Nightglow Window

Dredging Up ...

The Agua Hedionda Lagoon is dredged every two years or so, a process paid for by the Encina Power Plant. It prevents the lagoon entrance from clogging and keeps the beaches wide and sandy through the summer.

Dredging has occurred since 1954 when the power plant was built. "The sand doesn't look pretty as it comes out of the 20-inch-diameter pipe," writes the San Diego Union Tribune, "but it may as well be liquid gold for Carlsbad, which estimates that beach visitors pump $26 million into the city every year."

The outflow used to be near Tamarack. Today, however, when the girls and I head down after school, the pipe snakes to Pine Avenue. As one portion of the beach is replenished, the brown snake is lengthened.

The girls take off their shoes and walk on the top of the pipe. The sound of small boulders as they trundle along inside the pipe is a reminder of how much water is being pushed through.

The outflow is horrible looking -- like some industrial spew. In reality, it's mostly sand. Once it dries, it turns a brilliant white.



South Tamarack, where the Agua Hedionda Lagoon connects to the sea. Without occasional dredging this opening would clog with sand.


The Dredging Barge is a familiar sight in the western end of the lagoon. In the distance is the Encina Power Plant, which is an eyesore to many, but one of Carlsbad's iconic landmarks to others.


A long pipe connects to the barge and is used to transport the sand-filled slurry up the beach.


The outflow area looks horrible, but the black slurry will soon turn to white sand.


Pelicans scoop up the shrimp, fish, and other lagoon delicacies as they blast out the outflow pipe.