Shoreline Erosion Control & Public Beach Restoration
The general objectives of DBW’s coastal erosion control programs are to protect public safety along the California shoreline and reduce the public costs of shoreline erosion. This can be achieved by:
- Co-sponsoring the planning and construction of cost-effective erosion control projects with local and federal agencies,
- Improving present knowledge of oceanic forces, coastal erosion factors, and evolving shoreline conditions, and
- Sharing and applying this knowledge to help prevent or reduce future erosion.
California's coast is a naturally eroding shoreline. When erosion threatens to damage important public infrastructure and jeopardize public safety, erosion control projects at strategically selected places can reduce a variety of risks that include coastal flooding during storm surges and bluff collapses.
Appropriate actions to address coastal erosion vary depending on different locations’ circumstances. The state generally prefers to allow natural coastal processes to proceed uninterrupted unless intervention is necessary. When action is needed, erosion control options can include “soft solutions” such as sand replenishment and dune restoration, “hard solutions” like seawalls and jetties, or some combination thereof. State policy encourages use of soft solutions instead of hardening where feasible, but each situation requires a careful review of all possible alternatives in light of costs, impacts, and efficacy.
DBW has been the state entity with responsibility for statewide shoreline erosion control since 1970. This responsibility was reconfirmed in a 1997 Executive Order and in the 1999 bill that established the Public Beach Restoration Program under DBW. Today DBW fulfills its responsibilities in this area in several ways, including facilitating coastal studies statewide and providing local assistance grants to government agencies that plan and construct cost-effective coastal erosion solutions. These grants come from two programs, the Shoreline Erosion Control and Public Beach Restoration programs.
To learn more about these programs and how to apply for these grant opportunities, click here.
| Funding Year | Project Name | Location | Project Phase | Budgeted Amount | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Encinitas-Solana Beach Shoreline Protection Project | Encinitas and Solana Beach | Construction | $11,500,000 | PBR |
| 2022/23 | San Clemente Beach Restoration Project | San Clemente | Construction | $1,085,000 | PBR |
| 2022/23 | Surfside-Sunset Beach Restoration Project | Orange County | Construction | $2,900,000 | PBR |
| 2019/20 | Pacifica Beach Boulevard Protection Project | Pacifica | Study | $750,000 | SEC |
| 2019/20 | San Clemente Beach Restoration Project | San Clemente | Construction | $231,000 | PBR |
| 2018/19 | Coyote Point Eastern Promenade | San Mateo County | Construction | $700,000 | SEC |
| 2018/19 | Carpinteria Shore Protection Project | Carpinteria | Initial Study | $600,000 | PBR |
| 2017/18 | Surfside-Sunset Beach Restoration Project | Orange County | Planning and Construction | $989,000 | PBR |
| 2017/18 | Surfer's Beach Restoration Pilot Project | San Mateo County | Planning and Construction | $800,000 | PBR |
| 2017/18 | Carpinteria Shore Protection Project | Carpinteria | Initial Study | $600,000 | PBR |
| 2016/17 | Surfside-Sunset Beach Restoration Project | Orange County | Construction | $5,250,000 | PBR |
| 2016/17 | San Clemente Beach Restoration Project | San Clemente | Construction | $3,400,000 | PBR |
| 2016/17 | Santa Cruz Beach Front Project | Santa Cruz County | Construction | $700,000 | SEC |
| 2016/17 | Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Study | Monterey | Initial Study | $140,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Rincon Parkway Shoreline Restoration | Ventura County | Construction | $2,900,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Surfside-Sunset Beach Restoration Project | Orange County | Planning | $739,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Development of Regional Sediment Master Plans | Sonoma County, Marin County, Eureka, San Francisco | Initial Studies | $485,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Encinitas-Solana Beach Shoreline Protection Project | Encinitas and Solana Beach | Planning | $450,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Purchase of Dredge Booster Pump | Monterey | Purchase | $200,000 | PBR |
| 2015/16 | Carpinteria Shore Protection Project | Carpinteria | Initial Study | $75,000 | PBR |
| 2014/15 | Rincon Parkway Shoreline Restoration | Ventura County | Construction | $2,100,000 | PBR |
| 2014/15 | Solana Beach Restoration Project | Encinitas and Solana Beach | Planning | $450,000 | PBR |
| 2014/15 | Beach Erosion Control: Price Street | Pismo Beach | Planning and Construction | $400,000 | PBR |
| 2012/13 | Beach Erosion Control: St. Anderw's | Pismo Beach | Planning and Construction | $865,000 | SEC |
| 2012/13 | Encinitas-Solana Beach Shoreline Protection Project | Encinitas and Solana Beach | Initial Study | $187,000 | PBR |
| 2012/13 | Carpinteria Shore Protection Project | Carpinteria | Initial Study | $162,000 | SEC |
SHORELINE EROSION CONTROL AND PUBLIC BEACH RESTORATION RESOURCES
Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
California Beach Restoration Study (2002)
Coastal Data Information Program