking place. Charles Thomas, who has lived on the peninsula for 50 years, recalls a time when the beach was wider and the tent he used to host parties was 96 feet long. Now, water floods over eroded berms and underneath the lifeguard tower toward his house. Siobhan Gadallah, who has rented a home on the peninsula for two years, describes the waves splashing over the berms as intense enough to potentially knock over her 4-year-old child. Despite the challenges, the family is not too worried about the long-term prospects, as they have found a sense of comfort in their new home.
The city is hoping to break ground on a project later this year to dredge some 415,000 cubic yards of sand from the Alamitos Bay Channel and replenish the beach about 200 feet out again. This project could potentially reduce the need for sand berms. However, the city had considered long-term plans to restore kelp beds and rocky reefs in front of the peninsula to help slow wave energy, but that effort has stalled.
The story of the Long Beach Peninsula is a powerful reminder of the need for urgent action to address the impacts of rising sea levels. It is a call to action for all of us to take responsibility for our planet's future. As Merrifield says, "I think at some point it will come down to understanding how to live with high water, which is not something we’ve normally done."
In my opinion, this story highlights the importance of taking proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It is a call to action for all of us to take responsibility for our planet's future. The Long Beach Peninsula is a microcosm of the challenges posed by rising sea levels, and it is up to us to ensure that we are prepared for the future.
