One contributing factor may be that the Port of Humboldt Bay is the only California port subject to State Coastal Permit jurisdiction. The Inland ports are outside the State’s Coastal Zone, and not subject to State Coastal Permit jurisdiction.  The San Francisco Bay ports are explicitly excluded from the Coastal Act, and too are not subject to State Coastal Permit jurisdiction.  The South Coast ports are included in the Coastal Zone; but they have acquired Coastal Permit jurisdiction by securing certified port master plans as authorized under the Coastal Act.

But the Coastal Act did not provide the Port of Humboldt Bay the same opportunity as the South Coast ports to acquire Coastal Permit jurisdiction. The State Coastal Commission and other State agencies treat the Port of Humboldt Bay less favorably… differently than any other of the State’s ports.

The Humboldt Bay Harbor Working Group believes this needs to change.  There is no reason for greater restriction of our port over the others. Having local jurisdiction over Coastal permits for port-related projects would be a major step toward restoring Humboldt Bay’s Harbor into a working port.
There is a way our local legislators can work proactively to correct this inequality. This is the topic for the luncheon…a strategy for getting local jurisdiction over Coastal permits for port-related projects.

The Harbor Working Group’s luncheons are held on the last Wednesday of each month. Their programs focus on the development of the Port of Humboldt Bay as an international seaport. Last year, the presentations were directed to envisioning the Harbor as an international seaport. This year, the programs are dedicated to learning what can be done—and what is being done—to make it happen.

The luncheon is a “no host” event. Lunch starts being served at noon; and the presentation starts around 12:30.