Dredging at Solana Beach in full swing

Dredging operations and sand replenishment project at Solana Beach is now underway, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Los Angeles District said.

The project, which mitigates coastal storm damage and sand erosion, includes construction of a 150-foot-wide beach fill along a 7,200-foot-long stretch of shoreline using 700,000 cubic yards of compatible sediment.

The work follows the joint signing of the project partnership agreement for shoreline protection for Encinitas and Solana Beach that occurred in May.

The Corps received more than $30 million for federal funding for the initial construction of both projects in fiscal year 2022 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The initial construction cost is about $50 million with a 65/35 cost share between both cities, said USACE.

In addition to the initial construction, the project will include 13 beach renourishments over a 50-year period at about $417 million, with a 50/50 federal-sponsor cost share.