2.0 Alternatives Considered
Construction Methods/Features
Under Alternative 2, the dredge operations, discharge line maintenance/maintenance, training dikes, beach
building, staging areas, and scheduling would be identical in process to Alternative 1. However, there
would be a difference in the need for booster pumps. At SO-9, there would likely be one onshore booster
pump only to convey material to the southern extent of the footprint. Onshore booster pumps would also
be required to move material to the South Carlsbad North and Torrey Pines sites. Beach closures to
protect public safety would be the same in length per day under this alternative as under Alternative 1,
although there would be no closure at North Carlsbad, Batiquitos, Leucadia or Moonlight Beach receiver
sites (Table 2-4).
2.4.3
No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, no dredging or beach replenishment activities would occur, and erosion
at the region's beaches would continue without intervention. This would result in failure to achieve property
protection, enhance recreational opportunities, or enhance tourism value at specific receiver sites. It would
also preclude the addition of sand in the three littoral cells which could thereby indirectly enhance other
beach locations. Finally, it would not provide the opportunity to monitor the post-project condition for
purposes of increasing knowledge regarding the state-of-the-art modeling process. While all these failures
would be specific to the proposed specific receiver sites, there is a region-wide benefit that would also
remain unaddressed.
To assist in effective and appropriate decision-making regarding the utilization of the coastline, the State
of the Coast Report, San Diego Region (USACOE 1991) evaluated the natural and man-made coastal
processes. This document stated that during the next 50 years, the San Diego region "is on a collision
course. With sandy beaches backed by sea cliffs, beach erosion and failure of the sea cliffs must be
anticipated. Extensive damage and loss of property will occur." While the amount of erosion is dependent
upon sea level change, as well as the wave climate, particularly severe storm events, the report concludes
that...
all the beaches of the San Diego region are threatened with erosion. The apparent stability
of the beaches is belied by rigorous examination of the historical beach profiles and
summation of previous beach nourishment. Without the earlier massive input of beachfill,
the shoreline of the San Diego Region would exhibit nearly continuous erosion from Dana
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
Page 2-53
99-69\SANDAG EIREA 3.4.wpd 7/17/00
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