Harbor dredging & loss of Perched Beach coastal access
What will be the effect of placing 5,200 cubic yards of dredge material on the inner harbor’s Perched Beach during the impending launch ramp dredging? Former MCC member Neil Merrilees, in a letter to Coastal Commission staff, describes the effects of this steeply banked new layer which will cover about two thirds of the beach as much as 7 ft deep, effectively blocking existing coastal access uses that the public has enjoyed, and leaving just a narrow low section at HMB Kayak stand. This will be the third launch ramp maintenance dredging episode, and may bring most of Perched Beach up to the height needed for the Harbor District’s long-term goal of paving and development.