HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-09-26; Beach Preservation Committee; MinutesCARLSBAD BEACH EROSION COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 26, 1991
The Carlsbad Beach Erosion Committee was called to order at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September
26,1991, in the Council Conference Room at the City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village
Drive, Carlsbad, California.
Members in Attendance: Members Absent:
Gary Nessim Anna Leeds
Donald Jackson
R. David Copley Others in Attendance:
Sally Vigil
Pearl Johnson Mario Monroy
Robert Meyer Paul O'Neal, SDG&E
Dr. Choule Sonu, Tekmarine
City Staff in Attendance:
Gary Kellison, Associate Engineer
AGENDA TOPICS
1. Committee Chairman Don Jackson opened the meeting by greeting Dr. Sonu, Mario
Monroy and Paul O'Neal.
2. The minutes of the July 18, 1991, Beach Erosion Committee meeting were read and
approved with the correction that the task of monitoring new coastal legislation was
assigned to Pearl Johnson. Dr. Sonu questioned the accuracy of the quantity figures for
last winter's dredge recorded in the minutes from Paul O'Neal's July presentation, and
recommended that the Committee recheck them with him.
3. The Committee deferred until the next meeting the reports from John Cahill on the
Batiquitos Lagoon Enhancement Project and the proposed Carlsbad Boulevard Shore
Protection Project. Instead, the Committee received an update from Paul O'Neal of San
Diego Gas & Electric on dredging plans for the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
According to Mr. O'Neal, SDG&E has applied for a permit from the City for annual
dredging of the outer lagoon. SDG&E would also like to dredge the inner and middle
lagoons this winter as well. An annual program of dredging would have the advantage
that each dredge would be completed much more quickly. SDG&E has previously
dredged the lagoon intermittently, and the amount of sand removed is equivalent to an
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average annual rate of 150,000 cubic yards per year. SDG&E proposes a condition of
their annual permit to require that the dredged sand be deposited on the particular stretch
of beach that is most in need of replenishment. Dr. Sonu asked if the proposed dredge
program would be more costly. Mr. O'Neal didn't think that would be the case.
4. Dr. Choule Sonu gave a presentation on the 1990-91 Carlsbad Sand Survey.
Dr. Sonu gave the Committee members charts showing beach widths at various
locations over the past several years, including the new measurements. Dr. Sonu
explained that Carlsbad has been fortunate in experiencing only moderate wave action
during the last few years, and should not be too complacent about the potential for
sudden spurts of beach erosion.
Dr. Sonu started his discussion of the current state of Carlsbad beaches by starting with
the most northerly location monitored. The sand fillet immediately south of the Oceanside
pier has largely been eroded back to Tyson Street where the Oceanside Harbor dredge
discharges. At Cassidy Street, the ocean runs right up to the seawall rip-rap. The
northern half of Carlsbad beaches have a thin veneer of sand over cobbles as far the
Tamarack Avenue jetty. The remaining Carlsbad beaches are all cobbles with off-shore
sand bars. This year's survey shows an enormous gain of sand in the offshore profile.
Although the offshore sand has no recreational benefit as long as it remains underwater,
it does support and nurture the above-water portion of the beach sand profile. Overall,
this is the best year for the health of Carlsbad beaches since 1983.
At Tamarack Beach, the cobble berm successfully retained the dredge sand throughout
the summer. According to Dr. Sonu, 'The sediment volume in the overall profile down to
a 30' water depth in April 1991 is greater than any other survey since April 1988. We
attribute this sudden abundance to the dredging work by San Diego Gas & Electric."
"Changes in the shoreline position were generally erosional, reflecting the typical effects
of the winter season. SDG&E dredged 465,000 cubic yards from December 1990 to April
1991. The replenishment effort was seen near the power plant, but its effects did not
extend farther up or down the coast."
In answer to a question from Sally Vigil, Dr. Sonu said, "Kelp beds may be helpful in
anchoring sand to Carlsbad beaches." Elaborating further, Dr. Sonu described a permit
condition that the California Coastal Commission placed on Edison's permanent operating
permit for the San Onofre nuclear power plant. The Commission has asked Edison to
construct a 300 acre kelp bed for which Dr. Sonu is doing some of the preliminary
planning. There may be some justification according to Dr. Sonu for doing the same
thing off the shore of Carlsbad in hopes of retarding beach erosion.
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5. Committee Reports
Don Jackson asked the Committee what report it would like to hear at the next meeting.
David Copley reported that Councilmember Ann Kulchin attended the recent SANDAG
meetings. Sally Vigil suggested inviting a representative from the Surf Riders Association
to speak to the Committee about that group's concerns.
6. Announcements and Closing
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 1991, in the Council
Conference Room at the City Council Chambers.
Chairman Jackson adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
JOHN J. CAHILL
Municipal Projects Manager
Secretary, Beach Erosion Committee
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Distribution: Beach Erosion Committee Members
Mayor and City Council Members
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Community Development Director
City Engineer
Research Manager
Assistant Director of Planning
Paul O'Neal, SDG&E
Mario Monroy, Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
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