- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Newport Today
By the People, for the People
Newport Residents Raise Concerns Over Mooring Transferability Changes
Proposed changes to mooring policies in Newport Harbor could impact regular boaters' access to the water.
Published on Feb. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Meridee Thompson, a lifelong sailor who grew up in Newport Beach, is raising concerns about proposed changes to mooring transferability in Newport Harbor. The basis for eliminating mooring transferability is that the State Lands Commission believes no one should profit off of public tidelands. However, Thompson argues that the transfer costs between parties generally just cover the years of costs involved in maintaining the mooring equipment, and that the city of Newport Beach stands to make millions by taking over the moorings. She also points out that waterfront homeowners with docks have not been paying their fair share into the Tidelands fund, while being able to rent out their dock spaces for profit. Thompson encourages all tidelands permittees to attend an upcoming City Council meeting to share their concerns about the formation of an Ad-Hoc committee to make recommendations regarding the management of Tidelands in Newport Harbor.
Why it matters
The proposed changes to mooring transferability in Newport Harbor could significantly impact regular boaters' access to the water, as the new city-owned moorings may become unaffordable. This raises concerns about coastal access and the equitable use of public tidelands, especially compared to the treatment of waterfront homeowners with private docks.
The details
The State Lands Commission has decided that the practice of mooring transferability, which has existed for around 100 years, is no longer legal because it allows people to profit off of public tidelands. However, Thompson argues that the transfer costs between parties generally just cover the years of maintaining the mooring equipment. She also points out that waterfront homeowners with docks have not been paying their fair share into the Tidelands fund, while being able to rent out their dock spaces for profit, which she says is a form of profiting off of public tidelands. The city of Newport Beach stands to make millions by taking over the moorings, which could price out regular boaters who rely on the more affordable mooring fields.
- The City of Newport Beach voted to end mooring transferability at a City Council meeting on July 9, 2024.
- The City is now proposing to form a 2-person Ad-Hoc committee to make recommendations regarding the management of Tidelands in Newport Harbor, which will be discussed at the upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 4:00pm.
The players
Meridee Thompson
A lifelong sailor who grew up in Newport Beach and used a mooring in the harbor for 40 years with her husband, who was a school teacher.
Joe Stapleton
A former Mayor and Harbor Commissioner of Newport Beach who voted to end mooring transferability at the July 9, 2024 Council Meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Blom
A current Newport Beach City Council member who has been described as being "cut from a different cloth" regarding the management of Tidelands in the harbor.
What they’re saying
“If the supposed 'profit' that individual mooring holders make is a problem, then surely the people profiting from private dock rentals must be stopped and the yacht clubs also. That would be fair and keeping with the State Lands recommendation that no one profits off of State Lands.”
— Meridee Thompson, Lifelong Sailor (Voice of OC)
What’s next
The upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 4:00pm will discuss the formation of the 2-person Ad-Hoc committee to make recommendations regarding the management of Tidelands in Newport Harbor. All tidelands permittees are encouraged to attend and share their concerns.
The takeaway
The proposed changes to mooring transferability in Newport Harbor raise concerns about equitable access to public tidelands, as the new city-owned moorings may become unaffordable for regular boaters while waterfront homeowners with private docks continue to profit from renting out their dock spaces. This issue highlights the need for a more balanced and transparent approach to managing public resources in the harbor.
