2.0 Alternatives Considered
Sand Retention
2.3.7
Early in the alternatives development process, sand retention strategies from a regional perspective were
considered, including the incorporation of retention reefs, groins, jetties, and artificial headlands (Moffatt
& Nichol 1999). However, the high cost of constructing sand retention devices along the coastline made
them questionable from a cost-effectiveness standpoint, and would detract from the volume of sand to be
placed at each of the receiver sites, given the proposed action's fixed budget. For example, the estimated
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cost of extending the north jetty at Agua Hedionda Lagoon by 150 feet was .2 million, not considering
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environmental or permitting costs. Consequently, the focus of the proposed action was defined only as
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sand replenishment. While regional sand retention may possibly be considered in the future as one element
of a shoreline protection strategy, it is too speculative to carry forward for detailed analysis in this EIR/EA.
2.3.8
3 Million CY Alternative
The SEC's original goals was to replenish regional beaches with the maximum quantity of sand possible.
As described in Section 2.2, sand transport modeling was performed on an alternative with 13 receiver
sites and 3 million cy of sand dredged from six borrow sites to predict locations and duration of sand
deposition for the purposes of having data for permit application submittal. Technical reports supporting
this document (Appendices C and D) contain the analysis. However, as the environmental and engineering
process evolved, it became apparent that the cost of dredging and possible mitigation (potential worst-case
as preliminary identified in January 2000) would be prohibitive. Given the total project budget of .3
million, this alternative would not be feasible and was therefore eliminated from further consideration
(SANDAG 2000).
Reduced Quantity Alternative
2.3.9
As described in Section 2.2, two scenarios were generated with less sand overall (2 million cy) in an
attempt to reduce impacts associated with the 3 million cy alternative. Under either scenario, potential
worst-case biological impacts would be very similar in scale (see Appendix D). At the December 1999
SEC meeting, Scenario 1 was selected as preferred. Since Scenario 2 reflected only a slight variation in
impact and would not enhance the range of alternatives, it was eliminated from further review in this
document.
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
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