DSC Dredge to the Rescue in California
In the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the Thomas Fire Debris Flow Incident Emergency Dredging Project in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh needed a special dredge to make it happen. DSC Dredge was there.
Carpinteria is a small California town approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles. The town sits right on the Pacific Ocean with mountains just behind it. Unfortunately, this past year has been very difficult for this region. Wild fires ravaged the mountains and left the hills completely void of vegetation. There are small drainage canals that drain off the mountains to the Pacific. All along the beach is a housing development called Sandy Land. These homes are under threat due to mud slides from the mountains. Some of the canal has been drag lined, but closer to the Pacific it wanders through the neighborhood.
Due to this crisis situation, the State of California issued a 30 day emergency dredging permit to clear the drainage canal. The permit allows dredging to 8 feet NGVD. Two companies: Schock Contracting Corporation and Tierra Contracting, in combination with DSC Dredge, LLC have joined forces to accomplish the challenges of this dredging project.
The DSC 10-inch Wolverine Class dredge was ordered under high priority emergency circumstances requiring delivery by March 15, 2018. Due to Michigan Frost Law Restrictions for transportation, DSC needed to secure a special wideload overweight permit variance from the State of Michigan Department of Transportation allowing DSC to truck the Wolverine dredge immediately to meet the delivery date and fulfill the urgent need.
The Wolverine dredge was purchased by Schock Contracting Corporation, a privately held company in Goleta, CA established in 1994, after they were awarded the Carpinteria Salt Marsh emergency dredging project by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. A DSC Field Technician was onsite March 14th to provide dredging project overview, assist in off-loading the Wolverine dredge, and complete commissioning and training in dredge operation. The channel being dredged is “plus bank” dredging, which has not been fast moving. During this project there has been a two-day emergency evacuation of the neighborhood. DSC Dredge, LLC is doing its part in assisting to solve an emergency situation.
