California Beaches Blog

A California Beaches Special Report by C. MacDonald

Seal Beach, CA –Earthmovers and other tractors were busy building a massive Sand Berm, just south of the Seal Beach Pier toward the jetty, today in an effort to protect homes that could be flooded by a high surf or high tide. Equipment scurried around in precision movements, relocating sand from one area of beach to on top of the berm, where a tractor leveled off a trail. This constant activity fascinated and impressed several spectators, who watched the berm develop before their very eyes from their perches atop the pier.

Local resident Bea T. Walters said  the berms (mounds) help a lot. “Years ago, before they were built, we had some real stormy conditions, combining rain, wind and high tide that literaly brought the ocean to many folks’ doorsteps,” she recalled. “The berms may be 12-feet or higher and really keep the water out.”

Robert Edwards, a Seal Beach Police Department volunteer, said the temporary berms are created every storm season (November-February) before they’re plowed down. “Sometimes they’re even built in the Spring to protect the residents,” he said. Once the mounds are in place, it’s not unusual to see joggers running along them, kids rolling down their sides and even sunbathers getting an elevated solar blast…Also, we noticed hundreds of Pelicans fishing both north and south of the pier. Never have we seen so many and it was quite a sight witnessing their ever graceful flight and fishing tactics.