Moss Landing Harbor 10-Year Dredging Operations

The Moss Landing Harbor District requested a coastal development permit for approval of a 10-year dredge project and to dispose of sediments to restore navigable depths in berths in the Moss Landing Harbor and the North Harbor channel. The permit would authorize dredging and disposal of up to 550,000 cubic yards of material over the 10-year life of the permit, with no more than 80,000 cubic yards in any given year. Disposal of fine-grained material would occur at either of two offshore sites. Sandy material that is suitable for beneficial reuse would be disposed of at a beach replenishment site directly adjacent to the harbor.

The Surfrider Foundation Monterey Chapter raised concerns about the placement of a portion of the dredge materials onto the beach. Moss Landing Harbor has a history of sediment contamination including a legacy of DDT, PCB's, organotins, nickel, copper, lead, mercury, according to the Sampling and Analysis Plan. Surfrider asked that the Commission require the Harbor District to engage in ongoing sampling as dredged materials are extracted and prepared for beach placement and for surf monitoring conditions to be put into place in order to capture fluctuations and changes in sediment and wave action throughout the seasonal variations.

Commissioners Mary Luevano and Mark Vargas made a motion to continue the item to a future hearing and asked staff to investigate whether ongoing sampling was feasible.

As a general concept, beneficial reuse of sediment is just that, beneficial. Until our watersheds are restored and sediment flow once again available to the coast, erosion will remain a significant issue statewide. Given the projected rates of sea level rise, erosion can only be expected to increase in most locations throughout the state. However, beneficial reuse of sediment must be done in a thoughtful manner that takes into account contaminants, potential impacts to waves and surfing resources, safety concerns due to changes in beach profile, potential ecological impacts and more.