Under statute and executive order, DBW is the state entity with principal responsibility for statewide shoreline maintenance and control.

To fulfill this mandate, DBW administers two coastal erosion control programs, the Shoreline Erosion Control Program and the Public Beach Restoration Program. The general objectives of each program are:

Shoreline Erosion Control Program: To study, plan, and construct solutions for coastal erosion and stabilization problems.

Public Beach Restoration Program: To restore public beaches through the cost-effective placement of sand on or near beaches.

Examples of activities supported by these programs include:

• Providing local assistance grants to agencies to study, plan, and construct strategically located coastal erosion solutions. To learn more about our grant programs, please visit this web page: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/coastalerosiongrants.

• Coordinating studies and information-sharing among federal, state, regional, and local agencies that share an interest in preserving California’s coastal shoreline. DBW participates in and hosts the web page for the Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup (CSMW). To learn more about studies and other products developed by the CSMW, please visit this web page: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/csmw.

• Advises public agencies on coastal erosion control options and opportunities. For more information, please contact Casey Caldwell, Program Lead, at casey.caldwell@parks.ca.gov.

DBW’s strategic approach to coastal erosion control

The appropriate steps to address coastal erosion vary with different locations’ circumstances. At locations where no infrastructure is threatened, the most appropriate response is often to let nature take its course. When action is needed, erosion control options can include “soft” solutions like sand replenishment and dune restoration, “hard” solutions like seawalls and rock revetments, or some combination of soft and hard elements. State policy encourages the use of soft solutions instead of hard solutions where feasible, but each situation requires a site-specific review of feasible alternatives in light of costs, regional impacts, and efficacy.

DBW has been the state entity with principal responsibility for statewide shoreline erosion control since 1970. This responsibility was reconfirmed in a 1997 Executive Order (W-162-97) and in the 1999 legislation (AB 64, Ducheny) that established the Public Beach Restoration Program.

   
Funding YearProject NameLocationProject PhaseBudgeted AmountProgram
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