The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Los Angeles District said in their latest release that they plan to dredge Oceanside Harbor this fall.
Manson Construction, the USACE’s contractor, will begin the work in October after environmental restrictions – which include dredging during the California least tern nesting season – have ended.
“ The California least tern – an endangered subspecies – can be present in the area through September. Dredging, habitat loss, nesting disturbance, pollution and predation by domestic and wild animals are all threats to the species ,” USACE said.
Survey crews have been monitoring the harbor’s entrance channel on a periodic basis to ensure sufficient depth for safe navigation. Results from a July 30 survey indicated a significant amount of shoaling around the south jetty tip, and the western portion of the entrance channel was at a depth of 16 feet.
Cost of the fall dredging is about $3.5 million.
Last year, Manson Construction successfully removed 440,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand from the harbor and placed it along Oceanside’s beaches. Typical years see an average of about 250,000 cubic yards, said USACE.
Material dredged from the entrance channels is placed along Oceanside’s beaches. Placement of beach-quality material along the shoreline is a beneficial byproduct of the maintenance dredging project.