Posted on July 25, 2016
By Edward Sifuentes, The San Diego Union-Tribune
The annual dredging of the Oceanside Harbor has been plagued with problems this year, according to city officials who are urging the Army Corps of Engineers to replace the contractor before next year’s dredging begins.
The work typically takes place in the spring and ends by Memorial Day — before the beaches swell with tourists — but it didn’t start this year until June 6. Since then, things have continued to go downhill, officials said.
“We’re very disappointed,” Mayor Jim Wood said. “We’re not happy.”
The city is alleging that, among other things, contractor CJW Construction doesn’t have the proper equipment to do the job quickly and has caused numerous safety and other problems for boaters and beach goers.
A representative for CJW deferred all questions to the Army Corps, the federal agency that oversees the project.
Army Corps officials said they’re aware of the concerns and have been working to address them.
“We know that there are concerns with visitors but our intention is to minimize any of those impacts,” said Greg Fuderer, a spokesman for the federal agency. “This year did not go as smoothly as it had in previous years and we will take these lessons learned and apply them in doing the work in the future.”
The agency’s $5 million, one-year contract with CJW can be extended for an optional two years for a cost of $11.5 million, but no decision has been made on that extension, Fuderer said.
Each year around April, the Army Corps removes about 180,000 cubic yards of sand from the mouth of the harbor, where ocean currents have deposited it and created a sandbar. Without dredging, the sandbar grows, making it difficult for boats to enter.
The work is designed to keep the harbor entrance at a depth of about 25 feet; Wood said last month city officials measured the depth at about eight to 10 feet.
This year’s contract calls for about 260,000 cubic yards to be removed by Aug. 4, though city officials are doubtful that deadline will be met.
City officials had hoped to use the extra sand to better replenish its beaches for the summer season. Sand that’s pulled from the harbor is typically deposited just north of the pier, and helps create wider beaches that are more attractive to visitors.
Instead, visitors are being greeted by long, thick pipes and other equipment. Beach goers and businesses have taken notice and complained to City Hall.
Part of the problem this year is that CJW — which recently won the dredging contract — has smaller equipment than the previous contractor and has had to stop its operations repeatedly during high swells.
Wood fired off a letter to the Army Corps on June 22, which triggered a meeting a few days later on June 25 between city officials, Army Corps staffers and Congressman Darrell Issa, whose district includes Oceanside.
Councilman Jerry Kern, who participated in the June 25 meeting, said little has changed since then.
“I haven’t seen any improvements,” Kern said. “In fact, it seems worse.”
City officials and representatives of Issa’s office are expected to tour the harbor today to look at the dredging operation and discuss options.
In his letter, Wood complained about several potential safety hazards that had been reported, including a bulldozer operating on the beach without a spotter; a dredge pipe left open and accessible when not in use; dredge pipes floating near the surface of the water at the harbor; and a vessel that was damaged when it ran over one of the lines.
Wood also mentioned that visitors at North Coast Village had complained about noise and obstructed views due to the dredging equipment.
Army Corps officials say they’ve taken steps to correct the safety issues and minimize disruptions, including moving some of the equipment to other locations.
Oceanside officials had anticipated spending $600,000 to dredge additional sand for local beaches, but decided to withhold the funds based on the contractor’s performance. They said they will decide whether to spend that money next year, in part, based on whether a new company is hired.
When operating at full capacity, the contractor’s equipment can dredge about 10,000 cubic yards of sand a day. Thus far, CJW has removed about 60,000 cubic yards and has about two weeks until the Aug. 4 deadline. However, additional days can be awarded to the company based on weather conditions during the term of the contract, Fuderer said.
The material dredged from the harbor is being placed along Oceanside’s beaches, starting just south of the San Luis Rey River mouth to an area about 150 yards south of the municipal pier.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
