Officials discuss San Diego shoreline mitigation study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District commander Col. Andrew Baker met with Rep. Mike Levin last week to discuss the status and future of shoreline mitigation for Oceanside, California.

Baker and Levin were joined by USACE subject-matter experts, as well as partners from the City of Oceanside and stakeholders from the nonprofit organization Save Oceanside Sand.

Although the LA District manages the dredging of Oceanside Harbor annually, which results in the removal of between roughly 200,000 to 400,000 cubic yards of beach-quality stand from the harbor’s entrance channel and placement along Oceanside’s beaches, the focus of the meeting was the San Diego County Shoreline Mitigation Study.

The Study is a USACE effort to mitigate for shoreline erosion and other impacts, resulting from the construction of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Harbor.

The construction of Camp Pendleton Harbor has interrupted sediment transport along the coast and contributed to erosion of southward beaches.

The study team is developing two alternative plans to restore beach conditions: 1) Beach nourishment; and 2) Beach nourishment with groins.