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Oceanside’s Re:Beach Project gains Key Endorsement for Coastal Sand Restoration
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Oceanside, CA – A proposed sand restoration and retention initiative, known as Re:Beach, has received a significant boost with the endorsement of a key advisory panel focused on coastal environmental issues within San Diego County. The San Diego Association of Government’s (SANDAG) Shoreline Preservation Working Group selected the Oceanside proposal as a regional pilot project, possibly setting a precedent for other cities grappling with eroding coastlines.
SANDAG’s Shoreline Preservation Working Group backs Re:Beach
The decision by the SANDAG working group marks a pivotal moment for Oceanside’s efforts to combat chronic beach erosion. Amy Steward, a Coronado City Council member and member of the working group, lauded the plan as a “nice compromise” between hard armoring solutions like seawalls and the temporary fix of simply replacing sand [1]. The Re:Beach project aims for a more enduring approach.
Did You Know? Coastal erosion in California costs property owners an estimated $100 million annually, according to the California Department of Conservation.
The Re:Beach proposal includes placing approximately 1 million cubic yards of sand along Oceanside’s most vulnerable beaches. To keep the sand in place, the plan incorporates the construction of two small, jetty-like headlands and a submerged, chevron-shaped artificial reef designed to diminish wave force.
overcoming Initial Opposition to Sand Restoration
Initially, Oceanside faced opposition from neighboring Carlsbad and other coastal communities concerned about the potential impact of sand retention structures.Hard structures like groins and jetties can disrupt the natural flow of sand along the coast, depriving downstream areas of sediment.However, Oceanside addressed these concerns through collaboration and by highlighting the potential regional benefits of the project.
Oceanside Councilman Eric Joyce acknowledged the initial missteps, stating, “In the beginning, our city took maybe some action a little too quickly… Then we heard from our neighbors who said, ‘Hey … we’re here too.’ And so we turned around and tried to do a process that was collaborative.”
Kristi Becker,of the Solana Beach city Council,echoed this sentiment,noting that
