Essential Fish Habitat Assessment
Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project

This assessment of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for the Port of Los Angeles Channel Deepening Project is being provided in conformance with the 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (see FR 62, 244, December 19, 1997). The 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act set forth a number of new mandates for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), eight regional fishery management councils (Councils), and other federal agencies to identify and protect important marine and anadromous fish habitat. The Councils, with assistance from NMFS, are required to delineate EFH for all managed species. Federal action agencies which fund, permit, or carry out activities that may adversely impact EFH are required to consult with NMFS regarding the potential effects of their actions on EFH, and respond in writing to the fisheries service's recommendations. The Southwest Region of NMFS has requested an assessment of the Channel Deepening Project which is located within an area designated as EFH for the Coastal Pelagics and Pacific Groundfish Management Plans.

Proposed Action

The Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the Los Angeles Harbor Department are examining the feasibility of deepening the Inner Harbor channels and turning basins of the Port of Los Angeles to accommodate the most modern vessels in the commercial container fleet. In 1992 the Corps of Engineers approved the Deep Draft Navigation Improvements Project to optimize navigation channels in the Outer Los Angeles Harbor and use the dredge material to create approximately 562 acres of new land (Pier 400). That project is presently under construction. In January 1998, the Port approved the Channel Deepening Project to deepen the Main Channel and associated channels and turning basins from the existing -45 ft. MLLW to -50 ft. MLLW to accommodate new container vessels with a -46 foot draft. Since the approval of this project, new ships in the world container fleet and pending ship orders indicate that container vessels with a draft of -52 feet are being planned which would require a need for navigational channel as deep as -55 ft. MLLW with a two-foot overdraft. As a result, the Corps of Engineers with the Los Angeles Harbor Department as the local sponsor, is conducting a Feasibilty Study to determine the federal interest in the deepening of the Main Channel of the Port of Los Angeles to accommodate existing and future commercial container vessels.

Project Objectives

The primary objective of the project is to provide adequate navigational channels for the most modern container vessels that will be calling at the Port of Los Angeles. Secondary objectives include maximizing the beneficial uses of dredge material at the Port of Los Angeles and minimizing the amount of materials for offshore disposal.

Description of the Project

The proposed project would result in dredging between 3.6 and 7.8 million cubic yards (mcy) (2.7 - 6.0 million cubic meters [mcm]) of sediment from the Los Angeles Main Channel, West Basin, East Channel, East Basin and Cerritos Channel. The amount of dredge material is dependent on the approved project depth identified through the feasibility process. Dredging will cover approximately 670 acres of harbor bottom. For Feasibility purposes, depths are being considered in one foot increments between -50 ft. MLLW, and -55 ft. MLLW. Three depth scenarios and sediment quantities are provided in Table 1.

Table 1. Alternative channel depths and approximate sediment quantities (mcy).

*Two additional feet of over depth is allowed for in each dredging depth.

The majority of channel dredging will be done using an electrified hydraulic dredge. Berth and utility work and removal of any contaminated sediments may require other types of dredges (e.g., clamshell dredges) and power sources. Dredging is tentatively scheduled 24 hours per day.

To accommodate the dredging, up to eight utility crossings of the main channels must be relocated or removed prior to completion of the project. At a project depth of -52 ft. MLLW or shallower these include the removal of a 36" Mobil Oil Line, a 20" Department of Water & Power (DWP) waterline, a DWP power line, a 30" Department of Public Works (DPW) sewer force main. These lines will be replaced with a 24" DWP waterline crossing by directional drilling, a new power line crossing by directional drilling, and a 30" sewer force main crossing by microtunneling. If dredging is to -55 ft. MLLW, three additional utility lines will require relocation. They are: 2-20" sewer force main crossings, a 30" sewer force main crossing, and a 24" waterline crossing.

Channel dredging to project depth will be restricted to an area no closer than twenty-five feet to the existing pierhead line. The exception will be selected vessel berthing areas which will be dredged to project depth up to the pierhead line. Wharf modifications to these selected vessel berthing areas would consist of installation of up to 12,000 feet of underwater sheetpile bulkhead walls.

Disposal Alternatives

A number of dredge material disposal alternatives are being considered either separately or in various combinations depending on the final proposed project and design considerations.

