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Funding Approved for
Marina del Rey Dredging Project
With today’s approval by the Board of Supervisors of a $1.6 million
contribution, the County of Los Angeles has secured all the
necessary funding to begin a major dredging project in Marina del
Rey. Navigation into the Marina through the harbor’s north entrance
from the Pacific Ocean has become hazardous and extremely restricted
over the last several years due to the buildup of sand on the ocean
floor near the north jetty. This dredging project will return the
north entrance to its design depth of 20 feet and will place the
clean sand removed from the area offshore from Dockweiler Beach to
aid in beach replenishment.
Dredging of areas in and around the north entrance will be
supervised by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as this
navigation area is designated as a federal channel. The County
offered to the Corps its financial assistance in order to complete
the project, which will cost a minimum of $2.4 million.
Approximately $1.4 million of the funding is expected to come from
the Corps through the Federal budget. The additional $1.6 million
financial contribution, approved by the Board of Supervisors today,
will cover the remaining financial need and any unforeseen project
costs. Any portion of the County’s contribution that is unused at
the end of the project will be returned to County coffers.
The clean sand removed from dredging the Marina del Rey north
entrance will be transported to an area just offshore from
Dockweiler Beach near Imperial Boulevard in water approximately 15
to 30 feet deep. Underwater ocean currents will progressively push
this new sand onshore along Dockweiler Beach and other South Bay
beaches, replenishing beach sand washed away during winter storms in
recent years.
The dredging project is scheduled to begin in December 2006 and be
complete by March 15, 2007, well in advance of the peak summer
season in the Marina. Work is expected to take place 24-hours a day
and six or seven days a week. The Los Angeles County Department of
Beaches and Harbors will work with other agencies to ensure local
residents, businesses and boaters are kept informed of the project’s
progress and any potential impact on services. Additional buoys will
be placed to help mariners avoid impacted areas in the Marina
entrance.
“This dredging project is going to lead to a number of important
benefits for our community,” said Supervisor Knabe. “It will ensure
that emergency response vessels from the Coast Guard, Lifeguards,
and Fire and Sheriff’s Departments that are based in the Marina can
safely navigate out of the channel to respond to emergencies and
rescues along the Pacific Coastline. Also important is the
improvement in public safety for navigating in and out of the
channel for the 5,000 privately-owned vessels in the Marina.
Finally, Dockweiler and our other South Bay beaches will benefit
from a much-needed infusion of new sand thanks to the replenishment
project.”
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