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

1.0 Introduction
1.5 OVERVIEW OF PREVIOUS STUDIES AND COMPARISON OF METHODS
Marine studies of the Port complex in the 1950s reported severe pollution in many harbor areas
(Reish 1959), resulting in the need for cleanup efforts in the 1960s (summarized in MEC 2002).
During the 1970s, studies of the physical/chemical and biological conditions in the Ports were
conducted by a number of research organizations for a variety of sponsors, including Pacific
Lighting Service, NOAA Sea Grant Program, Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, and
USACE (MEC 2002).
In the mid 1970s, studies in Long Beach harbor focused on potential thermal discharge effects
from the Long Beach Generating Station (EQA-MBC 1978), the intake and discharge of which
are located just north of the Gerald Desmond Bridge, opposite Pier C.
Over the past 30 years, port development plans have focused on accommodating anticipated
increases in cargo. Numerous dredge and fill projects have been completed since the 1970s,
when the first comprehensive baseline studies were conducted (MEC 2002). Other biological
studies have focused on changes to the configuration of the Ports since the 1970s, including
construction of Piers 300 and 400, expansion of Pier J (SAIC and MEC 1997), various slip fills,
and construction of the west basin of the Cabrillo Marina complex (Jones & Stokes 2002). As
stated above, few major projects have occurred in the Ports since 2000, with most being part of
the Channel Deepening project (USACE and LAHD 2000).
Separate biological studies of Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors were conducted in the
1980s and 1990s. Several of these studies monitored effects of thermal discharges, while
others focused on effects of discharges from the TITP outfall, and harbor developments (MBC
1984). In addition, MEC conducted biological baseline studies of Los Angeles Harbor in 1986-
1987 (MEC 1988) and of Long Beach Harbor in 1994 and 1996 (MEC 1997), and MBC
conducted a baseline study of Long Beach Harbor in 1983 (MBC 1984).
1–4 2008 Biological Surveys of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors
April 2010