If you want to get a hot debate going on a Long Beach issue, just mention the possibility of tearing down or punching holes in the city’s decades-old breakwater.

We found that out last week when we asked readers what they thought about any possible “reconfiguring” of the breakwater.

Passions escalated on each side of the debate.

At one extreme were residents who were opposed to any change, fearing damage to homes on the Peninsula and ships in the port.

At the other extreme were those who felt spectacular waves would be a huge boost for tourism and more revenue.

A third group is in the middle, not having made up their mind yet on the best course to follow.

The Press-Telegram editorial board is in this last group.

We have heard the pros and cons on reconfiguring the breakwater for years with valid arguments on both sides.

But we have grown tired of hearing these arguments year after year.

The best way to end them and come up with a solution is for a study to be conducted by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

That’s why we support Mayor Robert Garcia’s efforts to move this long-delayed proposal along.

The mayor was in Washington, D.C., recently to lobby for the breakwater project to get into the Corps work pipeline.

This is proving to be a difficult task as cities, counties and states throughout the country vie to get into the Corps work and budget process.

As long as the breakwater study is delayed, the less we will know about the pros and cons of reconfiguring the breakwater.

The Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over the breakwater, which was built between 1941 and 1949 to protect port shipping.

Since then, the fight has raged over what, if anything, should be done to the breakwater. Even the city’s plan seeking the Corps study has been delayed.

The city has committed $2.25 million for the breakwater study from its Tidelands Fund, an oil-revenue-supported fund that can only be used for coastal projects.

But the problem now is for the Corps to say this project is so important that it should be in its work pipeline.

Garcia is hoping a decision will be reached by this summer.

There is no question this issue is major enough for the Corps to move ahead with a study.

Here are issues to be determined:

• Will some form of reconfiguration help improve water circulation and quality in the bay, now damaged by pollutants from the Los Angeles River?

• What would the effect be on Port of Long Beach shipping?

• What would the impact be on homes on the Peninsula?

• What effect would different plans have on the economy?

• What would the impact be on structures in the Long Beach Harbor, including the oil islands, the Belmont Pier and other structures at the mouth of the Los Angeles River?

It’s time that these questions got definitive answers. It’s only when this happens that we will be able to make intelligent decisions on how to proceed.

It’s time for city, county and congressional officials to form a united front in seeking Corps of Engineers support in finally dealing with the major issues swirling around the breakwater.