Before and after: North County beaches see dramatic changes
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Views from Moonlight State Beach, facing south. Photos: City of Encinitas
Why it matters: The storm damage reduction projects in Encinitas and Solana Beach protect the bluffs from further coastal erosion and make beaches safer for recreational activities.North County beaches are sandier and wider, as a local dredging project nears completion in Encinitas.
Why it matters: The storm damage reduction projects in Encinitas and Solana Beach protect the bluffs from further coastal erosion and make beaches safer for recreational activities.
The latest: The dredging and sand placement that expands several Encinitas beaches — and replaces the swaths of cobblestone with sand — will be complete this week, project manager Todd Mierau told Axios.
- Stonesteps and Cottonwood Creek beach accesses remain closed, but the D-Street access is open, along with volleyball courts and fire pits at Moonlight Beach.
- The construction site at Moonlight will be dismantled over the next two weeks, as the dredging pipeline and other equipment are hauled to San Clemente for a similar project.
By the numbers: About 340,000 cubic yards of sand added about 50 feet of beach width along a 1.5-mile stretch of coastline in Encinitas.
- The beaches just north of Swami's (at the Boneyard surf break) to just south of Beacon's now extend 80-100 yards.
- The total project for both cities costs $400 million, paid for by the federal government, a state grant and the cities.
- The recent phase of the project cost about $43 million.
Catch up quick: Crews have been working in Encinitas for about six weeks, following the completion of the Solana Beach phase earlier this year.
- Research started decades ago, while permits and approvals came through in 2015 and 2016.
- Federal money was secured in 2020, followed by a state grant.
How it works: A dredging ship about a half-mile offshore pumps sediment from the bottom of the ocean through a pipeline and onto the beaches.
- That creates a berm or embankment to absorb waves' energy rather than the bluff, which is at risk of landslides.
- Lengthening the shoreline also means beachgoers are no longer forced to sit in dangerous spots at the foot of the bluffs.
What they're saying: The idea is to reduce storm damage, protect public property and infrastructure, and prevent emergency action like installing seawalls or major beach closures similar to when the bluffs collapsed at Black's Beach last year, Mierau said.
What's next: Encinitas will see another round of work in five years, with 220,000 cubic yards of sand added to local beaches.
- Solana Beach, which doubled in size, will see another load in 10 years.
- That will continue over the next 50 years.
What we're watching: Oceanside is also pursuing a major sand-replenishment project.