Newport Beach Sustainability Plan includes vision for cleaner harbor

NEWPORT BEACH — Protecting the local harbor by limiting trash and addressing potential sea level rise were two components of a larger, all-encompassing Sustainability Plan adopted by the Newport Beach City Council on June 14. The plan would call for adding more trash bins and hauler routes along the Newport Beach waterfront as a means to protect the harbor from discarded pollution. Other proposals include placing trash skimmers at local marinas, establishing an ocean lab to support marine science and education, protect Balboa Island from sea level rise and developing an Ocean Plan to address rising coast lines. City officials aim to improve water quality in Newport Harbor and the neighboring ocean area by implementing best practices for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) mandates and protecting eelgrass. Council members first reviewed the Sustainability Plan as part of their April 26 meeting, where city staff presented the plan’s overall vision as part of a study session. Overall the Sustainability Plan aims to give city officials the tools to make Newport Beach as green as possible through an improved coding system, advancing work-play-live neighborhoods to reduce commute times, planting many trees, reducing all forms of waste, conserving energy, and encouraging alternate transportation modes (such as bicycles and...