Oceanside has the Opportunity to Become a Global Model of Coastal Resilience

Oceanside City Council unanimously Approves Sand Retention Project on January 31, 2024

The winning design created by the Australian firm, International Coastal Management, includes plans for two small headlands to stabilize sand on the back beach and an offshore artificial reef to slow down nearshore erosive forces. This Living Speed Bumps pilot project is custom-designed to restore and retain sand on the City of Oceanside’s beaches on the coast of California.

 
“Nature-Based Solutions, or NBS, are novel approaches that harness the power of nature to resolve societal challenges like climate change and disaster risk reduction. At International Coastal Management, we are global specialists in NBS, crafting solutions that not only improve coastal resilience, but also biodiversity, water quality, and societal well-being. NBS is an overarching project approach that covers all of our areas of expertise.”
— International Coastal Management
 
 

FOX 5 San Diego
January 31, 2024

The San Diego Union-Tribune
January 8, 2024

International Coastal Management

 
 

The City of Oceanside’s Coastal Resilience Competition brought together three design teams from around the world in 2023 to develop innovative sand retention pilot project proposals. Click on this RE:BEACH image to learn the details of this competition, including ways to get involved.

“It’s exactly the approach that we want people to take, to bring all the ideas to the table as we are trying to figure out how to adapt to sea-level rise.”
— Kate Huckelbridge, CA Coastal Commission, San Diego Union-Tribune, January 8, 2024

RE:BEACH

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Properly planned retention projects can create world class beaches and waves

When tied to larger urban planning strategies, coastal retention structures can do more than address coastal erosion. They can protect critical economic assets and allow for essential community conversations for long-term planning. Multi-benefit retention structures, such as artificial reefs, living shorelines, and groins, are viable for climate adaptation and long-term resilience efforts.

artificial reefs

Artificial reefs dissipate swell energy, which is the primary cause of rapid and accelerating erosion. While its primary purpose is shoreline protection, artificial reefs can also improve surfing conditions. An emergent crest and two submerged sloping rock edges would allow for a-frame waves, preserving the beach's opportunity for surf. The reef could be constructed with advanced materials that can foster increased biodiversity.

living shorelines

Living shorelines are viable options for areas where broad sandy beaches exist, with room for dunes. This approach combines naturally occurring ecosystems and vegetation with several layers of buried revetment, such as large boulders, to help reinforce the beach. A living shoreline also provides habitats for potentially endangered species. Each coastal site is unique and requires site-specific engineering approaches.

groins

Groins control shorelines by catching and holding coastal sediments. To be successful, a consistent supply of sediment with a sand bypass system must be introduced, to pre-fill the beach with sand while adding more sand into the littoral cell to benefit down-coast beaches. By monitoring wave quality, transformations in biodiversity, and changes to local and neighboring beaches, engineers may adapt groins as needed.

 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

  • A properly designed and actively managed retention project and beach replenishment program can minimize or eliminate the negative impact on downdrift beaches.

  • Sand is a limited resource. In most cases, the effects of replenishment without retention structures are short-lived, with nourished beaches eroding over a few years, leading to costly cycles of replenishment. Expensive major replenishment events are not affordable nor sustainable. Dredge, pump, repeat…the same old story.

  • Yes. Section 30235 of the Coastal Act states that “revetments, breakwaters, groins, harbor channels, seawalls, cliff retaining walls, and other such construction that alters natural shoreline processes shall be permitted when required to serve coastal-dependent uses or to protect existing structures or public beaches in danger from erosion, and when designed to eliminate or mitigate adverse impacts on local shoreline sand supply”.

  • While it’s true that some people feel that coastal structures are harmful, coastal scientists, engineers, and planners do not generally agree with this blanket generalization. Coastal structures are not new, nor experimental, as they have been employed effectively for decades throughout the state and worldwide.

    Artificial reefs, living shorelines, and groins may protect a public beach, and preserve beaches for many of their most important uses: low-cost recreation, coastal storm damage reduction and beach habitat. Widening and stabilizing beaches along the Southern California shoreline would protect existing structures and beaches from erosion and have an overall positive effect.

Still Not Sure? Here’s What the Experts Are Saying:

““Revetments, breakwaters, groins, harbor channels, seawalls, cliff retaining walls, and other such construction that alters natural shoreline processes shall be permitted when required to serve coastal-dependent uses or to protect existing structures or public beaches in danger from erosion, and when designed to eliminate or mitigate adverse impacts on local shoreline sand supply.””
— California Coastal Act
““In most cases, the effects of replenishment without retention structures are short-lived, with nourished beaches eroding over a few years, leading to costly cycles of replenishment.””
— Nicole Kinsman, PhD. Regional Coastal & Geodetic Advisor. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
““Groins may protect a public beach, and preserve beaches for one of their most important uses; our recreation purposes. Widening and stabilizing beaches along the Southern California shoreline would protect existing structures and beaches from erosion and have an overall positive effect in trapping some of the 1.4 million cubic yards of sand permanently lost to submarine canyons and the ocean floor each year.””
— Gary Griggs, PhD. Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences
 
 

Salt Creek

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The Wedge

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Newport Jetties

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OB Jetty

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Ponto

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Warm Waters

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O'side South Jetty

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O'side North Jetty

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Salt Creek 〜 The Wedge 〜 Newport Jetties 〜 OB Jetty 〜 Ponto 〜 Warm Waters 〜 O'side South Jetty 〜 O'side North Jetty 〜