Maintaining Carlsbad's stunning beaches requires the commitment and cooperation of residents 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. 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 footprints behind.

Keeping sand on the beach

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. That 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 led a beach-nourishment project paid for by the U.S. Arming Corps of Engineers, California Department of Boating and Waterways, and the U.S. Navy that deposited 2 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.