Several years later, BEACON was able to attract the interest of the Corps of Engineers to consider the project under their Section 227 Natural Erosion Control Development Program. In 2002, BEACON as the local project sponsor, and the USACOE began working on an artificial reef project at Oil Piers. The
USACOE contracted with ASR Ltd to develop a preliminary design for an offshore reef that will create a stable beach through wave rotation and energy dissipation. The proposed structure will consist of submerged sand-filled containers placed offshore of the beach.
The BEACON staff report is here: http://www.beacon.ca.gov/meetings/1105/PDFs/BEACON-SR-010-Oil-Piers-Update-Report-05-20-11.pdf
In the past decade, ASR has constructed several sand bag reefs around the world, with limited success. In most cases the local surf communities have rejected the reefs' inability to create a surfable wave. Most recently, ASR has proposed using rocks to augment the sand bags in the New Zealand reef.
BEACON staff are currently working with the USACOE and ASR Ltd Team to deliver a new project design. Depending on federal funding, the goal is to have the project constructed in 2012.
The BEACON staff report is here: http://www.beacon.ca.gov/meetings/1105/PDFs/BEACON-SR-010-Oil-Piers-Update-Report-05-20-11.pdf
Meanwhile, BEACON completed environmental documents proposing at least five of these structures for the Santa Barbara/Ventura coastline. Surfrider commented that it may be premature to plan these other projects until we can demonstrate success at oil piers.
More commentary from Surfrider: Artificial Surfing Reefs
In the news: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/07/artificial-reef-planned-for-ventura-county-beach
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In the news: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/07/artificial-reef-planned-for-ventura-county-beach
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