Posted on June 1, 2021
Annual dredging completed as beaches south of Oceanside Pier still in need of sand replenishment.
OCEANSIDE, CA — The City Of Oceanside Harbor and Beaches Division released the final update for the 2021 Oceanside Harbor Dredge.
The US Army Corps of Engineers annually dredges the mouth of the Oceanside Harbor for safe navigation of vessels. The amount of time it takes to complete the dredge is dependent upon many factors that can create delays.
Weather delays and Grunion runs disrupted dredging plans that resulted in beaches north of Oceanside Pier being excluded in this year’s sand replenishment.
According to the final update, Manson Construction calculated the removal of 350,000 cubic yards of fill from the Harbor inlet. The inlet was dredged to a depth of minus 30 feet. Most of the dredged sand this year was used to fill in deep erosion that was caused by the winter storms. The Army Corp of Engineers indicated that much of the dredged sand that has drifted into the surf line will move onshore over the summer months. Timing for next year’s dredge cycle is likely to start early April 2022, depending upon who is awarded the next four-year contact by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Other sand replenishment efforts
The Oceanside Public Works Department has initiated a feasibility study that seeks to develop a strategy to protect City beaches from the impacts of long-term shoreline erosion. A consultant, GHD, was hired to perform a preliminary engineering evaluation and feasibility study to consider options for beach sand replenishment and/or retention devices to stabilize and enhance the beach widths in the City. GHD has reviewed and analyzed of data and relevant global project examples and has developed six preliminary concepts to carry forward in the feasibility study. The goal of the study is to identify a beach replenishment/retention strategy that is environmentally sensitive, financially feasible and has a reasonable chance of being approved through the regulatory permitting process. A public workshop was held and poll was taken on September 15, 2020 on these strategies.
