Massive amounts of kelp and sea grass began accumulating on the shores of Ocean Beach north of the pier last week. By Monday, Feb. 20, they had formed a mound as large as a bus. According to Dennis Simmons, city beach manager, beach maintenance staff will work on removing the grass and kelp through the week’s end.
“We try to affect as much of a removal as we can,” Simmons said. “Mother Nature does help by washing some of the material back out.”
Kelp grows in large quantities offshore, breaks off from its roots naturally after decomposing and comes ashore en masse. The location and accumulation of the sea grass and kelp are largely due to the direction of swells, as well as water temperature and tides. According to Simmons, the deposit on Ocean Beach is not uncommon, despite its shocking size. The current amounts are average for the area and the time of year, Simmons said.