Newport Beach campaigns Coast Guard for permanent anchorage

NEWPORT BEACH — Efforts to establish a second permanent (and year-round) anchorage at Newport Beach Harbor have hit a snag, as the U.S. Coast Guard withheld initial support of the city’s plans. Newport Beach officials, however, will be meeting with representatives of the Coast Guard’s Los Angeles-Long Beach Sector to discuss the possibility of a trial run. The city’s second anchorage, which is located near the Turning Basin in the harbor’s west end, had operated as a temporary boating venue during the past few years. A permanent public anchorage already exists on the east side of Lido Isle. City officials hoped to establish the anchorage as a permanent facility this year, however the Coast Guard’s lack of support, as of now, has put those plans on hold – at least for now. High traffic volume in the Turning Basin area was cited as the reason for the lack of Coast Guard support, two sources with Newport Beach City Hall confirmed. Newport Beach Harbor Resources Manager Chris Miller told The Log he is campaigning the Coast Guard to reconsider its position and allow the city to move forward with a trial run of the public anchorage. Miller added he hopes to ease the Coast Guard’s...