by Joe Wilson

Local residents trying to save our San Clemente beaches view this endeavor as a lifelong challenge, a passion that will be passed down through generations. Save Our Beaches-SC and other beach advocates believe that today’s diverse efforts to replenish and retain sand will eventually evolve into strategies that are currently unimaginable.

 Having been involved with Measure BB, San Clemente’s recent ballot initiative aimed at beach preservation, local advocates were fortunate to talk with many residents about this endeavor. The concerns citizens expressed about the impacts of beach erosion are consistent and critical: loss of recreational opportunity, weakening of tourism and economy, deterioration of surf breaks, various environmental catastrophes, and the gradual erosion of the beach-town culture vibe.

The recent defeat of Measure BB served as a wake-up call to those who doubted the community’s commitment to this cause, with nearly 65% of registered voters indicating support that hints of a genuine San Clemente citizen’s movement. As more residents become aware of causes of, and solutions to the erosion that’s been depleting our beaches of sand, there is a growing desire to spread the word and take action as a motivated community.

Measure BB, placed on last November’s ballot by the San Clemente City Council as a ‘Special-Fund’ option, required a two-thirds majority to pass the proposed half-cent sales tax increase. Although it fell just a few hundred votes short, the significant majority in favor was encouraging. 

In response, a group of residents, led by Cameron Cosgrove (the Campaign Manager of Measure BB) and Save Our Beaches-SC is building a new ‘Citizen-based,’ special-fund measure that will only require a simple majority to pass in the next election, legally restricting the funds to beach restoration and coastal protection. However, to place the half-cent tax on the ballot, at least 10% of San Clemente’s registered voters must sign a petition, which is where community involvement becomes crucial.

The lessons learned from Measure BB will inform the new measure, including addressing concerns about a ‘forever tax’ by incorporating a 20-year term renewal, reserving a minimum percentage of funds for sand replenishment and retention, emphasizing the pursuit of federal, state, and county grants for beach replenishment, ensuring cost-effectiveness through evaluation of all sand replenishment options, and developing a ‘Comprehensive Beach Nourishment Plan’ within two years.

Additionally, widespread public education regarding sand replenishment will be essential prior to the next election, as citizens need to understand that replenished sand and beach width naturally fluctuate throughout the year, with much of the sand rinsing into our near shore waters during the winter and returning in the summer. Still, some sand is permanently lost to deep waters, and given that inland sand replenishment sources such as rivers and streams are now controlled in a way that prevents sediment from reaching the ocean, San Clemente needs to replenish the beaches in a different way.

 Sand replenishment has emerged as a critical strategy for saving the beaches, with scientists, environmentalists, and public agencies such as the California Coastal Commission recognizing it as the best hope for addressing the region’s shrinking beaches. However, the effectiveness of such beach nourishment projects depends on factors such as the size of the sand grains, the amount of sand deposited, and the frequency of replenishments, necessitating careful planning and execution.

Equally important is the need to prevent activities that beach scouring, such as the installation or expansion of seawalls and rip-rap barriers along the railroad tracks, which can exacerbate erosion. There are several locations around town where boulder revetments have been installed and expanded. In previous decades, there was enough sand in the system that the beaches in front of these locations would rebuild. That time has passed.

Several initiatives are underway in San Clemente that promise positive outcomes, including the USACE / San Clemente 50-year beach sand replenishment project, which delivered approximately 200,000 cubic yards of sand to the pier bowl area last year. 

The City will need to come up with approximately $10,000,000 every 6 years or so to match government funds for periodic replenishments; without this funding, the program could be terminated. The new measure funds will help ensure that the program continues.

Other beach restoration programs include the Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program (SCOUP), which placed 30,000 cubic yards at North Beach last fall using Santa Ana River sand with more to come in the future. Another crucial project is the San Diego Association of Governments  targeting multiple placement sites and sand volumes for San Clemente. In addition, the San Clemente Nature-Based Coastal Resiliency Project Feasibility Study aims to retain sand placed by USACE, SCOUP, OCTA, SANDAG, and other OC projects. Finally, the city is currently conducting an Offshore Sand Source investigation to locate new, closer sand sources to cost-effectively sustain beach nourishment.

Moreover, OCTA has proposed a combination of increased boulders and sand to protect their tracks.  City leaders, along with Save Our Beaches-SC and other local groups, are advocating for a reduction in rock placement to mitigate beach-scouring concerns, as well as requiring OCTA to ensure a sandy beach is maintained in front of any rock placement.

Ultimately, this situation presents an opportunity for citizens to play a meaningful role in efforts to save the beaches. The responsibility to make significant progress lies with the community, and funding solutions must come from both local efforts and grants.  Once the initiative is finalized, the challenge will be to gather enough signatures to place it on the ballot, requiring broad engagement and execution. Community members are encouraged to participate by helping gather signatures, educate the public, and mobilize voters. Please volunteer via SaveOurBeachesSC.org.