The work to remove the pier and caisson structures, known as PRC 421-1 and 421-2, at Haskell’s Beach is going well and is on schedule to be completed by early next year. At the end of August, the State Lands Commission in collaboration with the City of Goleta began the work which will up to six months to complete. Sections of the beach may close temporarily to keep the public safe during the operations, but the beach will remain open otherwise.

The State Lands Commission is currently in the process of dismantling the first Pier (421-1), and removal is expected in mid-November. Removal work on the second Pier (421-2), is expected to start in mid-December.

Crews are working Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Due to the surf zone location of the facilities, some work must be scheduled around low-tide cycles, which may be outside of these hours. The project requires the use of heavy equipment at the worksite and the transport of approximately 500 truckloads of material to an approved recycling and disposal facility. Crews will access the worksite via the existing gravel access road adjacent to the Ellwood Onshore Facility and along a 12’-wide easement across the Sandpiper golf course and along the cliff to the piers. Removal of the piers and caissons will require equipment access along the beach during low tides.

The Commission prepared an Environmental Impact Report and secured permits for this project in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies. More information can be found at: www.slc.ca.gov/ceqa/prc-421-decommissioning-project.

Pictured above: Looking inside the 421-1 caisson. The caisson has been excavated down to bedrock. All of the original fill (soil, wood, steel, and concrete) has been hauled out. Some seawater has accumulated at the bottom of the caisson from the ocean waves cresting over the top of the ocean-facing wall.

421-1 Pier looking at the northwest side of the caisson. The west wall and a portion of the north wall has been partially demolished by knocking down the concrete and steel structure. The original wall height was about 15 feet from the beach. The wall height is now about 6-8 feet above the sand. 421-2 Pier can be seen in the background. Crews are preparing to start excavation in the 421-2 Caisson.

421-1 Looking at the east side of the caisson. The east wall has also been partially demolished. The concrete and steel materials from the structure has been hauled out.