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San Clemente residents press council over OCTA sand plan and beach boulders
Summary
Residents urged San Clemente City Council to press for lighter, matching sand and to address concerns about boulders and worker conduct at North Beach while county and state agencies describe emergency sand placement and a $92 million wall project tied to OCTA.
Several residents urged the San Clemente City Council on May 20 to act after seeing heavy equipment place large boulders at North Beach and to press OCTA and other agencies for sand that better matches local beaches. Council heard multiple public comments describing perceived erosion risks from revetment boulders and complaints about workers’ behavior. County staff reported sweeping emergency work on the rail corridor and related beach nourishment efforts that include hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of sand and a separate $92 million catchment wall approved by the California Coastal Commission and California Transportation Commission.
The most detailed administrative update came from a representative of Orange County Vice Chair Katrina Foley’s office, who told the council that Amtrak passenger service through San Clemente was temporarily shut down to shore up tracks and that “approximately 240,000 cubic yards of sand will also be placed on Areas 1 and 2 from Mariposa Point and up to North Beach.” The staffer said the Coastal Commission had approved an emergency permit for a 1,400-foot catchment wall and the Transportation Commission had allocated $92,000,000 for construction.
Speakers from local groups including Save Our Beaches and Sabre Beaches San Clemente asked the council to push OCTA and its contractors to use lighter-colored sand that better matches San Clemente’s beaches and to study ecological impacts before placement. Scientist and resident speakers asked for prior study of potential effects on beach temperature and benthic organisms (for example, grunion eggs) if dark sand from offshore sources is used. Several residents described witnessing boulders being placed at North Beach and expressed worry the work would increase erosion or damage recreational beach character.
Council members acknowledged the city does not directly control OCTA or federal sand sources but said the city would press partner agencies about sand quality and environmental study, noting the city has asked for local sand sources to be considered. The council also heard that prior local replenishment efforts had used smaller, periodic placements that performed well in some locations and that moving sand to North Beach may be the most effective delivery method for Mariposa.
No formal action was taken on OCTA’s project at the May 20 meeting. Council members said they would continue coordination with county staff, state permitting bodies and OCTA, and encouraged residents to use formal comment periods the Coastal Commission provides for permit review.
