Beaches in L.A. Moving Inland: Rising Seas Via Global Warming Mean Drinking Water Problems

By Dennis Romero Wed., Jul. 27 2011 at 7:08 AM

Kim Davies

Why go to the beach when the beach will come to you? Literally. Slowly: A fraction of an inch at a time.

A new report says that by the mid point of this decade sea level will be a foot and a half higher. That, in our view, could be devastating to the way-too-close-to-the-beach development in Malibu and to other parts of the L.A. County coastline, like Marina Del Rey and the low-lying community of Venice. (Think of those winter-storm days with high tides, big waves and another foot or so of water level).

But that's not the half of it. The Natural Resources Defense Council this week made some scary projections about the effects of global warming in L.A. in the coming years:

Sea level rise projections along the California coast relative to 2000 level ranges from 12 to 18 inches by 2050 , and could rise as much as 20 to 55 inches by 2100.

Mike Baird

The big concern, here, however, is not David Geffen's Malibu house (sorry, Dave). The NRDC report, "Thirsty for Answers: Preparing for the Water-related Impacts of Climate Change in American Cities," says it's all about your drinking water.

If seawater rises at that rate, it could infect freshwater aquifers that supply our taps. According to an NRDC statement:

Low-lying Venice and MDR.

Aquifers in the area, where water is already withdrawn at a higher rate than the recharge rate, are likely to experience an increase in saltwater intrusion as a result of sea level rise. It also will degrade the quality and reliability of the fresh water pumped from the southern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which supplies water to Los Angeles' residents, by increasing salinity.

The NRDC says the L.A. Department of Water and Power is already aware of the issue.

But wait, there's more. (Al Gore was right. Maybe). Summers will get even hotter. Welcome to Rialto, everyone, even you Westsiders. Because temps will go up by 3.6 to 9 degrees by the end of the century.

Steve Fleischli, senior attorney in the Water Program at NRDC:

Los Angeles is taking important steps to address climate change's impact on water, providing a positive example for others to look to. Our hope is that communities throughout the Pacific Coast region and nationwide will take a cue from Los Angeles and begin the process of preparing for climate change with the same seriousness as emergency preparedness planning.

So grab a Boogie board. And stake a claim just inland from Geffen's place.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

Tags:

coast, drinking water, environment, global warming, Malibu, Marina Del Rey, NRDC, rising seas, sea level, Venice

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angela shean

good, that is totally for good, always make sure that matter to secure people the way they are for sure.

Santa Monica Baykeeper

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6163... join us for Coastal Clean-Up Day and help keep our beaches clean. It's the largest volunteer day on the planet.

Mikesixes

The NRDC is a pack of liars, and you are morons for not fact-checking the idiocy they feed you. Here ya go:http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.g...

In case you're too dumb to read the chart, sea level at LA has been rising at a constant rate of 0.83mm per year for the last century.

Dxbecker

The first two comments are on target. Anyone who gives any credibility to the bilge promoted by the always unreliable NRDC should please check this NOAA site: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.g.... The actual sea level rise at Los Angeles, as measured (not from unreliable models) is 0.03 inches per year. If one looks carefully, there really hasn't been much of a rise in the last 8 years or so. The reporter who wrote this piece obviously did no fact checking, which is utterly irresponsible with an issue of such import.

Curt

The sea level at LA has been rising at less than a millimeter per year, and this rate has not been increasing. At this rate, the sea level will be an undetectable 1-1/2 inches higher by mid-century.

John Marshall

It is truely unfortunate that the author was willing to simply repeat what he was told by NRDC without verifying if it was in fact true. All one as to do is check the NOAA website to find out that there is no data supporting the idea that sea level in LA (or anywhere where data is being recoreded for that matter) will rise by 1.5 feet by 2050, or even 2100 for that matter. It would have taken less tha 60 seconds to find out that NRDC is either mis-informed, exagerating, or (dare I say it) LYING for political purposes. It seems unlikely that NRDC employess are so stupid as to be unable to read the relatively simple sea level data, so that does tend to make me suspect that they're intentionally fabricating this number because it fits whatever purpose they have (no doubt somehow they think they can raise money with this fabrication). THe question is, why would anyone give NRDC any credibily at all given that they apparently can't even read a simple chart correctly.

Paul Homewood

I hate to confuse the issue with facts but sea levels in Los Angeles have not gone up at all over the last 30 yrs or so . Taken over the last 100 yrs the trend has been a steady 3 inches per century as the tide guage records attached show.

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.g...

Michael

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.g...

Steve Goddard

Sea level is continuously measured in LA and hasn't risen for 30 years. Reporters should do their homework before parroting nonsense from vested interests.

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.g...