Chevron Reef, also known as Pratte's Reef, was an artificial reef constructed in 2000 in Santa Monica Bay, offshore from Dockweiler State Beach. It was the first artificial surfing reef in the United States and was the second to be built worldwide.[1] It was removed in 2008.
The reef was located about 100 yards offshore in 15 feet of water, north of the El Segundo jetty and 200 yards south of the Hyperion sewage treatment plant 1-mile outfall, known locally as "Shitpipe".[2]
Historyedit
In 1984, the California Coastal Commission approved a proposed 900-foot jetty to protect a marine terminal and underwater pipelines at a Chevron facility in El Segundo, California. The Surfrider Foundation fought the decision and an agreement was made that the company would pay $300,000 to build an artificial surfing reef if it could be proved that the jetty caused a substantial decrease in surfable waves.[3]
Research demonstrating the jetty's negative effect on surf quality was completed in 1994, but Chevron paid out the $300,000 only in 1999. Plans proceeded and the reef was dubbed Pratte's Reef in honor of Surfrider co-founder Thomas Pratte, who had been influential in fighting the Chevron jetty approval and died in 1994. In the fall of 2000, 110 geotextile bags were dropped into the water to create the artificial reef. It did not have as much of an effect as hoped and an additional $200,000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy was secured to fund adding another 90 bags at the site in spring 2001.[4]
In retrospect, the reef was not large enough to focus the swells into nicely breaking waves.[5] Surfrider environmental director Chad Nelsen said in an interview that "when the surf gets big, it breaks outside the reef" but noted that the reef used the greatest volume of sand it could within budget constraints.[6] Beginning in 2008, the reef was removed as required by its permit.[7]
Referencesedit
^Cohen, Jon (August 1999). "Making Waves". Wired. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
^. Surfline.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2011.
^Benning, Jim (February 2001). . Outside. Archived from the original on 2005-11-21. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
^Frost, Garrison (2003-04-13). "The Lessons of Pratte's Reef". The Aesthetic. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
^Peterson, Lee (2005-01-18). . Los Angeles Daily Breeze. Archived from the original on September 24, 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
^"Artificial Surf Reefs?". Surfer. Retrieved 2007-11-11. When the surf gets big, it breaks outside the reef. But we only had a limited amount of money to work on Pratte's, so we built the biggest thing we could, and we built it on the cheap. We got a lot of deals and good will to build that thing, but it's way too small.
^Fontaine, Evan (2008-10-11). "SANDBAGGED After years of unspectacular closeouts, Pratte's Reef is removed from El Segundo". Surfline. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
External linksedit
Surfrider Foundation: Pratte's Reef
Surfline magazine: "Overview of artificial reefs"
May 09, 2024
chevron, reef, also, known, pratte, reef, artificial, reef, constructed, 2000, santa, monica, offshore, from, dockweiler, state, beach, first, artificial, surfing, reef, united, states, second, built, worldwide, removed, 2008, pacific, oceanshow, angeles, metr. Chevron Reef also known as Pratte s Reef was an artificial reef constructed in 2000 in Santa Monica Bay offshore from Dockweiler State Beach It was the first artificial surfing reef in the United States and was the second to be built worldwide 1 It was removed in 2008 Chevron ReefPacific OceanShow map of the Los Angeles metropolitan areaChevron Reef California Show map of CaliforniaChevron Reef Pacific Ocean Show map of Pacific OceanLocationLocationPacific OceanCoordinates33 54 54 N 118 25 57 W 33 915123 N 118 432624 W 33 915123 118 432624CountryUnited StatesGeologyTypeartificial reef Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 References 4 External linksLocation editThe reef was located about 100 yards offshore in 15 feet of water north of the El Segundo jetty and 200 yards south of the Hyperion sewage treatment plant 1 mile outfall known locally as Shitpipe 2 History editIn 1984 the California Coastal Commission approved a proposed 900 foot jetty to protect a marine terminal and underwater pipelines at a Chevron facility in El Segundo California The Surfrider Foundation fought the decision and an agreement was made that the company would pay 300 000 to build an artificial surfing reef if it could be proved that the jetty caused a substantial decrease in surfable waves 3 Research demonstrating the jetty s negative effect on surf quality was completed in 1994 but Chevron paid out the 300 000 only in 1999 Plans proceeded and the reef was dubbed Pratte s Reef in honor of Surfrider co founder Thomas Pratte who had been influential in fighting the Chevron jetty approval and died in 1994 In the fall of 2000 110 geotextile bags were dropped into the water to create the artificial reef It did not have as much of an effect as hoped and an additional 200 000 grant from the California Coastal Conservancy was secured to fund adding another 90 bags at the site in spring 2001 4 In retrospect the reef was not large enough to focus the swells into nicely breaking waves 5 Surfrider environmental director Chad Nelsen said in an interview that when the surf gets big it breaks outside the reef but noted that the reef used the greatest volume of sand it could within budget constraints 6 Beginning in 2008 the reef was removed as required by its permit 7 References edit Cohen Jon August 1999 Making Waves Wired Retrieved 2007 11 11 Shitpipe Surfline com Archived from the original on March 20 2011 Benning Jim February 2001 Surfing Wave of the future Outside Archived from the original on 2005 11 21 Retrieved 2007 11 11 Frost Garrison 2003 04 13 The Lessons of Pratte s Reef The Aesthetic Retrieved 2007 11 11 Peterson Lee 2005 01 18 Experts Size matters in creating a surf reef Los Angeles Daily Breeze Archived from the original on September 24 2005 Retrieved 2007 11 11 Artificial Surf Reefs Surfer Retrieved 2007 11 11 When the surf gets big it breaks outside the reef But we only had a limited amount of money to work on Pratte s so we built the biggest thing we could and we built it on the cheap We got a lot of deals and good will to build that thing but it s way too small Fontaine Evan 2008 10 11 SANDBAGGED After years of unspectacular closeouts Pratte s Reef is removed from El Segundo Surfline Retrieved 2012 03 05 External links editSurfrider Foundation Pratte s Reef Surfline magazine Overview of artificial reefs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chevron Reef amp oldid 1127463293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
