Public Hearing set on Broad Beach Project

A project seeking to address serious erosion problems at Broad Beach will go before the California State Lands Commission at a public hearing next week in Malibu.

A public hearing is set for 5 p.m. Nov. 8 at Malibu City Hall, according to a notice posted on the City of Malibu's website.

The Broad Beach Geological Hazard Abatement District, which represents 114 homes from Lechuza Point to Trancas Creek, has proposed to "address geologic hazards at Broad Beach associated with storms, flooding; beach and dune erosion, and anticipated sea level rise," according to the notice of public hearing.

The plan calls for the import of sand to the beach, the creation of a reservoir of sand and restoration dune habitat with native plants and the widening of the beach to offer better public access and recreational opportunities. The proposal outlines two possibilities: the dredging up and piping in sand from an offshore source or collecting it from a stockpile next to Calleguas Creek in Ventura County.

In August, news that Broach Beach homeowners found a sediment match off the coast of Manhattan Beach made waves when the city council voted to oppose the project.

According to the Malibu Surfside News, Broach Beach homeowners with the California Coastal Commission to get permits for a permanent buried rock embankment to protect the beach.

The beach lost 600,000 cubic yards of sand between 1974 and 2009 and the shoreline moved inland 65 feet, the newspaper reported.