The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had planned to dredge the San Diego bay entrance to remove the build up of sand and allow for safe passage of ships. They had offered the extra sand to Imperial Beach, initially at 330,000 cubic yards but after Imerpial Beach permit and safety issues were raised the project was scaled back to 100,00 cubic yards. Now the project has been halted until the Army agrees to the list of requirements Imeperial Beach has assembled.

Photo by feelsgood

Some residents of Imperial Beach were concerned about the potential contiminates and pollution the sand might contain and asked the city to halt any more project decisions.

 “Don't approve or endorse any more projects,” resident Serge Dedina said at the meeting. “Go back to the drawing board. Come up with a policy with stakeholders. This is our beach, our city. We need a 21st-century policy that we can all get behind.”

Many residents said they worry the bay-dredged sand may be polluted or contain Navy ordnance, which was the case during a previous bay-dredging project.

City officials said that though the sand at the entrance to the bay has tested clean, they agree a plan to monitor for debris should be in place. The Army Corps has suggested it could provide someone aboard the vessel for monitoring.

Plan to replenish beach sand put on hold [SignOnSanDiego]