1. Pier 300 Expansion Site: This alternative would dispose of between 1.4 and 3.3 mcy of mostly coarse grained dredge material to create 40 to 80 acres of new land in the western portion of the Pier 300 Shallow Water Habitat. Dredge material would be placed behind a rock dike to an elevation of +17 MLLW. Determination of the size and shape of this fill would be based on the amount of suitable material dredged from the main channel, availability of mitigation to offset the loss of habitat and water quality considerations. This location could also be considered as a confined disposal site for contaminated dredge material. The land would be used to construct an additional berth and backland area for the adjacent container terminal.
2. Pier 400 Submerged Storage Site: This disposal alternative would allow in-bay disposal of up to 3.8 mcy of clean dredge material to create a 160-acre submerged fill adjacent to the southeast edge of Pier 400 Stage 2. A submerge dike no higher than -20 MLLW would be used to contain the dredge material. The dredge material would be used as a storage area for future fill material at other sites in the Harbor, or would be left in place as a base for construction of a fill that would expand Pier 400.
3. Pier 400 Upland Site: This alternative would allow for upland disposal of excess clean coarse grained sediment and would depend on availability of the Pier 400 site. This material would be used as storage for future use, or used to achieve the appropriate final grade on the constructed Pier 400 landfill.
4. Southwest Slip Fill Site: This disposal site has capacity for up to 1.1 mcy of mostly coarse-grained sediment to create approximately 15.4 acres of constructed behind a rock dike. The existing storm drains at the head of the slip would be extended as an open rip rap channel on the north side of the slip. This site could be considered as a confined disposal site for contaminated dredge material. The land would be used as additional backland for the adjacent cargo terminal.
5. Cabrillo Shallow Water Habitat Expansion Site: This submerged site would expand the existing Cabrillo Shallow Water Habitat by approximately 40 acres and be used to dispose of approximately 650,000 cy of clean, nonstructural quality dredge material (fine grain) with a sand cap. The material would be entrained behind a submerged dike on the north side, the existing Cabrillo SWH submerged dike on the east and reclined to the -20 MLLW contour on the West and South. This site would allow disposal of fine-grained material that otherwise would be disposed of at an ocean disposal site.
6. Upland Disposal Site: Fine grained dredge material unsuitable for Ocean Disposal and not placed in a confined disposal site (see above) would be placed at an approved upland storage site within the Harbor District such as at Anchorage Road site. This is currently estimated at up to 400,000 cubic yards. Contaminated dredge material would be placed on an adjacent backland and dewatered prior to trucking to the upland site, or placed in a barge and towed to the upland site.
7. Ocean Disposal Sites (LA-2 and/or LA-3): Clean fine-grained/formation material that cannot be taken to other disposal locations, will be disposed of at a USEPA-approved ocean disposal site (LA-2 and/or LA-3). Project construction could generate up to approximately 4.8 mcy of clean fine-grained/formation material.

Schedule

Dredging is expected to begin approximately January of 2001 and be completed by July of 2002. Wharf upgrades would be on going, during and after the dredging project.

Effects of the Proposed Action on EFH

The ichthyofauna in the area of the proposed project has been extensively studied (Soul and Oguri 1976, 1980; Chamberlain 1973; Long Beach Harbor Consultants 1976; Horn and Allen 1981; Brewer 1976; Atlantis Scientific 1979; Ware 1979; Southern California Ocean Studies Consortium 1980, 1982 (81,83?); Los Angeles Harbor Department 1981, 1984; MBC Applied Environmental Sciences 1974, 1980, 1988; Reish 1971, Environmental Quality Analysts and Marine Biological Consultants 1978; Hill and Reish 1975; Lio 1981; MEC Analytical Systems Inc., 1988, 1999). The most recent comprehensive studies are those of MBC (1984) and MEC (1988). Recently, studies for the Channel Deepening Project were conducted by MEC (1999) to compare various habitats in the Outer Los Angeles Harbor.

Over 130 species of fish are found in the Los Angeles Harbor (MEC 1988; COE and LAHD 1992). As general rules, the abundance of fish within the federal breakwater is higher than outside the breakwater and the diversity and abundance of fish decline as one proceeds into the Inner Harbor, especially into the blind slips. Over the years, there has been an improvement of the harbor's water quality and areas in the main channels and basins of the Inner Harbor, which historically were less valuable to fishes, have become more like areas of the deep Outer Harbor (MEC 1988). An estimate of total fish abundance shows that the Outer Harbor contains, at any one time, approximately 15 million fish (MEC 1988). Three species, the Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax), the northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and the white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) make up approximately 90% of the fish in the Outer Harbor (MEC 1988).

The proposed project is located within an area designated as EFH for two Fishery Management Plans (FMP), the Coastal Pelagics and Pacific Groundfish Management Plans (NMFS 1997). Of the 86 species which are federally managed under these plans, twelve are known to occur in the Los Angeles Harbor and could be affected by the proposed project (Table 2).

Table 2. Fisheries management plans (FMP) and managed species affected by the Channel Deepening Project.

