News Story Archive

News Story Manager

Corps solicits public comment on beach projects

Published Feb. 8, 2013
During the Encinitas public meeting, several speakers provided comments to (from left) Col. Mark Toy, Susie Ming, David Van Dorpe and Dr. Josephine Axt about aspects of the proposed coastal storm damage reduction project.

During the Encinitas public meeting, several speakers provided comments to (from left) Col. Mark Toy, Susie Ming, David Van Dorpe and Dr. Josephine Axt about aspects of the proposed coastal storm damage reduction project.

Wave action at the foot of sandstone bluffs carves out notches that reduce the stability of the bluffs and present a potential life-threatening situation for beach-goers below.

Wave action at the foot of sandstone bluffs carves out notches that reduce the stability of the bluffs and present a potential life-threatening situation for beach-goers below.

CARLSBAD, Calif. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held two public meetings in early February to discuss alternatives for and accept public comments about a shoreline protection project for the Southern California towns of Encinitas and Solana Beach.

“It’s a huge project that affects not only coastal storm damage, but the livelihood of the cities,” said Col. Mark Toy, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District, the agency in charge of managing the project if it is approved by the Corps and funded by Congress.

The Corps held meetings Feb. 6 in Encinitas and Feb. 7 in Solana Beach to present the recommended alternatives to protect the shorelines of the two coastal cities from storm damage.

The final recommended plans for each city, among a number studied, identify the amount of sand initially place on each beach and the frequency and quantity to be placed in future years in order to protect the sandstone bluffs that meet the sea.

The preferred plan for Encinitas, called Alternative EN-1A, calls for an initial placement of 680,000 cubic yards of material, to be replenished at five-year intervals of 280,000 cubic yards, for a total placement of 3.2 million over the anticipated 50-year life of the project. The project will add about 100 feet of additional beach.

The preferred plan for Solana Beach is to initially place 960,000 cubic yards of sand and to renourish the area every 13 years with an additional 420,000 cubic yards of sand, for a total placement of 2.2 million over the anticipated 50-year life of the project. The project will add about 200 feet of additional beach.

Residents, surfers, business owners and environmentalists were among those who requested the Corps to consider impacts the selected project could have on particular facets of life along the shoreline. Their comments will be incorporated into the Corps’s decision documents.

The Corps will continue to accept written comments received before Feb. 28. Please provide comments to Mr. Larry Smith, Planning Division, US Army Corps of Engineers, PO Box 532711, Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325, or email Lawrence.J.Smith@usace.army.mil

Additional information on the project is available at http://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/ProjectsStudies/SolanaEncinitasShorelineStudy.aspx

The Los Angeles District is scheduled to present the plan to the Corps’ Civil Works Review Board for approval in June, with a decision by the Chief of Engineers in September.