California Coastal Commission Approves Davies Launch Ramp Redevelopment

LONG BEACH— A project to update the Davies Launch Ramp, which provides access to Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, now has a Coastal Development Permit. The California Coastal Commission approved the redevelopment project with eight conditions at its May 13 meeting.

The project will replace the boat launch ramp, restroom, and the existing timber public dock system, which currently grounds at low tides, with a new ADA-compliant concrete public dock system that is the same size and shape as the current dock, but located 10 feet seaward of the existing location.

The plan also includes installing drainage and sewage pump-out stations; repaving the parking lot; adding five parking spaces, including eight with electric vehicle charging capabilities; installing a fish cleaning station; upgrading way finding signage and trash facilities; repairing rip rap; and implementing eelgrass mitigation adjacent to project area.

The installation of larger dock support piles will result in the fill or removal of a total of 25.9 square feet of soft-bottom habitat from the marine ecosystem and the relocation of the public dock will shade approximately 121.5 square feet of existing eelgrass habitat but also make approximately 3,600 square feet of shallower marine and intertidal habitat available for eelgrass growth. As part of the conditions of the permit, the city will be required to submit an Eelgrass Mitigation Plan for transplanting and replacement of eelgrass and soft-bottom habitat adversely impacted by the project.

A portion of the project site, including some of the parking area, entrance area, and inland landscaped areas are located within the city’s permit jurisdiction, the city has already issued a local coastal development permit for the development. Areas developed with launch ramp, rip rap revetement, dock system, restroom, parking, and other related facilities are located within the Commission’s retained permit jurisdiction on public Tidelands and needed Coastal Commission approval.

Davies Launch Ramp was built in 1965 and is a 24-hour, seven days-a-week public boat launching facility located at 6204 E. Marina Drive. According to a 2016 Long Beach City Council staff report, the Davies’ parking area is in serious disrepair, with deteriorated paving, worn stripping, poorly marked driving areas, limited lighting, and a lack of ADA compliant spaces, which all contribute to public safety and equal access concerns. The staff report said the project aims to create a cleaner, safer, and more accessible boat launch area.

The design phase of redevelopment was funded through a grant from the California Division of Boating and Waterways. The Long Beach Department of Public Works said with this important milestone completed, the city can pursue funding for the construction phase and if funding is secured, the project can be bid out and construction could commence as soon as fall of 2022 with completion prior to summer 2023.