Four of the five species in the Coastal Pelagics FMP are well represented in the Project area. In particular, the northern anchovy is the most abundant species in Los Angeles Harbor, representing over 80% of the fish caught (MEC 1988, 1999), and larvae of the species are also a common component of the ichthyoplankton (MEC 1988). It is generally held that this species spawns outside the harbor. There is a commercial bait fishery for northern anchovy in the Outer Los Angeles Harbor. The Pacific sardine is at times one of the most common species in the harbor ranking second behind northern anchovy at some locations (MEC 1988). In a recent survey, sardines were a less significant component of the fish caught (MEC 1999). This species is not known to spawn in the harbor. Sardines are also a component of the commercial bait fish harvest in the harbor. Both these species are important forage for piscivorous fish. The two other Coastal Pelagic species, the Pacific and jack mackerals are common but not overly abundant as adults in the harbor. The Pacific mackeral's main forage fish in the harbor is very likely nothern anchovy.

Of the seven species present from the Pacific Groundfish FMP, only two, the olive rockfish and the scorpion fish could be considered common in the harbor. The olive rockfish has been found largely as juveniles associated with the kelp growing along the inner edge of the federal breakwater (MEC 1988). The scorpion fish is not a major component of the fish present in the harbor (MEC 1988) but may be under represented in the catch due to its' nocturnal habits.

A direct and cumulative assessment of the effects of similar project activities have been assessed in the Deep Draft Navigation Project EIS/EIR (COE and LAHD 1992) and the Channel Deepening Project EIR (LAHD 1997). Likely project activities that would directly affect the identified FMP species include: deepening of the channels, turbidity caused by dredging activity, suspension of contaminants from the sediments during dredging and dredge disposal, and construction of submerged fill or landfill associated with dredge material disposal (Table 3). Project activities will not have any significant effect on the FMP species that do not occur in the Harbor or are rare or uncommon in the harbor (i.e., English sole, Pacific sanddab, bocaccio and cabezon). The significant effect of the proposed project is the loss of habitat resulting from the construction of either 40 or 80 acres of fill in Outer Harbor shallow water at disposal sites 1 and 35 acres of Inner Harbor slip habitat at disposal site 4. There is also a potential degradation of water quality in the Pier 300 Shallow Water Habitat as a result of construction of disposal site 1 which would require mitigation.

Table 3. Effects of the proposed project activities on FMP species.

Proposed Mitigation

Impacts to water quality associated with dredging activites are considered temporary and would be minimized through implementation of requirements associated with established Waste Discharge Requirements/410 Certification of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Of the activities identified above, the loss of general marine resources due to construction of land as disposal sites for dredge material (sites 1 and 4) is considered a significant adverse impact requiring mitigation. The appropriate mitigation has, in the past, been determined in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) through agreed-upon mitigation policy. The goal established in the Deep Draft Navigation Project (COE and LAHD 1992) and elsewhere, is "no net loss of in-kind habitat value, where in-kind refers to marine tidal water of value to fish and birds." Due to the infeasibility of undertaking any significant on-site mitigation except for limited creation of shallow water, and the public interest mandate of accomodating maritime cargo conferred upon the Port by the California Coastal Act, off-site mitigation is allowed between Pt. Conception and the Mexican border (area of ecological continuity). Implementation of mitigation measures shall occur prior to or concurrent with project impact. The preferred mitigation is the restoration of coastal embayment habitat or possibly construction of artificial reefs pending additional studies on their mitigation value. The habitat valuation performed for evaluating mitigation opportunities includes marine fish resources and therefore accounts for FMP species present.

The mitigation proposed for the Channel Deepening Project would include use of mitigation credit present in the Port's existing Bolsa Chica Mitigation, Outer Harbor Mitigation Bank, and Inner Harbor Mitigation Bank (Table 4). While there is mitigation available for construction of fill associated with disposal site 4, there is probably not enouth mitigation available for construction of an 80 acre fill at disposal site 1 (Pier 300 Shallow Water Habitat). Any deficit in mitigation would be made up in accordance with procedures identified in Measure 4D-1 of the Deep Draft Navigation Project and would be required prior to project construction.

Table 4. Mitigation available for the Channel Deepening Project disposal sites 1 (Shallow Outer Harbor) and 4 (Inner Harbor).

* Final values will be available upon confirmation through as-built drawings of Pier 400 and the Cabrillo Shallow Water Habitat.

** The Pier 300 fill (disposal site 1) may also require expenditure of credits for degradation of the remaining water area. This will be determined upon receipt of ongoing water quality modeling.

The mitigation provided for above would maintain sustainable fisheries present in theCoastalPelagics and Pacific Groundfish FMPs.

REFERENCES

Allan Hancock Foundation (AHF). 1976. Environmental Investigations and Analysis, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor 1973-1976. Final Report to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District. Prepared by Allan Hancock Foundation, Harbors Environmental Projects, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Allen, J. M. 1982. Functional structure of the soft-bottom fish communities of the southern California shelf. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, San Diego.

