sand: a precious resource

Where does beach sand come from?

sediment sources

• rivers and streams transport sediments from the mountains
• and inland areas
• coastal cliffs erode directly into the ocean
• net onshore transport from offshore sediment deposits

Where is the sand going?

Sediment sinks:

• submarine canyons: Mugu canyon
• net offshore transport
• sand is moved offshore by large storm events: seawalls increase this loss
• sand mining in river beds
• capture by harbors/coastal structures
• backshore storage by sand dunes
• wind transport

the big picture:

The Ventura littoral sub-cell