The Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project: Turning Back the Hands of Time By Steve Tabor
The Palos Verdes Reef Restoration Project: Turning Back the Hands of Time
By Steve Tabor
For many decades the ocean habitat off the Palos Verdes coastline has fallen victim to manmade and natural disasters. The disappearance of our giant kelp, fish populations and natural rocky reefs were caused by the dumping of toxic DDT and PBCs as well as a number of substantial landslides that have occurred over time.
In December 2000, the U.S. Department of Justice, representing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) other natural resource trustees along with the California Attorney General reached a settlement (the Montrose Settlement) with Montrose Chemical Corporation of California, Bayer CropScience, Inc., TFCF America Inc., Stauffer Management Company LLC, and JCI Chemicals for the cleanup work related to the contamination of ground water and ocean water due to the discharge of contaminated water and the disposal of barrels containing DDT and PBC’s into the ocean waters off the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
The Natural Resource Trustee Agencies (Trustees) was formed as part of the Montrose Settlement to oversee restoration projects for California coastal habitats that were negatively impacted by the effects of DDT and PBC dumping along the California coastline. In Phase 2 of their plan, the Trustees identified the restoration of the rocky reefs off the Palos Verdes coastline from Whites Point to KOU Rock.
The Vantuna Research Group from the Moore Laboratory of Zoology at Occidental College was commissioned to complete a study of the land and marine environment to assess the viability of reestablishing the rocky reefs that once existed off the Palos Verdes Coast.
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Reef structures within the Bunker Point Restoration Area which included Abalone Cove extending to Whites Point, seemed to have been hardest hit of the reefs surrounding the Peninsula. The sewage outfall at Whites Point deposited significant amounts of DDT and PBC’s into the sediment on ocean floor and created plume. Additionally, landslides in the areas of Abalone Cove, Portuguese Bend and 18th hole Ocean Trails Golf Course, now known as Trump National Golf Club, introduced tremendous amounts of sediment that covered the once life sustaining reefs. Finally, large storm drains near the shoreline deposit additional amounts of sediments over the existing reefs. The completion of the study revealed that reestablishing the rocky reefs in identified restoration area would have a positive impact on the marine environment from Point Fermin to Whites Point.
The new reefs are placed approximately 0.3 miles offshore at depth of 50 ft. to 75 ft. The entire project is constructed of 70 tons of quarried Catalina stone spread over 40 acres of sandy bottom. The stones are laid in six sections called blocks. The blocks will be formed by three modules which are approximately 100 ft. wide by 160 ft. long with approximately 160 ft between each module. There is a difference of height between the modules. Some are 10 ft. tall while others are 13 ft. tall. The difference in height will allow researchers to determine if the height will have an impact on marine populations.
The project was completed in September 2020. Only eight months later, the researchers returned to the reef to find a large population of fish, crustaceans and invertebrates.
Steve Tabor Bio
This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.
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