Oceanside Harbor receives dredging contract

OCEANSIDE—Last year may have been a dramatic year in regards to dredging for Oceanside Harbor, but this year appears to be different. On March 29, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded Oceanside a dredging contract. The contract, which was made between Manson Construction Company based in Seattle, Washington, costs $3.675 million and creates an annual dredging project in the harbor.

According to Harbor Division Manager Ted Schiafone dredging activities are set to begin on or around April 22. The completion date for the dredging project is before Memorial Day weekend, which usually kicks off the busiest time of the year for boating. The Army Corps anticipate the completion date to be May 24.

In a statement released by the Army Corps, it says: “The contract calls for the removal of about 200,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand from the harbor’s entrance channel and its placement along Oceanside’s beaches. The project’s local sponsor is the city of Oceanside.”

The Army Corps continued: “Manson is placing the dredged material along the coastline, from the San Luis Rey River to points south of Oceanside Pier. The material is compatible with sand on the beach, and the placement of the material is economically beneficial, enhances the city’s recreational assets and increases protection for oceanfront homes and business that are susceptible to impact from storms.”

Manson Construction, a business geared towards marina infrastructure projects since 1905, will begin the new dredging assignment in Oceanside after they complete a current contract in Ventura.

Dredging is an important process in any harbor, but Oceanside served as an example last summer when dredging was postponed until fall 2018. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes dredging as “the act of removing silt and other material from the bottom of bodies of water,” and says, “It is a routine necessity in waterways around the world because of sedimentation – the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream – gradually fills channels and harbors.” When a harbor is not dredged for sand, this can be especially concerning for boaters since sand builds up and causes more tumultuous water. Dredging also plays an environmental role in some cases where is reduces pollutants in the water that could harm humans and animals.

The Army Corps stated: “The annual dredging project is conducted to maintain the federal channel within the harbor at its authorized federal depth and to provide safe navigation for recreational, commercial and military vessels that use it.”

Oceanside Harbor is one of four annual dredging projects conducted by Los Angeles District, according to the Army Corps.