The storms of the past couple days have really taken a toll on the outer channel of Dana Point Harbor, making our ever growing sand bar at the breakwater, already a serious problem, now dangerously longer and wider. Watch this short and amazing video provided by a fellow concerned Dana Point Boater (thanks Jeff) and prepare to be alarmed. The sand bar, also known by many boaters as Danalina Beach, now extends from the end of the breakwater near Ocean Institute as far south as beyond the mid-channel marker buoy. At low tide, the sand bar is now at least several hundred yards long and is well above the waterline. However, a shoal extends much further into the outer channel, only inches below the water surface, to come less than a boat width from what was the mid-channel marker buoy. No question, the sand bar is now a serious hazard to navigation! Indeed, DPBA recommends that all Dana Point boaters treat the mid-channel marker buoy like a green channel marking buoy until further notice. Sailboats especially should stay well away from the outer jetty at all times. We exchanged emails this morning to share Jeff's video with OC DPH director Brad Gross.
Brad,
Please take a look. I'm planning to put this on our website and attaching to an upcoming boater blast. I think that buoy must be moved as soon as the storm is over and also some temporary obstruction buoys placed ASAP to mark the edge of the sand bar! Thanks, I have cc'd Mike Scalise so HP is aware. I'll go take a look today at low tide. We have been watching the shoaling for quite some time now and currently are working through the engineering and permitting process. Our schedule now has us dredging in 15-16 but if the conditions warrant, we can accelerate that once permits are in hand. Best regards,
Brad
We'll keep boaters informed as this matter unfolds of course. We should add that Dana Point is not the only harbor in Southern California that has this problem. To learn more read the article by Ambrosia Brody in the latest issue of The Log. It starts on page 10. (Click here.) ___________________________________________
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Thank You
At the Dana Point Boaters Association, our mission is to advocate for the preservation, enhancement, and expansion of affordable recreational boating. We strive to improve the family-friendly atmosphere and breadth of water-oriented activities we all enjoy in our harbor. As Dana Point boater advocates, our strength comes from your support and participation. We are proud of the achievements we've made together on behalf of our boating community, and we won't give up. But we can't do it without you.
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Questions should be directed by email to (Officers@DanaPointBoaters.org). Or call us at (949) 485-5656 and leave a voice mail and we'll get back to you soon.
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Mission Statement:
The Dana Point Boaters Association advocates the preservation, enhancement, and expansion of affordable recreational boating resources. We work to improve the family friendly atmosphere and breadth of water-oriented actives we all enjoy in the harbor. We serve as the watchdog by ethically protecting the rights of all boaters and representing them when collective action is most effective. We actively gather information and communicate our views to educate boaters, external interests, and public officials. We build and maintain constructive, working relationships to achieve common goals with other harbor stakeholders. We will pass on our harbor to the next generation of recreational boaters in better condition than it is today.
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