Allen, L. G., M. H. Horn, F. A. Edmands II, and C. Usui. 1983. Structure and seasonal dynamics of the fish assemblage in the Cabrillo Beach area of Los Angeles Harbor, California. Bulletin. Southern California Academy of Science 82(2): 47-70.

Atlantis Scientific. 1979. Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Reestablishment of the Long Beach Naval Station as a Pacific Fleet Homeport. Prepared for the Department of the Navy.

Brewer, G. D. 1976. Resuspended Sediment Elutriate Studies on the Northern Anchovy. In Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, California. Part II, Potential Effects of Dredging on the Biota of Outer Los Angeles Harbor. Edited by D. F. Soule and M. Oguri. Prepared for Allan Hancock Foundation and Office of Sea Grant Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Chamberlain, D. W. 1973. Results of Fourteen Benthic Trawls Conducted in the Outer Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor, California, May 24, 1972. In Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, California. Part II, Biological Investigations. Edited by D. F. Soule and M. Oguri. Prepared for Allan Hancock Foundation and Office of Sea Grant Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

EQA-MBC (Environmental Quality Analysts and Marine Biological Consultants). 1978. Marine monitoring studies, Long Beach Generating Station. Final report 1974-1978. Prepared for Southern California Edison Company. December.

HEP (Harbors Environmental Projects). 1976. Environmental investigations and analyses, Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors 1973-1976. Submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. December.

HEP. 1980. The Marine environment in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors during 1978, Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, CA, Part 17. Edited be D. F. Soule and M. Oguri. June.

Horn, M. A., and L. G. Allen. 1981. A Review of Synthesis of Ichthyofaunal Studies in the Vicinity of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, Los Angeles County, California. Final report. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Horn, M. H., F. A. Edmands, and F. D. Hagner. 1981. Gill net and ichthyoplankton survey in the vicinity of Berths 120-124, West Basin, Los Angeles Harbor. Technical document pp. 26-28. January.

LAHD (Los Angeles Harbor Department). 1984. Draft Supplement II Environmental Impact Report for Wharf and Backland improvement at Berths 225-229, Port of Los Angeles. February.

MBC Applied Environmental Sciences (MBC). 1980. Berths 216-218 Container Wharf and Backland Improvement Project. Element II - Environmental Assessment. Prepared for Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall. February 19.

1984. Outer Long Beach Harbor-Queensway Bay Biological Baseline Survey. Prepared for Port of Long Beach.

MEC Analytical Systems (MEC). 1988. Biological Baseline and an Ecological Evaluation of Existing Habitats in Los Angeles Harbor and Adjacent Waters. Volumes I to III. Prepared for the Port of Los Angeles.

MEC . 1999. Port of Los Angeles special study. August. Prepared for the Port of Los Angeles.

Oguri, M. and D. F. Soule. 1974. Marine environmental assessment in the vicinity of Todd Shipyards, for Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation. 123 pp. March.

Reish, D. J. 1981. The intertidal and subtidal marine life in the vicinity of Berths 121-126, West Basin, Los Angeles Harbor. 25 pp.

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Soule, D. F. and M. Oguri. 1976a. Environmental Investigation and Analyses for Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors, Los Angeles, California 1973-1976. Final report. Prepared for the Allan Hancock Foundation. Submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District.

Soule, D. F. and M. Oguri. 1976b. Marine Studies of San Pedro, California. Part 14. Prepared for Allan Hancock Foundation of Office of Sea Grant Programs, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Soule, D. F. and M. Oguri. 1979. Ecological changes in Outer Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors following initiation of secondary waste treatment and cessation of the fish cannery waste effluent. In Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, California. Part 16. Allan Hancock Foundation, Sea Grant Program.

Soule, D. F. and M. Oguri.1980. The Marine Environment in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor During 1978. Part 17. In Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, California. Part 17. Prepared for Allan Hancock Foundation and Office of Sea Grant Programs, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Stephens, J. S. Jr., C. Terry, S. Subber, and M. J. Allen. 1974. Abundance, distribution, seasonality, and productivity of the fish populations in Los Angeles Harbor, 1972-73. In Marine Studies of San Pedro Bay, California. Part IV. Environmental Field Investigations. Edited by D. Soule and M. Oguri. Allan Hancock Foundation, USC-SG-2-74: 1-42.

USC (University of Southern California) - Harbors Environmental Projects. 1976. Environmental investigations and analysis of Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors, 1973 - 1976. Contract No. DACW09-73-0112 for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District. Published by Allan Hancock Foundation, USC, Los Angeles, CA. 737 p.

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