35: The Prophet Who Predicted and Saved Newport Harbor's Future

In 1909, W.S. Collins wanted to massively increase the footprint
of his Balboa Island development. The land extension would have
cut the width of Newport Harbor's main channel by more than
half. 

In those days, the federal government had final approval of any
plans for the harbor, so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent
Captain D.E. Hughes to assess the situation. In just 960 words,
he delivered a masterpiece of a report (part love letter, part
manifesto) that amazingly predicted the future of Newport Beach
and its harbor with great precision and beautifully laid out the
argument that the harbor's waterways should be reserved for the
people's enjoyment and not a developer's profits.

His observations killed Collins' plans for a super-sized Balboa
Island and set the precedent that the harbor should be enjoyed by
all.