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| Graphic shows near-shore disposal area and sand dollar beds. CAD not to scale |
By LEN BOSE
I am sure that most of the Stu News Newport readers picked up Tom Johnson’s story, “Don’t look now, but major problems are brewing at The Wedge and it’s not good! Reader Kathy Frazer brought to Johnson’s attention the severe sand erosion there. Caused by the recent storm coming up the Baja coast. At the end of the story Johnson writes: “Hopefully, we can get this message to some folks who may be able to help.”
Well done, Johnson – you pulled on the right finger. That morning when the story was released, I received a call from my favorite Harbor Commissioner which led to me following up with Public Works Administrative Manager Chris Miller. It just so happens that the City of Newport Beach is hoping to start dredging soon and the native material from digging the Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) construction project will provide 270,000 cubic yards of native material to you and me, which refers to clean compatible sand that can be placed just to the west of the Wedge in the near-shore zone. This zone is called a disposal zone with three cells that stretches from the Wedge to Newport Pier.
According to Miller, “We will be replenishing our ocean beaches in that same region with our project. Even though there is never any one catchall solution for sand management along any coastline, this project will significantly contribute to our ocean beaches in the Wedge area.”
What Miller can’t say is that this is guaranteed to solve all of the Wedge’s beach erosion problems. What he did enlighten me on was that sand, when deposited in a near-shore zone, will naturally flush onto the surrounding beaches.
For example, the Surfside Sunset Project which has been going on since the 1960s, places sand in a near-shore zone and along the beach to protect the homes in Sunset Beach. Eventually, this sand deposited off of Sunset Beach will work its way down to the Wedge. “The current CAD project is a one-time project of significant quantity. This will directly contribute to the Wedge beach area,” Miller said.
This won’t be the first time the city has disposed/replaced beach quality sand in the Newport near-shore side zone. Smaller deposits have been made during the Upper Bay dredging and when Marina Park was built. Going back in history to 1935 when the harbor was first dredged, the ocean waves were only 100 feet from the boardwalk, but now the beach extends out 300-400 feet. This accounts for the wide beach we see today on the oceanfront side of the Peninsula. During this first dredging project, more than 8.5 million tons of sand were dredged onto our beaches.
I’d like to quote Albert Soiland who worked long and hard to obtain the funding, who wrote at the conclusion of his book, The Saga of Newport Bay and The Newport Harbor Yacht Club, written in 1936 to coincide with the official dedication of the improved Harbor. Soiland paid tribute to the many who deserved so much credit for turning what had seemed impossible into a reality: “The whole story of the fight by citizens of Newport Beach and its city officers to achieve a harbor could never be fully written nor appreciated. Keeping everlastingly at it with determination and steadfast purpose has accomplished what once seemed impossible. The City of Newport Beach through its mayor and council donated liberally to the cause as did private citizens and the yachting fraternity provided the means for the fruition of our lifetime ambitions.”
I am going to step out on a plank here, because I have many friends (and I hope they will remain friends) when I say – let’s do this! The CAD construction project is a means to a solution to dredging our harbor to its designed depth. The replenishment of sand to the Wedge beach is just another reason for taking the ball over the goal line at this time. To my friends and readers who don’t agree with me on this topic and would like to have their opinions read in my column, send your comments to boseyachts@mac.com. I can’t guarantee that your sand will make it into my column, yet it will significantly contribute to me understanding your opinions.
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This weekend is the Harbor 20 Fleet Championships and the weather forecast is for 82 degrees with the wind out of the west at 8-11 knots. We will all be out on the harbor doing our best to take the title in our divisions. Don’t tell of my wife, Jennifer, but I purchased a new main sail just for this event. At the time of this writing, it looks like Debra & Peter Haynes are the favorites in B Fleet. This team has always sailed consistently during the championships. They will have to keep teams Corkett and Fuller behind them to reach this goal. In A fleet, the odds are with Shana’s Secret skipper Philip Thompson along with crew Mark Conzelman. This team has dominated this summer’s sailing season. Yet, you never know how Ping will sail; Anne and Kurt Wiese are known for their consistency with the light breeze forecast and that’s what its going to take to win this event. Then there is sheer boat speed that can take the event and that’s Zephyr sailed by two of our harbor’s best sailors – Skipper Greg Helias and crew Justin Law. This will be a great series because you shouldn’t count out the rest of the fleet. Any of the remaining participants, me included, can put the dots together, surprising everyone.
Wish me luck!
Sea ya.
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Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.
