The tide is too high

Andrew Edwards

Monday’s record tide proved too much for Newport Beach’s

flood-control measures, and seawater flowed onto almost the entire

length of the Balboa Peninsula.

At about 8:30 a.m. Monday, the tide in Newport Harbor was 8 feet 3

inches, Newport Beach general services director Dave Niederhaus said.

Though figures for the next highest tide in Newport’s history were

not available, Niederhaus said he was sure Monday’s tide was a

record.

On the peninsula, the tide caused flooding from Coast Highway to

the Balboa Village area. Balboa Island was also hit hard, and the

ends of streets near the island’s shore were underwater Monday

morning.

The weekend rain also caused problems at Corona del Mar State

Beach, where heavy surf caused a sewage spill Saturday evening, said

Monica Mazur of the Orange County Health Care Agency. The leak was

repaired the same day, but on Sunday, more waves caused the 6-inch

pipe to wash out a second time, forcing a second repair.

Before the flooding, all 72 of Newport Beach’s flood-control

valves had been closed to prevent seawater from flowing onto streets

via storm drains, Niederhaus said. But the tide was high enough to

overcome seawalls surrounding the harbor. A team of 35 city employees

were dispatched at 4 a.m. Monday around the harbor to pump out the

floodwaters, but they could not prevent water from flooding streets

and businesses.

“The peninsula was just like driving on a river,” said Steve

Blasingham, general manager of the Newport Landing Restaurant and

Oyster Bar at Balboa Village. “Lido [Isle] wasn’t bad, but as soon as

I came over the hill where the Cannery Restaurant is -- underwater.”

Blasingham’s restaurant came out of the flooding without too much

trouble, he said. Water seeped into the kitchen area, but no food

supplies were damaged.

Not all Balboa businesses were as lucky. Jim Fournier, owner of

the Tales of Balboa Gallery, said 2 inches of water flowed into his

shop on Sunday, and by Monday morning, the water was several inches

deep.

Fournier does not have flood insurance, and he estimated he would

have to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 to repair his store.

On Monday, he said he could not go ahead with the cleanup because

of a risk of more high swells today.

More than 3 inches of rain fell on the Newport Beach area from

Friday to Sunday, National Weather Service forecaster Stan Wasowski

said. Showers are expected to continue through today.

“One last shot in here, then it will be dry the rest of the week,”

Wasowski said.

Newport Beach residents may pick up sandbags through noon,

Niederhaus said. Sandbags are available at the city’s Corporation

Yard at 592 Superior Ave.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at [email protected].