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appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

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1.0 Introduction<br />

classifications that have implications to the amount <strong>of</strong> mitigation required for port development<br />

projects that include fill <strong>of</strong> harbor waters.<br />

This report provides an updated inventory <strong>and</strong> assessment <strong>of</strong> the marine <strong>biological</strong> environment<br />

<strong>of</strong> the inner <strong>and</strong> outer Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach harbors. Survey elements from this study<br />

are consistent with the most recent previous <strong>biological</strong> baseline study (MEC 2002), including the<br />

physical/chemical environment (water quality <strong>and</strong> sediment grain size), adult <strong>and</strong> juvenile fish,<br />

larval fish (ichthyoplankton), benthic invertebrates, attached organisms on breakwaters <strong>and</strong><br />

other rocky riprap, kelp <strong>and</strong> macroalgae, eelgrass, birds, marine mammals, <strong>and</strong> non-indigenous<br />

species. Other survey elements included for the present study, but not conducted by MEC<br />

(2002) were a special study to compare benthic sampling gear (box corer versus Van Veen<br />

grab) <strong>and</strong> an ichthyoplankton methods comparison study.<br />

1.2 REPORT ORGANIZATION<br />

This report is organized by technical area. Each <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nine technical sections (chapters) presents the<br />

methods <strong>and</strong> materials <strong>of</strong> the field, laboratory, <strong>and</strong><br />

analytical efforts, a data summary, <strong>and</strong> a discussion <strong>of</strong><br />

the results <strong>of</strong> the studies that were conducted. Figures<br />

<strong>and</strong> tables are provided at the end <strong>of</strong> each chapter.<br />

The Chapters are supported by technical appendices<br />

that present details <strong>of</strong> the data generated by the<br />

studies <strong>and</strong> the analyses that were conducted.<br />

1.3 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY SITE<br />

A detailed discussion <strong>of</strong> the Ports <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the historical changes that have taken place since the<br />

early 1800s is presented in the 2000 <strong>biological</strong> baseline study (MEC 2002). Development <strong>of</strong> the<br />

harbors has changed much <strong>of</strong> the historic shallow estuarine habitats into mainly deepwater<br />

habitats through a series <strong>of</strong> dredge-<strong>and</strong>-fill operations that deepened <strong>and</strong> widened channels to<br />

accommodate deep draft vessels <strong>and</strong> provided fill for additional l<strong>and</strong> areas <strong>of</strong> terminal<br />

development (HEP 1980, USACE 1992).<br />

The current harbor complex consists <strong>of</strong> the Port <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles to the west <strong>and</strong> Port <strong>of</strong> Long<br />

Beach to the east (Figure 1.1-2) <strong>and</strong> is comprised <strong>of</strong> a wide variety <strong>of</strong> marine habitats. For<br />

example, just north <strong>of</strong> the breakwaters <strong>and</strong> channels, open water habitat leads to basins <strong>and</strong><br />

slips in the middle <strong>and</strong> inner parts <strong>of</strong> the Ports. These habitats vary in size, length, width, <strong>and</strong><br />

distance from the harbor entrance <strong>and</strong> generally have differences in physical characteristics<br />

including varying degrees <strong>of</strong> tidal circulation <strong>and</strong> exchange.<br />

Angel’s Gate between the San Pedro <strong>and</strong> Middle Breakwaters <strong>and</strong> Queen’s Gate between the<br />

Middle <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Breakwaters are the two primary points <strong>of</strong> tidal exchange between<br />

western San Pedro Bay <strong>and</strong> the harbors. Tidal exchange also occurs near the east end <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Long Beach Breakwater. In addition, some <strong>of</strong> the watershed inflows to the Ports include the Los<br />

Angeles River, which empties into San Pedro Bay northeast <strong>of</strong> Pier J in Long Beach Harbor,<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Dominguez Channel, which drains into the north end <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles Harbor c<strong>los</strong>e to the<br />

Consolidated Slip. Other freshwater input to the Ports includes the Terminal Isl<strong>and</strong> Treatment<br />

Plant (TITP), which discharges near Pier 400, <strong>and</strong> major storm drains in both harbors.<br />

1–2 <strong>2008</strong> Biological Surveys <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Harbors<br />

April 2010

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