HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-03; Beach Preservation Committee; ; 1219-4 BEACH GROOMING ANALYSIS
Meeting Date: Dec. 3, 2019
To: Beach Preservation Commission
From: Kyle Lancaster, Parks &Recreation Director
Staff Contact: Michael Tully, Parks Planner
Subject: Beach Grooming Analysis
Recommended Action
Receive an informational report on beach grooming analysis and provide comments.
Discussion
On June 4, Commissioner Prietto requested an agenda item on available options for a grooming
machine the city could potentially purchase and use on the northern beach in Carlsbad, located
between Oak Avenue and the border of Oceanside. Parks & Recreation staff developed an
analysis to assess beach grooming. It examines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats (SWOT) associated with this practice.
Basis of analysis
To ensure a broad spectrum of the analysis, six criteria were taken under consideration:
location, ownership, environment, permitting requirements, equipment cost, and operations
and maintenance.
Ownership. The beach from Oak Avenue to the Oceanside border is owned by the State of
California State Lands Commission (from the mean high tide line seaward) and private property
owners (from the mean high tide line inland). The northern beach is open to the public via
easements, and the City of Carlsbad provides public access to these beaches at the Ocean
Street public parking lot and at the intersections of Ocean Street and Oak Avenue, Carlsbad
Village Drive, Grand Avenue, Christiansen Way, Beech Avenue, Cypress Avenue and Rue des
Chateaux.
Location. The northern beach stretches for 0.7 mile and represents approximately 10% of the
entire Carlsbad coastline. It is very popular among residents and tourists, as it is located within
walking distance from Carlsbad Village.
Environment. The beaches in Carlsbad are important open space resources, providing natural
communities of plants and animals, as well as recreational and aesthetic benefit for residents
and visitors. The beach must be maintained and managed in a way that ensures the users’
safety and enjoyment, as well as a healthy beach ecosystem. A sustainable beach is structurally
safe, ecologically sound, productive and resilient. Sand has a primary role in the use and
BEACH PRESERVATION COMMISSION
enjoyment that beaches provide. Interference with the natural berming process may diminish
the protection from erosion that beaches naturally provide when left undisturbed. If sand
grooming is to be performed, it should be limited to during the summer months, to protect
grunion spawning grounds and kelp wrack. Kelp has an important role in the ecological and
structural conditions of the beach, provides habitat and nutrients for coastal marine wildlife
including Plover, Terns and Killdeer, and direct and indirect support for sand retention.
Permitting Requirements. The California Coastal Commission, in partnership with coastal cities
and counties, plans and regulates the use of land and water in the coastal zone to: (1) promote
the public safety, health, and welfare; (2) protect public and private property, wildlife, marine
fisheries, and other ocean and natural resources; and (3) protect the ecological balance of the
coastal zone from deterioration and destruction. The California Coastal Commission is the lead
permitting agency, however, the following resource agencies may be included in the permitting
process: California Department of Parks & Recreation, California Department of Fish and
Wildlife, California State Lands Commission, United States Army Corp of Engineers, and San
Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The permitting process may take 18 months or
longer, with no guarantees that permits will be granted, since resource agencies tend not to
favor beach grooming practices. The cost for pursuing permits may exceed $50,000, depending
on the mitigation measures required for the subject beach.
Equipment Cost. Beach groomers (cleaners) are machines that remove unwanted materials
from beaches. Various beach groomers can be used to effectively remove litter, sharp shells,
glass, rock, and other debris. The most popular types of beach groomers are tractor-towed and
employ one of two prominent methods, mechanical raking or sifting.
Raking machines employ rows of tines to rake through the sand, combing materials from under
the sand's surface. The tines then deflect the materials off a curved deflector shield and onto a
moving conveyor, which deposits the materials in the beach groomer's bucket, or hopper.
Beach groomers that employ sifting technology use a cutting edge to lift all the sand from the
beach on to a vibrating screen. The screen then sifts the unwanted materials from the sand,
while the sand returns to the beach, and the remaining debris is deposited in the bucket.
The cost of beach groomers varies greatly depending on their size, capacity and manufacturer.
For comparison, the self-propelled, small beach groomer Cherrington 3000 with a Kubota
engine and 3’ wide working width, costs approximately $75,000. The self-propelled, large
beach cleaner Cherrington 5500, with a turbo diesel engine and 5’ working width, costs
approximately $130,000.
Operations and Maintenance. Beach groomers are exposed to some of nature’s most corrosive
elements including sand, water, and salt. It is imperative that equipment is maintained on a
regular schedule. This criterion includes the need for storage of the groomer and the training of
a qualified operator. Total operations and maintenance costs may exceed $40,000 annually.
SWOT Analysis
Based on evaluation of the above criteria, the following SWOT analysis has been developed:
Strengths. Beach grooming practices correspond with the community expectations for clean,
aesthetically pleasing, inviting beaches. It provides the removal of debris, such as glass and
other sharp objects, plastic and fishing gear.
Weaknesses. The northern beach represents only 10% of the entire Carlsbad coastline. The
grooming practice would not expand into other beaches, as they are not part of the city’s
jurisdiction. An extensive permitting process, overall high cost of the program, and significant
impacts to marine ecosystem are the most significant constraints.
Opportunities. There are limited opportunities for beach grooming practices: potential
equipment rental or partnership agreements with other municipalities/entities that have
grooming operations in place; seasonal grooming only during the summer, high season months
to minimize impacts on environment; or regular beach clean-up events in lieu of the grooming
practice, that cause minimal impacts on the environment, demonstrate significant cost
reduction, and provide volunteering opportunities.
Threats. The grooming operations may create potential conflicts with beach patrons related to
equipment movement at the beach; equipment generated noise; and safety issues such as
limited visibility during beach operations. Mechanical grooming may also cause accidental
grabbing of kelp along with debris and trash. Removal of kelp is prohibited as it plays important
role in ecological and structural condition of the beach. Other environmental impacts may
include disturbance to invertebrates, grunion, and coastal birds and the natural berming
processes which provide protection from erosion.
Strengths
Ensure regular beach maintenance
Improves aesthetics of the shoreline
Fosters recreation opportunity
Opportunities
Rental agreements with other municipalities/entities
Seasonal grooming in summer months only
Regular volunteer beach clean up events
Weaknesses
Only 0.7 mile of North Beach in city jurisdiction
Complex permitting process
Grooming schedule regulated by resource agencies
High cost of equipment and maintenance
Lack of specialized staff and funding
Threats
Potential conflicts with beach patrons and residents
Significant impact to marine ecosystem
Disturbance of natural beach forming process
Not favored by the California Coastal Commission
Fiscal Analysis
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with receiving this report.
Next Steps
Based on the analysis provided, the Commission may advise of its interest as to whether to
explore a beach grooming practice for the northern beach. Should there be such an interest,
City Council direction would be required to proceed with the exploration.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
The activities associated with receiving this staff report will not involve or result in any
disturbance to the environment and is categorically exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA Section 15306 describes the following activities as being exempt from
environmental review:
“…basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities
which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may
be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a
public agency has not yet approved, adopted or funded.”
Public Notification and Outreach
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public
viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
None