The San Diego City Council must decide what to do about the contaminated sand at Children’s Pool in La Jolla. On Tuesday the council will consider a $1 million dredging plan that’s meant to restore the beach for swimmers.
The council must consider an environmental impact report as well as various permits that would allow for the removal of contaminated sand at the Children’s Pool. State lawmakers have approved legislation that gives jurisdiction of the beach to the city. But the law doesn’t take effect until January. Until then, San Diego is still under a court order to restore the beach to its 1941 conditions. That includes removing sand that’s been contaminated by seal feces.
But a representative of the City Attorney’s office says permits are needed from the Costal Commission and Army Corp of Engineers before dredging can begin. It’s unlikely those permits will be issued before January. By then the city council will have jurisdiction over the beach and can decide how it should be used, meaning the dredging might never happen.
