North Orange County’s sand-starved beaches are one step closer to being replenished.
The city of Huntington Beach and the state’s Division of Boating and Waterways have entered into an agreement for Stage 13 of the long-awaited Orange County Beach Erosion Control Project, also known as the Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment Project.
The project will deposit 1.85 million cubic yards of sand off those northern beaches, with waves and currents spreading it south, as far as the Newport Beach Pier, filling in the coastline. Replenishment is supposed to be done every five to seven years, but because of federal funding delays the last time it happened was 2010.
With the agreement – the Huntington Beach City Council approve it this week – the Division of Boating and Waterways, which is part of California State Parks, has pledged its portion of the $6.95 million share of the $23.1 million cost.
The US Army Corps of Engineers project also requires the federal government pay 67% of the price tag, or $15.5 million, while the state, cities, county and the Surfside Colony Storm Water Protection District share the remaining cost of about $7.6 million. The city of Huntington Beach’s portion is $410,517.
The federal funding portion of the project was approved last year.
Replenishing an eroding beach helps prevent coastal flooding by maintaining a natural sand barrier, protecting beach sand recreational areas, protecting and preventing the erosion of coastal bluffs, and protecting public and private property along the coast, city officials said.
There have been several flooding events in recent years, from Surfside to Bolsa Chica to Newport Beach, as erosion continues to thin the coast.
After years of collaboration by involved agencies, to be in the final stages of approval and permitting is exciting, said State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall. “I’m hoping and feeling strongly (the project) should be a huge success and benefit everybody involved.”
At Bolsa…
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