Harbor Dredging Completed
The City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department works closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers to keep the Federal Channel of the Santa Barbara Harbor open for safe boating. The Federal Government funds the dredging operations at approximately $3 million per year, with a goal to dredge a minimum of 120,000 cubic yards per dredge cycle; there are typically two dredge cycles per year. The dredge contractor, Pacific Dredge & Construction, was awarded a three-year contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers to keep the Federal Channel open while using an electric dredge called the Sandpiper to help reduce air emissions and improve air quality.
The Fall/Winter dredge cycle started on Wednesday, January 10, and was completed on Tuesday, January 16. Approximately 75,000 cubic yards of sand were removed from the Federal Channel with a large pipe on West Beach that transported sand from the harbor entrance to East Beach across from the Cabrillo Ball Park. The sand discharged on East Beach will help replenish local beaches down the coast that have lost sand in recent swell events, including the East Beach Volleyball Courts. The discharge area on East Beach was closed for safety during the dredging operations but is now open. Although the goal is to dredge 120,00 cubic yards of sand from the harbor entrance each dredge cycle, there was no additional sand in the Federal Channel that needed to be removed at this time.
