LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH HARBORS MODEL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

In response to the expansion of oceanborne world commerce, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, in coordination with the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have been conducting planning studies for harbor development to accommodate future needs. The Corps is charged with responsibility for providing deeper navigation channels and determining the effects of harbor expansion on the environment, while both Ports plan construction of new landfills, basins, and berthing facilities. The Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbors Model Enhancement Program was developed to significantly upgrade the Corps' capability to determine effects of this expansion based on state-of-the-art modeling technology. This paper presents highlights of the study, including objectives, tasks, and products provided. Major elements of the Model Enhancement Program include tidal circulation and water quality, harbor resonance, and moored ship motion. The results of the Model Enhancement Program will provide a vastly improved capability to evaluate the effects of harbor improvement plans on these phenomena, thereby insuring optimal harbor development.