By Randy Wilde, Staff Columnist

If you’ve taken advantage of the freak November heat by heading to the beach, you may have noticed something new. A physical barrier stands between you and the water: a pipeline stretching across the beach. That huge pipe lying along Mission Beach is more than just an eyesore. It is the second phase of a federal stimulus-funded project to improve boater safety in Mission Bay.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was put in charge of a $5.3 million effort to dredge out the bottom of the ocean channel that began on Sept. 21. The half-million cubic yards of sand and muck removed from the channel is being carried through the pipeline and deposited along Mission Beach. Unfortunately, a lot of garbage is also being spewed onto our beautiful coastline. Dredging is a necessary measure because of safety concerns in the outlet, but not enough attention is being given to the significant collateral damage. Poor planning and implementation have led to a missed opportunity to improve the San Diego environment.

Most would agree that the project is necessary to prevent dangerous conditions for boaters in the previously treacherous channel. There have been a number of incidents in recent years where boats have capsized and human lives have been endangered. But this plan to move huge quantities of earth, and whatever else comes with it, has the potential to majorly impact the cleanliness and safety of an economically important space, especially if the project is not conducted responsibly.

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the actual work contract to Manson Construction, the contract stipulated that it would maintain constant monitoring of the sand being flung onto the beach and remove any large debris. Despite numerous promises from the Army Corps of Engineers, the San Diego Mayor’s Office and the company itself, this has not happened. They have all said workers will be watching. No one is watching. Even if there was someone watching, a single man could not possibly remove all the debris in the rapid, unending flood of sand. In this age of technology the plan is to have someone stand there watching and doing it by hand. Why not use a filter or some other practical alternative?

Concerned citizens and organizations have exposed the negligence. Testimonies from locals and observers clearly show this breach of faith. Beachgoers have spotted wire, bars, rubber, aluminum and other garbage among the rushing torrent constantly spewing from the pipe, and photos posted on websites such as voiceofsandiego.org show evidence of unmonitored dumping. All of this mounting local concern has convinced the Surfrider Foundation to keep an eye on the project.

This is more than a breach of contract. It’s a betrayal. It’s a half-baked plan with a total lack of proper oversight or forward thinking.  This undertaking is overpriced and still underachieving. In other words, it’s a typical government project, deeply resembling contracted public plans to private corporations that exercise little supervision. Promises must be kept. I would hope this kind of plan would be accompanied by some safety and environmental health standards that could make it even more beneficial.

If you’re going to spend $5 million, why not do it right? While debris is already being picked up and removed from the channel, it could have easily been filtered and disposed of properly with a little planning and even less effort. Instead, it appears the plan is to spread the trash around an area where it can potentially have a much greater impact on the local safety, environment, economy and aesthetic beauty. We have an opportunity to improve a centerpiece of the San Diego area. Let’s not let it slip through our fingers like garbage in the sand.

—Randy Wilde is an international security and conflict resolution junior.

—The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.