03/02/18 - Sand Replenishment Project Update by SANDAG

As work continues on the Land Outfall Replacement Project by San Elijo Joint Powers, other construction projects by Caltrans and SANDAG also impact the local region. Below is an update of one of the projects, shared by Keep San Diego Moving, which is part of the larger North Coast Corridor Environmental Program and affects eight main ecosystems.

This week San Elijo Lagoon Restoration crews will begin an extensive beach sand replacement at Cardiff State Beach. Crews will be delivering 8,000 cubic yards of high quality sand from the lagoon to Cardiff per day. The sand replacement will help reinforce and protect the shorelines of Cardiff, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad. At the same time, the San Elijo Lagoon is undergoing a restoration project that is meant to improve overall tidal flow, water quality and create new wetland habitat. The NCC project is expected to be completed by early 2021 and is part of the $6 billion collaboration with North Coast Corridor Program, which is first phase of construction in the cities of Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad. Together, their goal is to improve the highway, rail, environment and coastal access simultaneously to minimize impacts to the lagoon and neighboring communities.

In addition to the 8,000 cubic yards of sand being added to Cardiff State Beach, approximately 300,000-cubic yards of sand will be added to the North County coastline, as seen in the photo by the dredge. This will be an ongoing operation occurring Mondays through Saturdays for the next six weeks. Residents will likely hear noise and see some nighttime lightning during evening construction. Beachgoers may notice a “low tide” or sulfur smell coming from the sand replenishment at the beginning of dredging. This will be temporary and subside as the sand turns over with the tide and is exposed to the sun. Specifically, small sections of the beach will be temporarily filled as the sand replenishment moves south towards Seaside Beach. Therefore, there will also be limited access during hide tide events while the crews are working between the Cardiff Reef Lot and the Seaside Lot.

Later phases of the project will include crews replacing the removed sand from the lagoon’s central basin with high nutrient sediments, which are transferred from the various lagoon channels.

For more information and/ or to receive the latest on the construction updates for the San Elijo Lagoon Restoration please text BuildNCC to 313131.

For all other other general, questions, inquiries and/or concerns regarding the beach sand replenishment project, please feel free to call 844.NCC.0050 or email buildncc@keepsandiegomoving.com