Long Beach’s Alamitos Peninsula, a slender strip of land nestled between Alamitos Bay and the Pacific Ocean, is currently facing significant damage as powerful ocean waves batter its shores. What were once tiny beach cottages have been replaced by multi-story homes and apartments with expansive water views, now directly in the path of the ocean's fury.
For approximately 80 years, a vast breakwater offered protection to Long Beach’s harbor and was thought to shield much of the city's coastline. However, a specific design gap in its eastern construction allows waves traveling from the south to strike a narrow section of the Alamitos Peninsula. This vulnerability becomes particularly acute during summer tropical storms, which whip up north-traveling waves, and is now exacerbated by El Niño conditions.
The result is months of high surf and powerful waves that are actively breaking apart several homes facing the Pacific. The historic wooden boardwalk has splintered, and residents and city officials are expressing concern that conditions will worsen as “super El Niño” conditions are expected to peak this winter. The National Weather Service recently issued warnings about beach hazards along the Southern California coast, noting that strong rip currents and elevated surf could affect south-facing beaches like Long Beach.
“It’s quite shocking,” Long Beach Marine Bureau Manager Todd Leland said, describing the emotional and physical impact of the ongoing erosion. He noted that the city’s long-standing battle against the sea has reached a critical point. For years, Long Beach has spent more than $1 million annually to manage wave impact by hauling tons of sand to build out protective beaches or berms. This method, which had been effective, failed spectacularly this year.
Three consecutive tropical storms—Hurricane Marie, Hurricane Polo, and Hurricane Rachel—walloped the peninsula, each sending higher-than-average waves to shore. This cumulative effect left the city unable to replenish sand fast enough to protect homes on the exposed stretch. Leland characterized this as a “tipping point,” where the city lost its capacity to return what the ocean had taken. U.S. Geological Survey coastal scientist Jonathan Warrick added that this summer has been “extremely energetic in terms of the waves,” leading to exceptionally large sand movement.
Long Beach residents are reacting with frustration. Kellie Canning, whose house on 66th Place is near homes falling into the ocean, called the situation “a catastrophe of man-made mistakes,” suggesting the city was downplaying its role. City officials and residents had been warned for years about the potential for such damage; a 2015 Long Beach climate resiliency report specifically highlighted the peninsula’s vulnerability to flooding and erosion, concluding that simply maintaining or elevating berms would likely not provide sufficient protection given projected sea level rise and increased storm frequency.
In response, the city has fast-tracked a potentially more durable solution. In August, the City Council approved a project to dredge Alamitos Bay to a depth of 20 feet, primarily to ensure ships do not run aground. This operation will yield approximately 415,000 cubic yards of sand, which the city plans to deposit along the peninsula’s shoreline, extending the beach by 100 to 200 feet from shore. Work on this project was expected to commence earlier this week, though it remains to be seen if it will be completed in time to prevent further damage as winter storms approach.
