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 City of Solana Beach
Section 3
Shoreline and Coastal Bluff Management Strategies Draft MEIR
Environmental Impact Analyses
3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSES
3.1 Geology and Soils
3.1.1 Environmental Setting
The following discussion of existing geologic conditions is based on the geotechnical evaluation/
assessment report prepared for the project area (AMEC, 2001); a review of general
geotechnical and geologic literature of the project study area; and analysis of geologic maps
prepared by Kennedy (1975), Jennings (1975), and others.
Topography
The project site is located within the coastal plain of the Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic
Province (Figure 3.1-1). This province is generally separated into two distinct geomorphic
components, the northwest-trending mountain ranges, foothills, and intervening valleys, which
comprise the eastern and central portions of the province, and the coastal plains, which occupy
the western portion of the province. The coastal plain consists of numerous marine and
nonmarine terraces dissected by stream valleys.
Solana Beach lies along the western edge of the coastal plain. The coastal plain in this area is
dissected by the San Elijo Lagoon on the northern end of Solana Beach and the Del Mar
Estuary (San Dieguito River) along the southern edge of Solana Beach. Elevations range from
near sea level to approximately 90 feet MSL at the bluff top near the intersection of Pacific
Avenue and Hill Street.
The shelf offshore lies approximately 15 to 50 feet deep, is rocky, and supports abundant kelp
growth. The shelf width is about 2.5 miles (Flick, 1994).
Soils
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1973 Soil Survey of the San Diego area
recognized one soil mapping unit and one land type in the study area (USDA, 1973). These are
the Marina loamy coarse sand (M1C) mapping unit and coastal beaches land type (Cr). The
majority of the study area is mapped as Marina loamy coarse sand. Coastal beaches are
mapped as two narrow oceanfront units in the northern and southern portions of Solana Beach
(see Figure 3.1-2). The identified soil/land types are described in the USDA soil survey as
follows:
Marina Loamy Coarse Sand, 2 to 9 percent slopes (M1C): The Marina series consists of
somewhat excessively drained, very deep loamy coarse sands derived from weakly
consolidated to noncoherent ferruginuous eolian sand. These soil series are formed on old
beach ridges. Located on ridges, the Marina loamy coarse sand, with 2 to 9 percent slopes, has
a dominant slope of 4 percent. The soil is characterized by slow to medium runoff, a holding
Project No. 323530000
Page 3-1
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