STATE OF CALIFORNIA. POINT MUGU TO SAM PEDRO BREAKWATER 

 The purposes of this study were to: 



a. Review master plans of shore line improvement as prepared 

 by the County of Eos Angeles and cities therein, within the area of this 

 study, in order to comment on the engineering feasibility of these plans 

 with respect to the recreational beach area, and to determine the most 

 suitable means of providing stability to the shore line; 



b. Determine the effect of existing structures within this 

 area upon the shore line, particularly Santa Monica, Venice, and Redondo 

 breakwaters, and recommend the most suitable remedial measures where the 

 necessity for such measures is indicated; 



c. Determine the effect of proposed shore line improvements on 

 existing flood control outlet works in the area under investigation; 



d. Make such studies and economic analyses as may be necessary 

 to determine the maximum extent of Federal aid for which the local interests 

 may be qualified under Public Law 727* 79th Congress. 



The study area comprised the Pacific Ocean shore line of California 

 from Point Mugu to San Pedro Breakwater, a length of 68 miles. This stretch 

 of shore lies in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. The principal communities 

 along this shore are Santa Monica, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa 

 Beach and Redondo Beach. All are located on the Santa Monica Bay shore in 

 Los Angeles County. The population of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties 

 exceeds h, 000, 000. Seasonal variations in the population are unimportant. 



The shore frontage of Ventura County is privately owned. Cf the 

 approximately 61 miles of shore in Los Angeles County, only 20 miles of the 

 section between Topanga Canyon and San Pedro Breakwater are included in 

 the desired plan of improvement. Of these 20 miles, 86 percent are publicly 

 owned. Local interests intend to obtain other lands required for the proper 

 functioning of the beach improvements. 



The terrain adjacent to the shore suggested division of the study 

 area into three major subdivisions as follows: 



a. Point Mugu to Santa Monica Canyon - This portion of the 

 study area comprised about 36 miles of generally rugged shore extending 

 in a general east-west direction along the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains, 

 The coastal area is drained by a number of short, steep, intermittent 

 streams which contribute sand and gravel to the shore during winter floods. 

 The coast highway generally parallels the shore but is separated from it by 

 sea cliffs. Relatively narrow beaches generally lie at the foot of the 

 cliffs. The largest beaches are Zuma Beach lying west of the Point Dume 

 projection and Malibu Beach, the delta at the mouth of Malibu Greek. The 



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