About Carlsbad Beaches
Carlsbad is fronted by more than six miles of beautiful coastline. From Buena Vista Lagoon in the north to Batiquitos Lagoon in the south, this stretch of land is one of Carlsbad's most dynamic and valuable resources. Throughout the year, locals and tourists alike enjoy swimming, surfing, fishing, diving, jogging and relaxing in this spectacular environment.
In annual surveys, residents time and again rank the beach as one of the best things about living in Carlsbad. Recently, Carlsbad was named one of the top five family beach destinations by travel writer Emily Kaufman, also known as the Travel Mom. She appeared on "Good Morning America" on July 27, 2005, and touted Carlsbad as one of her favorite spots. "Carlsbad has over five miles of family-friendly beaches that offer the perfect place to cool off. Surfing lessons are abundant, as are the loads of free activities-from TGIF Jazz Concerts in the Parks on Friday nights to hiking on the Carlsbad trail system."
Most agree that Carlsbad's beaches are important assets that cannot be taken for granted. Yet many don't realize that constant efforts are needed to preserve and maintain the beauty and accessibility of Carlsbad's coast.
The Movement of Sand
Sand is primarily deposited on Carlsbad beaches from three rivers: the Santa Margarita, the San Luis Rey, and the San Dieguito. When it rains, the sand moves westward from the river mouths to the ocean. Sand also moves north to south and south to north with the changing direction of the wave-caused currents. During winter, northern storms transport the sand southward. During summer, southern storms move sand north. In addition, wave-caused currents and tides continuously move sand from shallow water to the shoreline and vice-versa. Manmade structures, such as harbors and jetties, also affect the movement of sand. And as the sea has slowly risen over thousands of years, the beach has inevitably narrowed.
Replenishing Beaches
Coordinated efforts have helped keep the sand level on Carlsbad beaches relatively stable over the years. The Encina Power Plant's biennial dredging of Agua Hedionda Lagoon regularly deposits 500,000 cubic yards of sand on Carlsbad beaches. A cubic yard is slightly larger than a typical kitchen stove. 500,000 cubic yards is enough sand to fill a football field almost 94 feet high from end zone to end zone. Similarly, the California Department of Fish and Game's biennial dredging of Batiquitos Lagoon deposits 50,000 cubic yards of sand on Carlsbad beaches.
The City of Oceanside's annual harbor dredging puts sand on Oceanside beaches; some of which travels south to Carlsbad. In 2001, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) led a beach-nourishment project paid for by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CA Department of Boating and Waterways, and the U.S. Navy that deposited two million cubic yards of sand onto 12 county beaches, including two in Carlsbad. In the future, the City of Carlsbad and SANDAG hope to transport sand unearthed during development projects onto local beaches through the Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program (SCOUP).
The Economic Importance of Carlsbad Beaches
At the recommendation of Carlsbad's Beach Preservation Committee, the City of Carlsbad recently hired Dr. Phillip King, a professor of economics at San Francisco State University, to conduct a study of the Economic impact of beach attendance in Carlsbad. Dr. King has performed coastline analyses for many cities, including Encinitas and San Clemente.
Steven Jantz, associate engineer for the City of Carlsbad said, "By having a greater understanding of the economic impact of our coastline we can more effectively communicate what our beaches provide to the community as a whole." The Beach Preservation Committee expects to present the results of the study to City Council in the near future. Committee members hope these financial figures will encourage Carlsbad leaders to make beach projects a priority and help in obtaining federal grant money for future sand replenishment projects.
The Future of Carlsbad's Coastline
Maintaining Carlsbad's stunning beaches requires the commitment and cooperation of citizens and government agencies alike. Individuals can do their part by supporting government efforts as well as being "good citizens" when it comes to the environment. Keep in mind that everything washed into a storm drain-motor oil, debris and other pollutants-comes out in the lagoons and the ocean. And when you're on the beach, please dispose of trash properly. Cigarette butts, glass, food wrappers, pet waste and other litter are dangerous to humans and other living things. Enjoy the beach, but please be certain to leave only your footprints behind.