Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration Project

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December 12, 2008

Inlet Maintenance Dredging Started

The inlet maintenance program is under way for the 2008/2009 winter dredging cycle.

Program Timing: Winter-Spring 2008/2009

Program Purpose: To maintain the restored wetlands at Bolsa Chica, the beach sand accumulated in the inlet of the Full Tidal Basin must be periodically removed and placed back onto the downdrift coastline. This maintenance action is part of the original restoration design and will need to be performed approximately every two years. Maintaining an unobstructed passageway to the ocean is vital to the proper functioning of the tidal portions of the restoration area and of the normal coastal processes of sand transport that maintain wide coastal beaches.

Field studies conducted over time since the opening of the Full Tidal Basin found that the rate of sand accumulation in the inlet very closely matches the rate predicted by the restoration program design model. Since the opening for the basin to the ocean in August 2006, approximately 200,000 cubic meters of sand has accumulated in the inlet of the basin. This will be targeted for removal in the present dredging program.

Dredging: The dredge will be located in the Full Tidal Basin inlet and may operate up to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. In order to minimize noise and air pollution concerns, the dredge will be powered by electricity rather than diesel fuel.

The sand dredged from the inlet will be pumped through a flexible pipe out onto the beach to the south of the inlet. The wet sand will flow to the surf zone and will also be distributed across the beach by earth moving equipment. Beach closures in the sand pumping area will be limited to a 300-foot wide stretch of beach at the discharge point, within which access by the public will be prohibited. The closed area will shift down the beach as the sand is placed and work moves to new areas. The sand has been cored and tested to confirm that it is composed of clean, beach-grade sand.

It is anticipated that the maintenance dredging will be completed over an approximately four-month period.

News Archive

Displaying : 1 - 4 of 6 / Page 1 | 2

May 26, 2010
Least tern and snowy plover nesting updates for Bolsa Chica have been provided by the California Department of Fish and Game: As of May 26, 2010, we have a total of 287 active CA least tern nests and...
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August 11, 2009
On August 17, 2009, Su Anderson of Seal Beach heard a light-footed clapper rail calling at 6:30am from an area south of the Bolsa Chica parking area off of PCH. Later at 9:30am she heard it call...
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April 30, 2009
The inlet maintenance dredging cycle for 2008/2009 has been completed. Approximately 180,000 cubic meters of sand were removed from the inlet of the Full Tidal Basin at Bolsa Chica and plac...
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December 12, 2008
The inlet maintenance program is under way for the 2008/2009 winter dredging cycle. Program Timing: Winter-Spring 2008/2009 Program Purpose: To maintain the restored wetl...
read more

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