We want to preface this petition with the following:  We love the Long Beach lifeguards.  They save many lives a year and provide an invaluable service to the community.  The Jr. Lifeguard program is wonderful and has a positive impact to youth in our community.  This is in no way is a referendum on either of those programs.  We are writing this petition with regards to the overuse and exclusionary impact of aquatic activities on the coastal area adjacent to the Claremont Boat ramp.

The City of Long Beach has submitted a permit  to the California Coastal commission Application No. 5-19-0097 to build a Jr. Lifeguard center just off the Claremont boat ramp on the most utilized beach in the city.  If this center goes in, and a permanent swim zone is created in front of it, Kiteboarding and catamaran sailing access to coastal waterways will be critically affected.  According to the attached model, 50% of Kiteboarders ingress and 100% of Catamaran ingress will be eliminated.   

We, the undersigned, wish to protect the public use of the waterways surrounding the Claremont Boat Ramp and request the California Coastal Development Permit Application No. 5-19-0097 contain a clause requiring Junior Lifeguard coastal aquatic activities be conducted at least 200 yards west and 400 yards east of the Claremont Boat Ramp in order to protect public interest in the area.

Kiteboarding is not easily performed in any environment. Kiteboarding takes a special combination of open space to launch and land, consistent wind - unobstructed by buildings or power lines and open waters to ride.  Catamaran sailing requires similar conditions plus a boat launch.  These sports cannot be readily provided in any inland waters within Long Beach nor the surrounding cities.  Therefore, according to the California Coastal Act section 30220 shall be protected. 

We believe the coastal area surrounding the Claremont boat ramp has been considered by many to be the most consistently, heavily used beach area by the public in the city of Long Beach.  The area has been designated by the California Coastal Commission for use by Kiteboarders and Catamaran sailing.  Hundreds of individuals use the area on a daily basis for recreation.  Adding a 1000 person summertime activity to the same exact single area would create overcrowding and overuse.  Adding a “Swim Zone” would push out the current public use of this coastal land.  The California Coastal Act section 30212.5 calls on the mitigation over crowding wherever appropriate and feasible.  "Facilities shall be distributed throughout an area so as to mitigate against impacts, social and otherwise, of overcrowding or overuse by the public of any single area".  Placing Aquatic activities directly adjacent to a boat ramp and a designated “Kite Zone” creates a “swim zone” and  blocks the ingress for catamarans as well as kiteboarders.   The overuse of this are can easily be mitigated by choosing an alternative location for JR Lifeguard Activities.

The facilities provided in the Claremont Boat Ramp Area are low cost visitor recreation facilities.  There is a bathroom, a parking lot and a boatramp which provide recreational activities to over 1,000 kiteboarders and catamaran sailors in the community as well as cyclists, volley ball players and families enjoying the beach.   According to the California Coastal Act 30213, “Lower cost visitor and recreational facilities shall be protected, encouraged, and, where feasible, provided. Developments providing public recreational opportunities are preferred.”  Introducing additional activity to the area and therefore pushing kiteboarding and catamaran usage away discourages the use of already provided lower cost facilities.

In Summary, and with the utmost respect to our lifeguards, we request the Coastal Development Permit Application No. 5-19-0097  contain a clause requiring Junior Lifeguard aquatic activities be conducted at least 200 yards west and 400 yards east of the Claremont Boat Ramp in order to protect existing coastal public recreational opportunities not readily available in inland water and mitigating against the impacts of overcrowding an already heavily used coastal area in Long Beach. 

California Coastal Act sections referenced:

•30212.5 -  Wherever appropriate and feasible, public facilities, including parking areas or facilities, shall be distributed throughout an area so as to mitigate against the impacts, social and otherwise, of overcrowding or overuse by the public of any single area.
•30213 - Lower cost visitor and recreational facilities shall be protected, encouraged, and, where feasible, provided. Developments providing public recreational opportunities are preferred.
•30220 -  Coastal areas suited for water-oriented recreational activities that cannot readily be provided at inland water areas shall be protected for such uses.