Shelter Island Boat Launch Repair Update

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The Port of San Diego is making significant progress on repairs needed for the west side of the Shelter Island Boat Launch Ramp. Work is anticipated to begin in December or January with completion in early spring. The Port recognizes the impacts on the boating community. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate continued patience. 

In June 2023, the west floating dock sustained significant damage due to sand accumulation underneath it, which caused the dock to bottom out at low tide. For public safety, the Port closed the dock, with the east side floating docks remaining open and accessible to boaters.

The Port’s engineering department and consultants immediately launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause and extent of the damage and to begin developing a repair and restoration plan. The investigation determined that gaps in the western wall of the facility, designed to allow for some wave attenuation, had widened more than anticipated, and filter fabric installed during construction to prevent some anticipated sand migration had deteriorated. These issues were likely exacerbated by frequent and often strong winter storms and were unforeseen in the design development process for the facility and during construction.

To prevent future excess sand migration into the launch basin, staff and consultants have been working diligently to develop solutions to cover the wall gaps and to replace the damaged floating dock. Unfortunately, this process has taken longer than expected. This is a complex project due to a variety of factors including the challenges of in-water work, required permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the custom-made nature of the floating dock, which was specially designed to serve the large size and high-use of the facility, but also to withstand and function efficiently in the local marine environment.

Port staff and consultants completed their investigation into the cause of the damage and started the engineering design process in the fall of 2023. In parallel, Port staff also began seeking necessary work permits through the Coastal and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the latter of which allows for sand removal. CEQA permit approvals were obtained in late 2023, and the Port received the USACE permit in the spring of 2024. As a condition of the USACE permits, sand removal must be done in a way that minimizes disturbance of eelgrass that is prevalent in the launch basin, which means no sand removal equipment is allowed within the basin.

With the USACE permits in hand, the engineering design documents for the project were complete in June and construction documents were issued for advertisement on July 9, with four bids received by August 20. Additionally, the Port directly negotiated with Bellingham Marine to build a new, custom-designed dock to replace the damaged dock for $266,114.

At its October 17, 2024 meeting, the Board of Port Commissioners approved a $386,775 construction contract with Harbour Construction Company to complete the work needed to restore the dock and prevent future issues. Work will include removing about 250 cubic yards of sand, installing neoprene sleeves to cover the gaps in the seawall, removing the damaged dock, and installing the new dock. With soft costs and contingency built in, the total anticipated cost of repairs and replacement is nearly $717,000.

The Port anticipates the repair and restoration work will begin in December or January and will be completed within 90 days of delivery of the new dock. In the meantime, the east side floating dock remains open and accessible, and the Port anticipates it will remain open during the repair project.