Backup of cargo ships adding to emissions

Backup of cargo ships adding to emissions
By Heather McRea

This week in Coast Lines: The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are breaking records as they process the surge of cargo ships seen there for months now, but while the ships wait, they may be spewing pollution.
Plus, several sea level rise bills made it to the governor’s desk, and our reporter shares her experience riding a machine-made wave.
Here’s what’s happening along the Southern California coast.

Port congestion has some concerned about air quality

The backup of cargo ships at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles has some environmentalists and coast residents concerned. The line to offload extends down into Orange County.

While they wait, the ships are contributing emissions to local pollution, and the scurry of trucks at the ports moving around the containers of cargo can’t be helping.

The ports have already been at work lowering their emissions for the long term; for the short term, officials say the solution is to get help in clearing the backlog.
Read the story.

Urgency about sea level rise met with legislative action

Five bills that would address sea level rise in some form made it through the California legislature and to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. As of Thursday morning, he had signed one already.

He’s signed off on a new entity to coordinate efforts across agencies and how to provide grants to help local governments prepare for sea level rise.

The bills waiting for his signature would also let homes in jeopardy be purchased from owners and could create an early warning system if a coastal bluff is about to collapse.
Read the story.

Our reporter tells what it’s like to ride Surf Ranch waves

There are a slew of wave pools in the works, some as close as the Palm Springs area.

The technology for man-made waves has advanced and today one is even part of surfing’s competition circuit. Developed by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and his team, the Surf Ranch is in the middle of farming land up near Fresno.

But what’s it like surfing a wave made by a machine? Is it anything like catching a wave in the ocean?
Read the story.

What else?
What you need to know about the Pacific Airshow that roars back into Huntington Beach this weekend for three days of high-flying entertainment along the coast.
Read the story.
Cleanup and repairs at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant are complete, officials say; El Segundo residents say an odor remains in the area.
Read the story.
How is it the Hermosa Harmony Festival is promising to be the quietest event on the coast this weekend?
Read the story.

In the ocean
Not far from where the U.S. Open of Surfing was being held in Huntington Beach, fans were also cheering on riders in another contest, the annual Surf City Surf Dogs. Several of the pooches are regulars in the contest, staring down the ruff competition.
See the photos.