18 October 6, 2026
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Long Beach
California
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Agreement, including subsequent amendments, with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, California Department of Transportation, and the Cities of Carson, Torrance, and Los Angeles, for the revision of the Contaminated Sediment Management Plan as part of the development of a Dominguez Channel Estuary Assessment Study, in an amount not to exceed $12,519. (District 7)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), including subsequent amendments, with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, California Department of Transportation, and the Cities of Carson, Torrance, and Los Angeles, for the revision of the Contaminated Sediment Management Plan as part of the development of a Dominguez Channel Estuary Assessment Study.
On March 23, 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Toxic Pollutants in the Dominguez Channel and Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor Waters (Dominguez Channel Toxics TMDL) with the intent of protecting and improving water quality.
On October 13, 2022, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) adopted a revision to the TMDL, which included a requirement to revise the Contaminated Sediment Management Plan (CSMP) to include milestones with specific plans and associated completion dates for remediating identified hot spots.
The CSMP is a planning document that outlines actions to support reduction in legacy sediment contamination and reduce toxicity in the Dominguez Channel Estuary.
The purpose of the MOU is to cooperatively fund the preparation, and submittal of the revised CSMP to the LARWQCB. The MOA memorializes obligations of the County of Los Angeles (County), the California Department of Transportation, the cities of Carson, Torrance, Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach (City) to collaborate on preparation of the CSMP, which will consist of the following three phases: Phase 1 - conducting a Sediment Assessment Study to characterize the levels, special extent, and causes of impairment in the Dominguez Channel Estuary; Phase 2 - development of a Sediment Remediation Plan to determine the appropriate method for addressing impaired hot spots identified throught he Sediment Assessment Study; Public Works
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Honorable Mayor and City Council
October 6, 2026
and Phase 3- updating to the CSMP based on the findings of the Sediment Assessment Study and Sediment Remediation Plan and submitting the updated CSMP to the Regional Board.
The total cost of the revision of the CSMP is estimated at $689,416. The cost of the MOA includes development of a work plan, which includes background on the TMDL and previous investigations, and outlines methodologies; monitoring efforts and a summary of monitoring results; and revising the CSMP based on results from study results. To participate in this collaborative effort, the City will need to enter in a MOA with the other participating permittees.
The City’s cost share is determined by the responsible party’s acreage in the the Dominguez Channel Watershed and Long Beach’s allocated share is 2.02 percent, resulting in a participation cost of $12,519. The TMDL lists the City of Long Beach as a responsible party and failure to meet the expectations of the TMDL, including revision of the CSMP, could subject the City to fines, penalties, clean and abatement orders, lawsuits, and loss of federal and/or state funding.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Vanessa S. Ibarra on September 18, 2026, and by Budget Management Officer Nader Kaamoush on September 9, 2026.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 6th, 2026, to ensure timely implementation of the MOA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City’s participation for the revision of the CSMP as part of the development of a Dominguez Channel Estuary Assessment Study under this MOA is in an amount not to exceed $12,519.
Sufficient funds are currently appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Joshua Hickman
Director of
Public Works