Long Beach : Council Approves Money for Sea Habitat

The City Council has approved a half-acre habitat for sea life in the Marine Stadium waterway near Alamitos Bay.

The $250,000 habitat will replace a marine area that was destroyed four years ago by a new concrete wall built along the south side of Alamitos Bay in preparation for construction of the proposed Olympic Sailing Center. About 6,500 square feet of bay bottom was removed in the construction. The area had supported a halibut breeding ground, ghost shrimp, eel grass, worms and plants. State law requires that destroyed marine habitats must be replaced.

The center, which would be a training area for Olympic sailing competitors, was approved by the City Council in November and awaits approval of the California Coastal Commission.

The new habitat will be built at the northern edge of Marine Stadium, called End Beach. Construction is scheduled to begin in June. No date has been set for completion.