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Sand replenishment to Newport Beach could happen by late 2024, officials announce

Orange County is known for its beautiful beaches, which also are a huge economic driver and an important buffer between the ocean and coastal infrastructure, but stretches of sand have been eroding into the sea in recent years, shrinking significantly.

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, officials gave an update on one long-awaited sand replenishment project that they said could be ready to help Orange County’s northern coastline by late 2024.

Environmental studies and designs are nearly complete, officials announced, for the Surfside-Sunset Sand Replenishment Project, which will dredge up 1.75 million cubic yards of sand to deposit off Surfside beach. Currents and waves will then help spread that sand south an expected 12 miles to fill in stretches of coastline along Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.

“Our beaches are our livelihood and it is critical that they are protected and preserved for generations to come,” U.S. Rep Michelle Steel said at a press conference she hosted on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach to give an update on the project. “We are one natural disaster away from devastation.”

Just over two years ago, that same location saw the ocean breach a sand sea wall and flood the parking lot during a big swell and high tide event, spilling saltwater into the streets and nearby homes on the Balboa Peninsula.

Workers were busy building sand berms this week in the same area to prepare for a big swell brewing on the horizon that could bring 6- to 8-foot surf to the area later this month, combining with a near 6-foot high tide that could spell trouble and showcase why sand is needed to protect beachfront infrastructure.

Flooding on July 3, 2020 washed sea water into parking lots, streets and homes on Balboa Peninsula. Officials gathered at the Balboa Pier on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 announced federal funding approval for the Surfside-Sunset Sand Replenishment project, which will bring needed sand supply through Surfside, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach (Photo courtesy of @surflick/ Brandon Yamawaki)
Flooding on July 3, 2020 washed sea water into parking lots, streets and homes on Balboa Peninsula. Officials gathered at the Balboa Pier on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 announced federal funding approval for the Surfside-Sunset Sand Replenishment project, which will bring needed sand supply through Surfside, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach (Photo courtesy of @surflick/ Brandon Yamawaki)

“Unfortunately, sand erosion across our beaches threatens the safety of people, wildlife and our communities’ infrastructure,” Steel said.

She didn’t hold back when saying there has been a lack of funding for the sand replenishment project the past 17 years though the federal government made a commitment in the 1960s after building flood control channels and ports that impacted natural sand flow supply.

United States Army Corps of Engineers construction on the San Gabriel River and Santa Ana River between the 1930s and 1950s reduced and prevented the natural transportation of sediment and sand down the rivers to naturally replenish sand. The building of the Long Beach Harbor and Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station also contributed to impacts.

The Rivers and Harbors Act, passed by Congress in 1962, requires those impacts be addressed.

Historically, since the 1960s, the seeding of new sand was done every five to seven years. Then after the 12th round, about 20 years ago, future phases no longer made the federal budget.

The impacts have started to show in recent years, officials say, with the sea creeping closer to homes, businesses and roads that have become more vulnerable to storm and tide damage.

Earlier this year, $15.5 million was finally secured in the federal appropriations bill for the Stage 13 project.

“Sand may seem like a simple thing you’d have in a sandbox somewhere – but this is a big sandbox that we all use in some capacity on a daily basis,” Huntington Beach Mayor Barbara DelGleize said. “I really see this as stewardship. It is really up to us to maintain and take care of the coast. We benefit by doing that, people come to the beach and come and spend their tourist dollars.”

Newport Beach Councilwoman Diane Dixon also talked about the need to protect the beaches – an economic driver not just for Orange County, but the entire state.

“We need to come back here and have this little celebration,” she said. “The sand will arrive (in Newport Beach) in about four years. It gets deposited in Surfside and it will work its way here.”

Officials gathered at the Balboa Pier on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 announced federal funding approval for the Surfside-Sunset Sand Replenishment project, which will bring needed sand supply through Surfside, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)
Officials gathered at the Balboa Pier on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022 announced federal funding approval for the Surfside-Sunset Sand Replenishment project, which will bring needed sand supply through Surfside, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. (Photo by Laylan Connelly/SCNG)

A partnership with the state’s Department of Boating and Waterways will need to be finalized before a sand deposit can take place.

The sand will be dredged about two miles off the coast from Surfside and then placed on the shore. But work will have to be done around the breeding season of the grunion – which amass on shore monthly between mid-March and late September to lay eggs into the sand – further drawing out the project’s timeline.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Julie A. Balten said now that funding is secured, it’s up to the Army Corps to deliver.

Since 1964, more than 26 million cubic yards of sand has been placed along the shoreline from Anaheim Bay to the Newport Pier, she said. But in recent years, because so many other projects across the country have competed for federal dollars, funding has been a challenge.

“It’s our promise we are going to work hard to (deliver),” she said. “We understand the need for this sand and the protection it provides for beach communities and we stand behind that commitment.”


Source: Orange County Register

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