TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a presentation on the Historical Society of Long Beach's new exhibit, "Water Changes Everything", opening on July 19th.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
Long Beach rests in the flood plain of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers. For years, the two rivers meandered across land now populated with residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. Through the new exhibition, opening July 19th, the Historical Society of Long Beach explores how humans attempted to harness local rivers, utilize the ocean front, and find enough fresh water to develop a city.
"Water Changes Everything" topics will include how the ocean made Long Beach an early tourist attraction, the impact of the Navy and WWII on the shoreline and the City, and the reinvention of Long Beach as a coastal recreation and tourist destination.
An important exhibition feature will address water challenges today, such as drought restrictions, changes to landscape, water conservation measures, sea level rise, water pollution, wetlands restoration and water infrastructure and supply concerns.
A collaboration is also taking place with other community partners, including the Long Beach Water Department, Rancho Los Cerritos and Rancho Los Alamitos, the Long Beach Office of Sustainability and the Aquarium of the Pacific, to focus on additional community education and engagement on the importance of water conservation and preservation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant fiscal impact with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT