San Dieguito River Channel Excavation
Dredging of the San Dieguito River channel is set to begin November 9th, to open the river mouth and restore tidal flushing to the San Dieguito Lagoon, near Dog Beach in Del Mar.
The job is scheduled to run from November 9th to December 9th. Work hours are set for 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and, if needed, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturdays. Equipment will be parked on the beach overnight and cordoned off for safety.
Beach access south of the river and west of Camino del Mar will be closed. During sand placement, beachgoers are encouraged to gain safe access to the beach through the Del Mar Shores Public access via a public stairway located at 180 Del Mar Shores or from 26th Street in Del Mar.
Please note the Dust Devil Nature Trail remains closed Monday through Friday. The trail will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM from January to March and October to December. From April to September, the trail will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding this work.
Like most lagoons along the San Diego County coast, the San Dieguito Lagoon River mouth is periodically bulldozed, usually in the fall, to clear the sand pushed in by waves over the summer and partially closes the lagoon. The opening prevents stagnation and restores the saltwater exchange that supports wetland marine life.
To complete the project, a small fleet of heavy equipment will carve a throughway beneath the Camino del Mar Bridge for dump trucks to carry the sand to the beach. Once the digging is done, removal of a final plug of sand will coincide with low tide, allowing water to flush from the lagoon basins into the sea. During construction, project biologists will monitor the site to minimize interference with wildlife.
In Del Mar, the dredging is paid for by Southern California Edison and is part of a mitigation agreement that began in 2003 with a $100 million restoration of the San Dieguito Wetlands. The project encompassed 150 acres west and east of Interstate 5. The utility’s restoration and continued dredging of the river channel compensates for marine life harmed by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. During construction, project biologists will monitor the site to minimize interference with wildlife.
For more information, the project’s community liaison, Kelly Sarber, can be contacted at (760) 613-5994.