Posted on April 7, 2025
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Crews are gearing up to begin dredging work in Oceanside Harbor this week, and the City of Oceanside is alerting the public to use caution when on the beach as the annual project will be ongoing until Memorial Day.
The US Army Corps of Engineers will be dredging the mouth of Oceanside Harbor starting April 15, with the heavy equipment starting to arrive on April 7, the City of Oceanside announced.
The City says the annual project is done in the spring to help boats continue to safely navigate the waters. A dredge vessel in the Harbor inlet will pump the sand through a pipe, which will be used to replenish the sand on Oceanside beaches.
During the dredging work, parts of the beach will have heavy equipment, a large pipe, and bulldozers, and will be off limits to the public. Harbor Lot #12 will be closed for staging equipment.
The City of Oceanside said in an effort to protect Western Snowy Plover nesting areas, an area around the San Luis Rey River mouth will be fenced off. The area will also be monitored for grunion.
The public is advised to use caution when on the beach during the operations. In some areas, ramps will be placed over the pipe so the community can still access the beach.
The dredging work is expected to take around four to six weeks, and will wrap up by Memorial Day weekend. However, the city said bad weather, high waves and the grunion run could delay the completion of the project.
The City of Oceanside noted there will be several safety measures in place during the work, including a pathway for moving heavy equipment, posted signs, flagmen, and a lead vehicle for tractors.
Also, no events will be allowed in the area during the dredging work.
The City said the average amount of sand dredged from the inlet each year and placed onto Oceanside beaches is usually between 200,000 and 300,000 cubic yards.
