Abstract
An estimated 10,000 cubic yards of sand were placed in the swash zone near south Carlsbad, California, in April, 1997. While mean grain size was 0.20 mm, about 18% of the material had grain size of less than 0.075 mm. Longshore currents eroded and avected the sands, creating a plume of suspended sediments. This analysis of the plume evaluated the suspended sediment concentrations, the plume dynamics, and the potential implications for sediment and geomorphology of the disposal project. The results indicated that the geomorphological implications were small, and the maximum concentrations of suspended sediments were small relative to those generated by storm runoff.