With the help of a helicopter on Monday, the city of Palos Verdes Estates removed large amounts of non-native bamboo from Lunada Bay. However, environmental concerns were not the primary reason.
According to the Daily Breeze, workers cleared the plants as part of a lawsuit settlement involving the notorious Bay Boys surf gang, which had been harassing “non-native” surfers for decades.
The gang’s tactics included slashing car tires, hurling rocks, and picking fights. The lawsuit, filed by two out-of-town surfers, accused the city of failing to take action to stop them.
The settlement, announced in September, requires Palos Verdes Estates to make Lunada Bay more accessible and welcoming to the general public. This includes clearing the bamboo, which had created a hangout area for the gang, according to City Manager Kerry Kallman. “That was important to the plaintiffs to remove,” Kallman said.
The city also agreed to add stone benches to the bluffs overlooking the bay, improve pathways, and install signage to ensure the public is aware that the beach is accessible to everyone. The work must be completed by 2026.
Lunada Bay is renowned worldwide for its impressive surf, thanks to its geological shape, southwest orientation, and underwater topography. The waves can reach heights of up to 30 feet.
The city was also ordered to pay the plaintiffs’ attorney fees, ranging from $1 to $4 million.