MIKE WHITEHEAD -- The Harbor Column

Ahoy.

When I was a kid, my parents always took us to Little Corona State

Beach, and in those days you had to get there early for a parking spot

that was not miles away.

One observation that always stuck in my mind was that back in the

‘60s, you had to jump over a noticeable, gross drainage stream coming

from the canyon to the ocean.

Finally, 30 years later, a diversion system is being installed to

divert the runoff from the beach and better the water quality.

I find it interesting that we can divert that runoff, but every day

millions of gallons pour into the harbor from the storm drains and the

miles of drains emptying into the Back Bay.

As I walk my oldest daughter to Mariner’s Elementary School, we always

see a storm drain on Cabrillo Street near Irvine Avenue that is full of

refuse waiting for the next rain storm to wash all the contents into the

harbor.

I applaud the efforts by the groups trying to clean up areas like

Little Corona Beach, but the largest problems lie beneath us that are out

of site and out of mind.

A few years ago, I hosted for the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of

Commerce an educational video. Its title says it all: “What Starts at the

Drain Feeds the Harbor When It Rains.�

We also need to be careful during the non-rainy seasons, as about 90%

of the harbor’s pollution is from urban runoff.

***

Here’s an update on the harbor’s security, and keep in mind that this

information can change immediately with what is occurring with the war.

Most harbors, including Newport Harbor, are reporting regular traffic

flow and not checking every vessel entering the jetty entrance.

The only exceptions are Anaheim Bay, Huntington Harbor and San Diego,

where noticeable policing policies are being enforced for all boaters.

Huntington Harbor is only allowing boat traffic to enter or leave in

the mornings and afternoons in two-hour time periods, and this is causing

a lot of frustration to the local boaters.

As you know, most people wanting to go fishing leave early in the

morning and might return late in the day. Now there is a specific window

that they must abide by in planning their trips, thus going to San

Clemente Island for day fishing is now out of the question.

What is the answer? Since security is present at the harbor entrance

anyway, why not let boaters check in and out versus bunching the boaters

up in a small time frame?

Or, how about opening up a section of the jetty so that a boater does

not have to go by the Seal Beach weapons loading area and is able to go

directly to the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge under-crossing?

San Diego, which is the largest military port in Southern California,

has lightened its security measures at the harbor entrance, making it

easier for boaters to boat.

I cruised the other day to Long Beach Harbor from Newport Harbor and

did not see any security patrols. That led me to believe that they are

concerned with big ships and not the recreational boaters.

***

Tip for the week: The rainy season is approaching and now is the time

to check the cleanliness of your bilges and ensure your bilge pumps are

working.

First, make certain that your bilges are clean so that any rainwater

entering will not pick up contaminants such as engine oil from blow-by or

drips so that the bilge pump does not pump the oil into the harbor.

Second, make sure your bilge pumps are operational and that there is

adequate electrical power to maintain operation during that raining week.

Most vessels at a dock are connected to shore power, but vessels on

moorings have only the battery power on board. I have seen vessels sink

because the batteries went dead.

And when it is raining, check your boat before you get a call from the

harbor department asking you to refloat your boat and pay for all the

environmental cleanup.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him

your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions via e-mail

to o7 [email protected] or o7 https://www.BoathouseTV.comf7 .