By:Kimberly Acevedo
In some areas the waves may flatten while in other areas there may be more action. A once beautiful first floor beach view might change to the bottom of a sand dune. The width of Long Beach Barrier Island could be increased and save the City of Long Beach from possible storm damage, but it will also drastically alter the islands' conditions.
The City of Long Beach held a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 18, which allowed residents to voice their concerns and comments over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Storm Damage Reduction Project for the Long Beach Barrier Island. The city, which held the meeting to consider the public's opinion on the subject, will have to make a decision on whether or not to participate in the $85 million project by Dec. 1. Otherwise, officials believe, the state funding is likely to be distributed elsewhere.
Long Beach is expected to pick up a little more than 10 percent of the cost, which City Manager Ed Eaton said would amount to a $21 tax increase per household per year, over a 25-year period.
The plan aims to protect island residents from future storms and hurricanes, while also battling the long-term effects of erosion. Tons of sand would be dredged and added to the beach, raising its height and width, and would be used to create a sand dune running the length of the city.
The Boardwalk, itself, would then likely undergo a reconstruction as fingers
