Posted on February 5, 2024
Recent storm impacts did not disrupt the beginning of construction for the Army Corps beach sand project in mid January, which will add 700,000 cubic yards of sand along the beaches in Solana Beach, city officials said during a Jan. 24 council meeting.
The project is the culmination of a plan that started in 2000.
Construction is expected to last about 60 days. The result will be a 150-foot wide beach along 7,200 feet of shoreline, with sand sourced from the mouth of the San Dieguito River. There will be about 2.1 million cubic yards of sand total over the next 50 years.
“The quality of the sand is exceptional,” said Solana Beach City Manager Greg Wade, serving his last meeting before becoming CEO of the Clean Energy Alliance. “We had some concerns, especially with what was going on in San Clemente. We figured because of the recent projects it was good sand, and it turned out to be exceptional.”
A pipeline was installed on Dec. 11 in preparation for the long-awaited project.
Construction phase funding is about $49.6 million, according to the city’s website. The project is funded 65% by the federal government and 35% by local government and other sources.
Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner and U.S. Rep. Mike Levin were among a contingent that visited the beach recently.
The city of Encinitas is also part of the project. The city’s goal is a 50-foot-wide beach along approximately 7,800 feet of shoreline from Beacon’s Beach to Boneyard Beach. That part of the project includes 340,000 cubic yards of sand with renourishment every five years over the next 50 years.
“The sand replenishment work will address some of the biggest coastal and infrastructure challenges facing our region,” U.S. Rep. Mike Levin said in a statement last year. “After years of fighting for our communities, along with the work of local partners, I’m proud these crucial funding streams will benefit our communities, and I look forward to seeing the projects begin soon.”
